We posted this on the RCN Emergency Care Association FB page after hearing this programme:
I have some concerns about the programme - an inept clinician missing a case of meningitis (especially on reattendance) can happen anywhere at anytime and is not a result of an ED becoming an UCC - crap care is crap care wherever it happens. The issue of the under-utilisation of UCC's is a separate one and I would agree that these are best co-located with ED's and given a common nomenclature to avoid confusion - given that we spent years banging on about 'inappropriate attenders' I suppose we have ourselves partly to blame for this. I think that the bottom line is that re-configuration is a financial and clinical necessity but the public need to know where to go, what the place is called and what services are offered - its either an ED with an UCC co-located or a rural MIU - Helen in my experience there does not seem to be that much confusion amongst the public about what an MIU does - particularly from locals - its probably the word 'minor' that makes it easier to understand - how do we expect an anxious parent to appreciate the difference between 'urgent' and 'emergency' care - we are just so up ourselves sometimes
There is 1 message totaling 105 lines in this issue.
Topics of the day:
1. Radio 4 program
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Date: Sat, 30 Jul 2011 23:09:50 +0100
From: Ray McGlone <[log in to unmask]>
Subject: Radio 4 program
http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b012l2yv/File_on_4_An_Emergency_Crisis/
"With many NHS hospitals facing financial problems, A&E departments are
closing or being replaced by Urgent Care Centres. Allan Urry investigates
the impact on patients."
You might want to listen to this on iplayer. John Heyworth was interviewed
Ray McGlone
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End of ACAD-AE-MED Digest - 20 Jul 2011 to 30 Jul 2011 (#2011-38)
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