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Thread: NHS Service in Caithness

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  1. #1

    Thumbs up NHS Service in Caithness

    Not only is there to be a cessation of out of the hours emergency surgery service at Caithness General next week. I hear there is also a plan to close the Queen Elizabeth ward which is dire need of repair and transfer utilise the beds in the Henderson wing when they finish the maternity service in the every near future.
    I can think of a few over the years who would not be around had it not been for the skill of the emergency surgeons and maternity service at Wick.
    Its a disgrace that the overpaid bean counters in their superannuated positions can try to foist this kind of service on us. The decision makers within the trust probably don't have to rely on this sub standard service living within close proximity to Inverness.

  2. #2
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    Maternity will not be affected. Its only because a surgeon has retired and they have advertised for new surgeon and new consultant. It is temporary.
    Live for today as tomorrow may never come

  3. #3
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    Quote Originally Posted by Fran View Post
    Maternity will not be affected. Its only because a surgeon has retired and they have advertised for new surgeon and new consultant. It is temporary.

    Your correct in your statement that it is only the surgical side is affected at the moment. If you read the piece in the Courier ( the panel below the report about the surgeons) note the bit that said the Bignold would move to the Henderson wing and maternity services would be on the top floor. If patients from the Bignold are going to occupy the Henderson there's not much more space left on the top floor of the hospital. The logical conclusion is that the maternity service will be contracting. I hope that what seemed to be speculation in the Courier will not turned out to be true but I suspect that what ever the source of the article it would not have been published without the editor doing some level of confirmatory investigation.
    Just when you think everythings fine, life slaps you in the face.

  4. #4
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    Times are getting hard this is true and no matter what the speculation is as my mother always said theres no smoke without fire if management get away with whats being proposed ALL departments will be affected even maternity.

    Bigonlds taking up maternity space then where will maternity go obviously somewhere much smaller as there is hardly space left in the hospital its either being closed or has been taken over as offices.Theyre saving money by not having an overnight on call service are they still going to be using locums but just between the hours of nine to five because the one remaining consultant cannot possibly be the only one covering the wards. this means at five oclock there is possibly a consultant available to cover just being kept warm and comfy in a local hotel its all money money money and lack of it.
    What happens if after six oclock theres a major incident in the county the hospital wont have an on call surgeon to assess the poor victims as it will be just the poor junior doctor with the nurses and maybe the input from the oncall anaesthetist medical consultant and not forgetting a gynae conultant !! But should they be doing this when their remit is not surgical each to their own. What if during the evening a patient on the surgical ward now in the henderson ward becomes ill during the noght who does the n call junior doctor call for advice ??? the oncall gynae hmmm who will nake the decision whether this patient needs to be transferred or can stay until the morning ...??? Inverness on call surgeons or registrars bet theyre going to be happy about extra work because of wick. I feel sorry for the poor junior doctor up here who should have the ability to call in someone more senior to support them in their field. This is a recipe for disaster and until there is a disaster( someone dying due to this decision ) or people voice their oppinions then it will go ahead.
    It makes this hosiptal a very unnatractive place to come for potential candidates with all this uncertanty around services management are making a bigger recruiting rod for their own back.

    If this all goes ahead I can garuantee it wont be temporary it will be the first step on a slippery slope to the downgrading of this hospital to no more than a passing through point to inverness.

    Terrible terrible decision!!




    .
    My mother seldom said anything, but her sighs were loud enough

  5. #5
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    I heard, repeat only heard, that staff were individually interviewed, and asked if they had reported the decision to the press. Strange!!!!!!!

    I recall that a decision was made to close the Dunbar in Thurso but pressure was applied and the
    Dunbar remains open. Also other parts of the hospital were to be downgraded.

    Just who is making these dreadful decisions? I would love to.know.

  6. #6
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    DMFB has hit the nail square on the head.

    The rocky, slippery slope indeed.
    Making tomorrow`s memories today

  7. #7
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    Quote Originally Posted by Scunner View Post
    I heard, repeat only heard, that staff were individually interviewed, and asked if they had reported the decision to the press. Strange!!!!!!!

    I recall that a decision was made to close the Dunbar in Thurso but pressure was applied and the
    Dunbar remains open. Also other parts of the hospital were to be downgraded.

