> From: "Dr I Cox" <[log in to unmask]>
> We have just had a letter about patient taking salazopyrine and other 2nd
> line anti-rheumatic drugs, asking us to:
> 1. take blood monthly
> 2. monitor changes and trends in results
> 3. fill in co-operation card
> 4. ask patient to remember to bring card to clinic each time.
>
>
> My partners had all initialled the letter (suggesting acceptance) but I was
> feeling particularly stroppy. I found that we have 30 patients on these and
> similar drugs from different departments. If you estimate, as most sensible
> professions would, that it would take 10 minutes to do this for each patient
> safely, it equates to half a day a month at least. No new money-just a
> request from a consultant ( and a friend,, I believe who is having similar
> troubles in his clinic).
>
> Any comments from people out there?
> Am I being paranoid?
> Do I need another holiday?.....( only back 3 days!)
>
We refuse to undertake this work without transfer of resources from
secondary care.
RHAs is particularly bad about this. We have only recently got
agreement for £75 per patient per year for warfarin monitoring (it
was £45 per year max 40 patients).
We have refused to do lithium monitoring and therefore prescribing.
We have refused to do methotrexate monitoring and prescribing.
If you do not wish to do this work then write to the consultant and
to the health authority. Ok it will upset them, but aren't *you*
upset?
Dr David J Plews
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