There are things you (and we) can do – to help the NHS give you better care in 2025.
Hence this is one of two blogs published on MyHSN on 1st January 2025. The other is ‘NHS in 2025: 10 New Year’s Resolutions for Staff‘.
1. Continuity
Try harder to achieve continuity – e.g. see same doctor twice. You like it. We like it. It leads to a better result.
2. 999/A&E
Only ring 999, or got to A&E, if its a real emergency. The clue is in the name: ‘Accident’ and ‘Emergency’.
3. Be ready – when you have an NHS contact
- Take someone with you – having someone with you will give you emotional support. They can help you remember more about what the doctor says
- Know your medication – keep an up-to-date list on you (paper or phone). And don’t run out of tablets
- Arrive as calm as possible – plan the journey, leave early; and use public transport or a taxi, or get someone to drop you off. Don’t drive yourself
- Write things down – especially the name, title and contact number of whichever NHS staff you meet. You may need to contact them again.
4. Cancel your appointment
If you know you are going to miss it. Someone else can have it.
5. Help yourself get discharged
If you are in hospital, help yourself get discharged by saying daily to the doctors,
“Which day am I going home, and what can I do to help myself get discharged?”
When you feel well enough, wear your normal day clothes. It changes the impression of you, i.e. you are ready to go home.
6. Google and AI stuff
The internet is often right about medical and health stuff. But use common sense in what you look at.
7. Understand which non-NHS services may better support you or your loved one
There is a tendency to think that ‘the NHS looks after my health’. But NHS-led medicalised solutions often don’t work in the elderly. Teachers, carers and housing staff are ‘out there’ and involved with healthcare but are often ignored by NHS staff.
An example. Your elderly mother is discharged from hospital with a “plan for a dosette box” (to administer her complex tablet regime). This half happens eventually when a GP reads the discharge summary 2 weeks later, who sends a message to the wrong pharmacy a week later. Its ‘sorted’ in 4 weeks, after which she has been readmitted to hospital for the same problem, partly due to the lack of tablets.
A better plan would have been for the NHS (or better, you) to contact her carers and give them a copy of the discharge summary, and ask them to ‘sort it out’; partly as they are the ones who are actually giving you mother her tablets. Result: mother still in her own home 4 weeks after discharge.
8. Stop considering the NHS a religion – complain a bit more
It’s your NHS. You pay our salaries. Its a state-run service .. not a religion. Use all ways of complaining when things don’t happen or you are not happy. For hospital issues, contact (or better go to) PALS (Patient Advice and Liaison Service). It is usually at the entrance to the hospital.
9. If you are overweight, lose some weight
Yes, have another go. Yes you can.
10. Assume nothing
Follow the ‘MyHSN Mantra’:
“Chase, chase, chase. Don’t assume no news is good news.
Be politely persistent and proactive”
Oh yes. We would like to hear your ideas and resolutions. Please tell us via Instagram.