    Just who is making these dreadful decisions? I would love to.know.
    WHy should management be hunting out the member of staff who spoke to the ppress this is wrong Management themselves should at every point be keeping the public informed as it is us the public who have to live with their ill thought out decisions.

    Obviously the people making these decisions have the pennies in their heads more than the patients of that im convinced.
    My mother seldom said anything, but her sighs were loud enough

  8. #8
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    Quote Originally Posted by neilsermk1 View Post
    Not only is there to be a cessation of out of the hours emergency surgery service at Caithness General next week. I hear there is also a plan to close the Queen Elizabeth ward which is dire need of repair and transfer utilise the beds in the Henderson wing when they finish the maternity service in the every near future.I can think of a few over the years who would not be around had it not been for the skill of the emergency surgeons and maternity service at Wick.Its a disgrace that the overpaid bean counters in their superannuated positions can try to foist this kind of service on us. The decision makers within the trust probably don't have to rely on this sub standard service living within close proximity to Inverness.
    No i'm pretty sure it was made at local level and sometimes tough decisions have to be made in the shorter term good. I would prefer a few out of hours went to ness rather than a reduction in day time services.It would seem you are a bit jealous of superannuated positions!

  9. #9

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    Having read our local Newspaper:

    I have to say I find it absolutely reprehensible and disgusting that we could even begin to comprehend a "Caithness" without surgeons being able to save a life, (albeit "during the night which we try to avoid") in any and every situation that this county should, God forbid, and even more so be it an emergency!!!!

    My brother, many years ago, was brought into hospital (Wick, Bignold) where he was basically put to a bed by the ( obviously unconcerned ) nurses, although he was literally screaming in agony.

    Thank God that the surgeon happened to be doing his rounds a couple of hours later . . . the surgeon's very words were, "An emergency "appendectomy" NOW !!" . . .

    After his emergency operation my brother was then put on a drip, due to blood poisoning, through the fact that his appendix had ruptured !!!

    God forbid that this scenario should "play-out" again through the lack of surgeons !!!!

    The SURGEON'S decision, at that time, saved my brother's life.. . . . . . .
    Last edited by cherokee; 11-Dec-14 at 21:30.
    I'm the kind of woman whose feet hit the floor each morning, and the Devil says........... " Oh, Blast She's Up !! "

  10. #10

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    in last week paper a court officail said i quote that in today society it is inhumane to expect a person to travel from polmount to wick a round trip of 12 hours , yet the same society expects a person to travel 9hours round trip on a train or over 5 hours on a bus for a 10 minute appointment at raigmore , now they say that if you are ill overnight you are expected to travel 100 miles to be treated , i think the said society have got this grossly wrong . but then we know who has more rights.

  11. #11

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    i was going to read but then noticed the angry smiley and decided not to bother reading a rant

  12. #12

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    Quote Originally Posted by cesare View Post
    i was going to read but then noticed the angry smiley and decided not to bother reading a rant
    You are darned right I am angry, spitting furiously angry.

  13. #13

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    Quote Originally Posted by weeker2014 View Post
    No i'm pretty sure it was made at local level and sometimes tough decisions have to be made in the shorter term good. I would prefer a few out of hours went to ness rather than a reduction in day time services.It would seem you are a bit jealous of superannuated positions!
    where do you get the jealous bit from? I just dont think the people making the decisions on the provision of service have the slightest consideration for the customers.
    How many have personal objectives linked to performance pay awards for saving money by reducing services.

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    DMFB.... this was a practice run by a single doctor in a building that was wholely owned.

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    Quote Originally Posted by LIZZ View Post
    DMFB.... this was a practice run by a single doctor in a building that was wholely owned.
    Ah Sorry Lizz you were meaning the building. I dont see a problem with this if this doctor decided to sell the building and use a different approach to working or a change of how they work. Let me ask a question if you could work in a different way earning as much money in a few days as you would earn in a week or even a month would you not consider it ? I would. When I worked I changed jobs and made decisions regarding my work for the benefit of me and my family. Every one does this.
    This is a differnet issue and detracts from the real problem we have at the minute which is how to recruit and retain staff in the NHS and in our local hospital. How to get local management to fight our corner and not reduce services how to get the government to step in and protect our hospital.
    I would hope that there is no perfirmance pay awards for saving money these managers are paid to manage and in no way should they be getting a bonus for doing their job. This clouds their judgement when it comes to making cuts. Do I cut this service for the benefit of getting a bonus because ive saved money or do i maintain this service for the benefit of the sick and needy and lose my bonus ? this makes me sick at the thought of it. Yes tough decisions have to be made but when they are making wrong decisions which affect lives then who are they to play GOD.
    My mother seldom said anything, but her sighs were loud enough

