GPs
Getting the most out of visits to the doctor
4 Signs That Your Doctor Might Not Be Right For You
Collaborative Post The older you get, the more important it becomes to have a good doctor that you know for a fact cares about you. A doctor that will make an effort and will work hard to help you. Not every doctor out there is like that, but when you get one, there’s no doubt […]
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The importance of feeling comfortable with your doctor
Collaborative Post A strong relationship with your doctor or primary care provider (PCP) is important for many reasons. Not only do they provide medical care, but they also act as advocates and resources for their patients. Establishing comfort with your doctor or PCP can involve various steps to help you get the most out of […]
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Can’t see the GP? What can you do?
Getting a face-to-face appointment with a doctor at the local surgery seems to have become almost impossible in many areas of the UK. There has been a great deal of anger focused on GP practices from people struggling to get the appointments they want. Yet according to GP leaders, more than half of all appointments […]
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Why men won’t go to the doctor – and why they really should
Would it surprise you to hear that nearly one in four men (23%) completely refuse to seek medical advice about a health issue due to embarrassment? Recent research has uncovered a serious reluctance on the part of men to speak to GPs – and this has led to men’s health trailing women’s across several key […]
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The doctor may see you now – if only virtually
With GP appointments increasingly difficult to come by, how will digital fit into the future of local patient care? ‘I can’t get an appointment to see my GP!’ We hear that cry of desperation on a regular basis. The system for making appointments seems to vary from surgery to surgery. Sometimes it’s fine, and you […]
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How will the promised boost in funding help to solve the social care crisis?
With a growing number of older people needing help to live independently at home, there is massive pressure on funding. A promised increase may go some way to helping. By Camille Leavold The UK Government recently announced a £3.5bn annual real-terms increase in funding for primary and community care in England, with Prime Minister Theresa May suggesting […]
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How NHS GP videoconference consultations work
by Kathy Lawrence As the UK government has just announced that videoconferencing with GPs is the way forward for the NHS in England, we’re talking about how the service works, and whether it’s something that can help older people. Experiencing LIVI for the first time Our local GP practices have been contacting patients to let […]
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How can you complain about or praise care?
Sometimes it can feel like we have no voice in eldercare. Yet there are opportunities to give your opinion to people who will listen and can act on your feedback. If not that, they will at least share your experiences for the benefit of others. Talking about the NHS The NHS appears to be becoming […]
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How can I coordinate my parent’s care?
Written by Rebecca Lenton As our parents get older their health issues can become complex. At one level hospital consultants are experts in their field but can be focused on the one issue without reference to anything else your parent is being treated for. At the local level your parent may be seeing a variety […]
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Will the “Friends and Family Test” make a difference to hospital care?
Written by Kathy Lawrence Patients now have the opportunity to rate their hospital experience. Kathy explains how the survey works and wonders if it will give the right answers to improve our parents’ experiences. At the beginning of 2013 the UK Government announced that it would be making more use of a “Friends and Family” […]
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