On Friday 16 July 2004 14:04, David Tyers wrote:
> Have other practices put new procedures or protocols into place
> following a suicide/attempted suicide? We are keen to have procedures
> to minimise risks in the future but wish to remain flexible enough to
> respond to individual patient needs/circumstances.
I don't wish to take issue with David, whose services we would gladly
use if he wasn't always booked up, but protocols are for the birds.
More specifically they are for nurses and lawyers. Nurses because their
professionalism lies in other areas (around the oases of knowledge, not
the plains of uncertainty where GPs roam). Lawyers because if it can be
shown that Dr X did not follow item Y of protocol Z then there is a
prima facie case for negligence, and where there's facies there's
money.
My protocol for GPs is as follows:
1. Keep your wits about you
2. Read widely
3. Take the trouble to listen to the patient
4. Review old notes (if they haven't been shredded scanned and lost by a
previous "highly-advanced" practice)
4. Look up information as required (EMIS Mentor is a great resource)
5. Have faith in yourself (otherwise how can your patients do the same?)
This seems to work in most situations, and has provided me with some
success and professional satisfaction.
I see colleagues working themselves towards a nervous breakdown by
trying assiduously to apply all the protocols and guidelines with which
we are inundated to every patient who walks through the door. With the
greatest of respect to our GPC negotiating team, the new contract
doesn't help.
--
Michael Leuty
Nottingham, UK
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