  16. #16
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    I would have serious doubts about the ethics of any doctor that does the above at the expense of the very patients they are supposed to help and it would be a challenge to my own although obviously as you say any such would have to be seriously considered.
    I quite agree that managers should not be paid bonuses regardless of profession, they should be remunerated for the job at a salary commensurate with the occupation.
    I would like to see at least one layer of management stripped out of The NHS and some serious logistics applied together with full accountability by non medical staff.
    There are so many small, simple things that could be done to save money.
    A case in point, since moving north, I have been written to every year with regard to the influenza vaccination and some years have received more than one such letter.
    On the rare occasion I have needed a doctor I have asked that my notes are checked and that I am deleted from such mail , I have also written twice explaining that on medical advice I should not be given this.
    This is just a minor thing but multiplied across the population the cost starts to escalate.
    Another expense that could be seriously reduced occurs when visiting a hospital clinic and requiring a further appointment. Despite having all the necessary equipment at their fingertips, it is often a case that they have to notify by post and not there and then.
    I could go on but you must be bored by now, so will stop !

  17. #17
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    This thread seems to have been forgotten, why are all the supporters of CHAT not discussing this anymore? It is not just about maternity it is also about lack of healthcare in Caithness, eg. Outpatients clinics being cut, ambulance cover, if there were more remote outpatients clinics it would reduce patient transport service demands and reduce the parking problems at Raigmore. It would also cut the amount of expenditure on travel costs. No brainer NHS Highland! Anyone got any further thoughts?

  18. #18
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    This was a few years ago.
    After seeing the Dermatologist for 5 minutes in Raigmore I asked him why he didn't do clinics at CGH - his answer was roughly:
    During the 5 hours it takes me to travel up and down the road I can see several patients, so if I had to go to CGH the waiting time to see me would be longer.
    Being the only Dermatologist in this area at the time I could understand his logic.
    Yes it would be convenient for us up here but turn the equation the other way round - 5 hours is a lot of consulting time lost.

  19. #19

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    I understand that people are paid to travel to see a Doctor/Specialist in Scotland And do you get money for an overnite stay?
    In North America you pay for your own way. I recently went for an MRI and travelled 90 minutes there and 90 minutes back. There is no reimbursement/And no paid accommodation. If you chose to live in an area where there are sparse Health Coveages then it is not the Health Dept's fault.
    If you have insufficient money or job, Volunteers will provide transportation to and from the appointment. These volunteers get paid for their mileage only. If accomodation is required there are McDonald Houses which are funded by McDonald Restaurants.
    The health systems are overstretched across the Globe. Do more with less and this will get worse. Pay raises are eating away at the Budgets, Dr's and Specialists fees are ever increasing and there is only so much money to go around.
    For transportation from Hospital to Hospital ambulances are not used. They are only for Emergencies.. The shuttle sqervice is provided by Care attendants, who are paid less than Paramedics and are not on call, thus a much cheaper service.
    Just FYI....

  20. #20
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    Quote Originally Posted by The Horseman View Post
    I understand that people are paid to travel to see a Doctor/Specialist in Scotland And do you get money for an overnite stay?
    In North America you pay for your own way. I recently went for an MRI and travelled 90 minutes there and 90 minutes back. There is no reimbursement/And no paid accommodation. If you chose to live in an area where there are sparse Health Coveages then it is not the Health Dept's fault.
    If you have insufficient money or job, Volunteers will provide transportation to and from the appointment. These volunteers get paid for their mileage only. If accomodation is required there are McDonald Houses which are funded by McDonald Restaurants.
    The health systems are overstretched across the Globe. Do more with less and this will get worse. Pay raises are eating away at the Budgets, Dr's and Specialists fees are ever increasing and there is only so much money to go around.
    For transportation from Hospital to Hospital ambulances are not used. They are only for Emergencies.. The shuttle sqervice is provided by Care attendants, who are paid less than Paramedics and are not on call, thus a much cheaper service.
    Just FYI....
    we pay for our healthcare on a monthly basis in the UK
    W.A.T.P.

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