> Why reinvent the wheel?
> NHS Direct was set up to fulfil this function.
Tempting to say that the original wheel was straight and if we could work
out how to make a round one it might work better. In my area, NHS direct
greatly overtriages to A and E and 999, wastes time for the patient and does
not seem cost effective (recent example: Mother phoned after child had
suffered a head injury. Series of questions were asked. Last question: 'Has
the child injured their head in the last 72 hours'. A 'Yes' to this resulted
in advice to attend A and E immediately. I am not certain of the safety of
NHS direct. I have no doubt however that there is scope for improvement in
cost effectiveness- and that development/ dissemination of protocols is an
appropriate use of this list.
(Having said that, department policy- drawn up by me- is basically not to
give clinical advice but to refer to NHS direct. If for no other reason that
they have a better paper trail than we do. Defensive medicine.)
Matt Dunn
Warwick
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