Categories: uncategorized
Date: 12 March 2007 16:53:51
I have just been on the phone to a lady at the hospital where Groover's neurosurgeon is based. Actually, before we start, let's designate some code letters for the hospitals involved:
Where Groover was born: Hospital M, in City B
Where Groover's neurosurgeon is based: Hospital F, in City B
Where Groover goes for Urology: Hospital H, in City C
Where Groover goes for Paediatrics, Physio and other day-to-day stuff: Hospital N, in birdieville.
City B is in England, City C and birdieville (obviously) are in Wales. The eagle-eyed among you will be able to work out what is where.
When we found out about Groover's spina bifida, the obstetrician referred us to Hospital M, because he said theat their services were better than Hospital H's. We last saw the neurosurgeon in Hospital F in October 2005. In conversation with Groover's urologist recently, I realised that this was actually quite a while ago so I have been chasing Hospital F to see if we have missed anything (with having to juggle about different places this might not be unlikely). The lady at Hospital F told me today that there are 'problems with people coming from out of area, especially Wales', and that it was likely Groover wouldn't be seen again by Hospital F, but would probably be seen by the neurosurgeons at Hospital H.
The last note on Groover's file at Hospital F says he should be seen in the Hydrocephalus clinic there, but this never happened, because of this change in policy. However, rather than arranging for his care to be transferred, they just didn't make him an apointment. This is only getting sorted out now because I happened to phone. So who knows how many clinic appointments he has missed.
That is irritating enough, but what really cheeses me off about the whole thing at the moment is the loss of continuity of care for Groover. The change in policy is apparently entirely political, because the Welsh Health Commission 'doesn't like' people from Wales going to City B for neurosurgery services, and wants them to go within Wales, even if the services provided in City B (or wherever) are better for their needs.
Also it scares me a little bit that information about Groover will not be passed from Hospital F to Hospital H, because of the NHS's LUDICROUS way of dealing with records. As I understand it, records are the property of the hospital where treatment takes place. When we came home from Hospital M, I was astounded that Groover's notes were not transferred with us. The file came with us (and the nice nurse who also came with us in the ambulance let me read it, which I think is actually Not Allowed) but staff at Hospital N had a couple of minutes to decide which were the important bits and photocopy them, before handing the file back to the nurse to go back to Hospital M with him. This was done by the nurse on the children's ward when we got back, who had the reponsibility of deciding which 3 or 4 sheets of A4 out of a file about three inches thick she was going to copy. I was really surprised at how it worked, but not too worried, as I knew Groover would be going back to see the neurosurgeon in Hospital F, and he would have his notes on the surgery etc.
Now, though, Groover's care will be transferred to a neurosurgeon who has never seen him before, and who (if the previous transfer is anything to go by) will have the bare minimum of information about him. I can see the converstion now:
New neurosurgeon: So, can you tell me about Groover's care up to now?
Me: No, because I am NOT A FRIGGING NEUROSURGEON.
Now, I hope I'm not being unreasonable - I don't know exactly how transfer of information does work in the NHS, I can ony go on what I've seen so far. And I'm well aware that if, for example, we'd moved to the other end of the country, his care would be transferred and we'd be facing all the same issues. But we haven't moved to the other end of the country. We are still here, not that much nearer Hospital H than Hospital F, and I just want Groover seen by someone who knows him and who actually did the surgery. If that was possible eighteen months ago surely it should be now. And surely if all these hospitals know this change in policy is occuring, this shouldn't just be coming up now because I happened to chase it?
I can feel a letter to my MP coming on.