Hi All
A colleague of mine is considering using some type of patient
transport service, during the daytime (in-hours), to shift the sick and
ailing off their sofas and away from their tellies and get them
down to the surgery instead of the GP coming to their homes. The
local board were none to enamoured with the idea, and essentially
said no (politely). We have to ask, Why Not ?
We know of a couple of other practices (indirectly) who do
use patient transport services, taxis or whatever to do just this.
There was an article at the back of the BMJ (the best bit, after
Minerva) on a GP who basically managed to get the vast majority of
his requests for visits to attend the surgery by sending them a taxi
and explaining how much better use of his time could be made if he
didn't have to travel miles in traffic and rain to drop off the
paracetamol and sick line.
Seems to me eminently sensible. Does anyone know of any actual work
(studies, like) done on this kind of project, know of any other
practices doing it, and know how they fund it ?
Look forward to your thoughts.
Paul
ps It really is a colleague, this is not just to keep journos at
bay... :-)
Dr Paul Miller
Bridgeton Health Centre, Glasgow
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