In article <[log in to unmask]
p-tr.wmids.nhs.uk>, Dunn Matthew Dr. (RJC) ACCIDENT & EMERGENCY -
SwarkHosp-TR <[log in to unmask]> writes
>For instance, the 90% of patients out
>of the department within 4 hours by March 2003 means that we won't be able
>to keep patients in awaiting assessment by other specialities; and won't be
>able to tie up our own doctors doing a lot of 'routine' investigations-
>these will be done in a clinical decisions unit.
Be warned. Creative management will merely redefine some of your
cubicles as a clinical decision unit. Your staff will then be expected
to spend precious clinical time moving patients who have been waiting 3
hrs and 59 mins into such cubicles so that the clock can be stopped.
This proposal will be dressed up in a terribly reasonable way. The
result: A&E is left precisely where it is now: same patients waiting
just as long, same space and same staff. The only difference: the
performance stats look less embarrassing. This is not paranoia. John
Heyworth's recent letter to the speciality arose from just such
inventive stats massaging.
The only good thing that makes minors streaming worth looking at twice
is the real increase in staff that accompanies it.
Dr G Ray
A&E
Sussex
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