Consultants - Public Holidays

Strumms

My Dad was taken to hospital following collapsing at home a few nights ago, he’s feeling a bit better if tired and obviously anxious following the ordeal... what’s contributing to his anxiety is having had scans.... he is going to have to wait until Tuesday at the earliest to learn what’s going on as the consultant doesn’t work bank holiday Mondays...

If bus drivers, Tesco employees, barmen, all are examples of people who work public holidays, why the fûck are consultants or this one, not expected to work public holidays ? I mean what are the logics behind people who do such essential work and required by tax payers being granted days off for public holidays...? People up the wall with worry about their health, wellbeing, lives and future and the wellbeing of the family and in turn the family worried too..yet...’ohhh he won’t be around for days because of a public holiday’...

my last job was nothing approaching the responsibility of a medical consultant but if I was rostered in Monday I was required to work....

Mrs OBumble

By that logic, consultants should work 24x7, with no holidays ever. I don't think that fits with your philosophy of workers rights.

Sorry about your dad.

But urgent medical care will be provided 24x7. Just like urgent food supplies in Tesco etc.

Non urgent care will happen during office hours.

Wesser

We have 700 consultant post in ireland empty... we have to ask ourselves why. What is it about working in Ireland that is so unattractive.

Most are working 60 / 70 hours plus. New recruits arent interested as theres no work life balance.

Ps there is a covering consultant so if he was really unwell he would be seen.

Dempo1

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058201819/consultants-public-holidays

I'm sorry about your Dad but you need to put this in context, it's not just about consultant availability, there are numerous processes to go through, Scans are not just reviewed by consultants, they require thorough checking by radiographer and there could be multiple disciplines involved in determination of your dad's condition.

In extreme emergencies, those requiring immediate surgery, scans are reviewed immediately, I can only assume and Hope, your dad's condition not deemed absolute emergency. This is a call made thousands of times daily.

Worth also mentioning, tge Cyber attack particularly affected all scans, xray, ct and MRI, I personally had to wait 4 weeks for a recent MRI scan, albeit I believe this issue now resolved Albeit a backlog to be dealt with.

Hopefully your dad will get positive news soon.

Strumms

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117694276#Comment_117694276

By what logic ? Can you quote what logic I’m intimating that consultants should be working 24/7..? With in your words..”no holidays ever” ? Well ? Where have I said or intimated that ?... :)

He’ll get ‘care’ but he’d like to find out, five days after collapsing at home, unable to walk or stand up what exactly is the root cause of his medical problem... has he had a stroke ? Is he undergoing a nerve disorder ...What ? I’m sure he’s relieved to be looked after, feeling comfortable and in fact feeling better, I spoke with him on the phone 15 minutes ago and he sounds genuinely great which is good but possibly a week, maybe more we don’t know...to finally just speak with a consultant ( maybe ) to find out about his health, that’s before any treatments are prescribed .... not good enough...

Mrs OBumble

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117694429#Comment_117694429

You said "why the fûck are consultants or this one, not expected to work public holidays".

From that, it's no jump at all to why are they not expected to work weekends.

As noted, some are - providing critical cover.

But non-urgent things will wait.

And if there is uncertainty about the cause of the problem (heart attack, stroke, nerve disorder) - then possibly more than one consultant will be involved. The information which your Father gets on Tuesday may tell him about the underlying cause, or it may just be a review and decision about what to test for next.

Strumms

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117695282#Comment_117695282

The only ‘jump’ is happening in your mind...I didn’t mention weekends if you want to conclude I mean things that haven’t been actually said at all....fire away... but I’m not going to engage with you any further there isn’t any point.

Dempo1

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117695313#Comment_117695313

Can I just say, it's clearly a very distressing situation for your dad to be in, things are said in the heat of the moment, often later regretted. I'm assuming your dad is in hospital which is the very best place he can be, receiving necessary care and attention. You've mentioned he's feeling a little better and that's genuinely positive.

I guess sometimes it's easy to be critical of our health care system and as someone who has a long term condition, I too have found it frustrating but have to say, ultimately I do feel fortunate. Perhaps you'll not get the answers you seek here but on Tuesday both you, your family and especially dad will get some insight into what's going on and hopefully a treatment plan.

I wish your dad well.

Strumms

Thanks, appreciate it...

spoke to him an hour ago, he is comfortable but informed again that today no consultants will be meeting with him or anybody... so he’s in hospital over 5 days and still is no wiser as to what is going on with his health or the root cause problem as to why he’s there or even the pathway ahead for him to get better... some country... jeez.

Strumms

Well he finally had the opportunity to talk with somebody from the consultants team this morning... they have reviewed his scans and test results and there is no cause for alarm, just a necessity to change some of his medications.... he sounds a relieved man, his family are certainly relieved too...