Healthcare is known for its continuous progression and challenge of treatment processes to improve the health outcomes for patients. Whether that is researching how Surgeons could reduce risk of bleeding in surgery or whether it is the latest drugs that could be used to beat cancer.
All this progress is fantastic, it is what we as patients need and it showcases what the NHS network is all about – Patient care. However the majority of our care is still being delivered in a traditional way. Healthcare as a delivery model has not changed, but it has been attempted. Government after Government has continued to challenge acute trusts and hospitals to move care into the community; however in reality this hasn’t happened. Patients must still wait to see their GP, get a GP referral and then get placed into a queue at the local hospital.
Is it not time that it changed?
Our culture as a society has changed. We are used to ordering something online and it being delivered tomorrow or often the same day if you are in the city. There is now evidence to suggest that this consumer culture we find ourselves part of is impacting the attendance rates at A&E and as a result they continue to increase; that’s because people do not want to wait two weeks for a GP appointment. Patients want to be seen now, and locally. A wait to access care when you’re ill is not what you want when you are ill, you want answers.
So yes it is time for healthcare to change, but change on such a large system takes time. Change at a time when investment is not particularly forthcoming in healthcare and at a time when the system capacity cannot meet demand. There is no ability to pause and reset. All change has to be done whilst in full operational mode – This is a challenge in its self.
So how come the NHS is not meeting customers wants?
The system is changing to try and meet the patient (customer) wants, but it takes time. But patients must change too, what cannot continue is the culture of immediacy that patients expect from the health service. We all need to take account of our actions. Call 111 and speak to the NHS 111 service around your symptoms, speak to a pharmacist or look at whether there is a self-care option. A&E stands for accident and emergency – Not anything and everything. It provides access to care in an emergency. The system is built to meet the demand on "real" illness (clinical need) not patient need. The healthcare system is changing. A&E is getting front loaded with GPs. Diagnostics are available, and then outpatient activity can follow; hopefully within the 18 week breach deadline which must be adhered to nationally. Community providers are being commissioned to bring care closer to patients homes. Community providers should be part of the emerging primary care networks to ensure that there is a greater responsiveness to healthcare near your home. LivingCare has developed from this need. We believe in bringing health to you.
We are changing healthcare. We are making it meet the needs of a new generation.
At LivingCare we are all patients of services and wanted to establish a service that meets the new generation wants, needs and expectations. Being responsive to culture change and a shift in societal acceptances. We can offer you appointments across our Private Services and NHS services within 48 hours. No more waiting in queues. We also offer evening appointments - so you can pop for your appointment after work. No more awkward conversations with your manager.
Ask your GP to been seen at LivingCare. We will get you an appointment across one of our locations in Yorkshire within 72 hours in the majority of cases.