On Thu 08 Jan, Dr Alan Hassey wrote:
> Simple stuff like consultation rates, numbers of "extra" appointments etc
> may give some indication - but it's all very difficult especially as Xmas
> casts a shadow over patient behavior "better by Christmas etc...." The
> majority of our RTIs were viral & most did NOT get antibiotics - though
> 30-40% did. So AB scripts will be a proxy but would underestimate the
> epidemic (at least in our practice). Read Code analysis in paperless
> practices (like ours) might yield better data - I might do it sometime!
If we prescribe antibiotics for a fixed percentage of urgent consultations
(assuming this ratio varies between practice and between doctor but not
over time) wouldn't you expect the absolute number of prescriptions for
antibiotics to rise in proportion with the number of urgent consultations?
> I admit - because patients cannot manage at home - either for the next
> x hrs until help can be arranged - or at all. As for regular FU
> visiting - we abandoned that years ago - FU can frequently be done by
> phone "are you getting better?"
Is there any conceivable alternative to admission?
> The biggest workload factor is that most patients reach for the phone
> - for advice/appt or visit before reaching for the paracetamol patient
> education/expectation is a major problem!
Will the "doctor/patient partnership" help here?
Trims.
--
Dr Ian Trimble http://www.sherwood.demon.co.uk/
Sherwood Health Centre
Elmswood Gardens Tel: +44 115 962 4516
Nottingham NG5 4AD Fax: +44 115 985 7899
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