Ombudsman Report & Hospital Communications

tohaltuwi

When I heard the Ombudsman speak first thing today on Morning Ireland my ears pricked at the mention of inadequate communications at SVUH. 

https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/womans-eight-month-cancer-delay-after-mix-up-with-letters/a1739860800.html

Recently I had first hand experience of this as I attended my 3rd neurology clinic in a year, only to learn that they had not one of the series of 4 brain/spineMRIs I underwent at a nearby private hospital over the year, which had been requested by the SVUH had arrived in their clinic. I had been told at previous clinic that it looked like treatment ought to be have been started a long time ago and no more time should be lost. I was told that the arrival of scan triggers a patient case team conference by the lead professor, consultants, registrars, and nurse specialist. Only then can specific treatment be decided upon. 

There is no system in place where the non-arrival of a requested MRI triggers a query to the patient as to did they go for the scan, on what date and at which centre. At previous attendance no mention was made of presence or absence of scan and I presumed all was kosher, as they knew I had an unrelated medical condition which would have to be surgically managed before undergoing any treatment. The doctor who saw me said “this is a pretty common occurrence here, where scans are missing, especially when they come from an outside hospital”. Also a friend with same condition told me she had exact same experience as I have done, and it took her 3 years attending there until she copped on you have to request the scans from the imaging centre and hand them over in CD form to SVUH neurology. 

Crazy situation. People need to be aware of the inadequacy of certain hospital communication downfalls and be prepared to always get copies of own records. 

https://www.irishtimes.com/health/2024/05/21/healthcare-workers-to-get-quick-digital-access-to-patients-medical-records-under-new-national-system/

This is long overdue and has been in the pipeline for decades. The sooner the system has been digitized and brought up to date the better for everyone, patients and medical staff.

The health service is to introduce a national electronic healthcare record (EHR) system that would allow healthcare workers to view patients’ medical information digitally, under plans being brought to Cabinet this week.

The State has consistently been criticised for its lack of progress in digitising the health service. In 2021, the Health Information and Quality Authority (Hiqa) highlighted “major deficiencies” in the current information system, with data on patient health usually being managed on different electronic systems or on paper-based systems, affecting people’s safety.

Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly will on Tuesday bring a memo to Cabinet outlining the Digital Framework, a significant overhaul of the current health service information system. It will include a national patient app, the conclusion of a community health-based record system, and concluding procurement of a national shared care record.

The national shared care record would allow doctors and other healthcare workers to quickly view a patient’s current medications, allergies, recent blood test results and any relevant clinical documents, such as active treatment plans.

tohaltuwi

I did open a thread about it previously, but in a general sense, not knowing at the time I would be so impacted by it.

In the meantime I am getting all CD copies. I already keep as many of my own medical reports online as I can, and the stuff already held at the clinic is this stuff, including random screenshots of an MRI I had done as in inpatient in a private clinic. It is mad to think that I am the provider of medical records. Not everyone has the wherewithal for this type of stuff.

I completely understand and sympathise with anyone having to deal with the utterly inadequate and antiquated record management system in the health service. Hopefully your issue has been resolved and you can focus on getting well now and manage your health without all the additional stress of trying to look after your medical records too.

tohaltuwi

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122251796#Comment_122251796

You must be joking 😃 my next appointment at the clinic is 16th October, if I can still actually walk into the clinic by then. I’m going to try and get a private appointment with Prof Hardiman who had initially offered me one that coincided with the free nearby public hospital in both date and time. Fate is laughing at me.

tohaltuwi

FWIW one thing I have done this evening is submitted a complaint to the Ombudsman who is already is familiar with the indicate internal system postal communication system. You really couldn’t make it up if you tried.

Martina1991

Northern Ireland are so far ahead of the Republic. They have multiple digital platforms for integrating healthcare records.

If only the HSE could employ the teams they had in the North. The HSE are very slow to invest and privide in long term projects.

https://medical.sectra.com/case/northern-ireland-launches-digital-health-diagnostics-programme/

https://dhcni.hscni.net/digital-portfolio/encompass/