Nhs Wasting Money

[smurfchops]

Had a letter today informing me l am going to get (not in their words) a poo test in the post. Why waste money on these letters? Just send the test!! Tip of the iceberg

[Zacs-Master]

Because the poo tests aren’t sent out by the NHS. They’re from an independent testing company.

[douglas9401]

Aye, my wee wifie had a letter confirming her cancelling an appointment, just in case she forgot she'd done it I suppose.

[jno]

actually it might use those words

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/bowel-cancer-screening/

Anyway, it might save your life so they want to make sure you know it's coming. They could probably save more money if they didn't send them out at all, but there it is, they want to make old people even older and cost the country even more.

[bednobs]

the NHS "wastes" mney on lots of things depending on your viiewpoint i guess. It paid for 3 of my children's funerals for example, which some people might consider a waste (i didnt). it pays for people's fertility treatment, which some people consider a waste (not those who are the recipient of it i guess), it pays for people's nursing home care, which some people consider a waste (not those who get their inheritances protected i guess)

[douglas9401]

In civilised countries bowel screening is carried out by the NHS, organised out of Dundee.

[Zacs-Master]

Dooogie, stop talking sheeeiyte. ;-)

[douglas9401]

I've fecal else to do.

[Zacs-Master]

LOL

[New Judge]

//Because the poo tests aren’t sent out by the NHS. They’re from an independent testing company.//

The why doesn't the independent company send out the poo test with a covering letter which begins "The NHS has asked us to send you this poo test"?

[douglas9401]

It occurs to me that it doesn't merit a full letter, a little chit would do.

[Zacs-Master]

I’m not sure.

[Hopkirk]

If you get a letter from the NHS to expect a pack, and it doesn't arrive you can follow it up.

If we relied on the company to send the covering letter then you wouldn't know you had missed out.

[lankeela]

22.40 Best Answer surely!

[sunny-dave]

Free "Poo Sticks" testing stops at age 70 over here (God knows why), so we're just arranging for a yearly private test to be done - it really is very important.

[theshedman]

OH has diabetes and needs to have feet done by NHS every so often. She phones them for an appointment and gets one, then she gets a text to confirm appointment, A couple of days before the appointment she gets a text saying if she is not going to attend then please let them know and then the night before she gets another text to remind her that she has one. In between she gets a letter off them saying they have made an appointment for her with the date and time. Why so many.

[jno]

Dave, they're gradually expanding it over here. I think it's now 56 to 74 but you can still request a free test kit every couple of years after that.

Incidentally, to answer the OP:

"We send you an invitation letter with information about bowel cancer screening. The information is to help you decide whether to take part. "

So the letter is to give smurfchops the chance to opt out.

[jno]

theshedman, something like 15 million NHS appointments are missed in a year. So they really really want to know if a patient has changed her mind.

[New Judge]

//So the letter is to give smurfchops the chance to opt out.//

So why couldn’t the chance to opt out be provided by the people doing the tests? e.g. “The NHS has asked us to send this poo test. If you want to opt out [send a text/write a letter/phone up/whatever]. If you want to take part [here’s the instructions].

They’ve subcontracted out the testing so why do they need to be involved at all? The testing people can follow up any refusals or failures to respond and pass the details on to the NHS when they have exhausted any follow up that is deemed necessary.

The NHS is simply making work for itself and its staff. This is just one example of one process. Nobody seems willing to examine these processes critically to determine whether or not they are best practice and fit for purpose, with the result that the entire organisation is rendered unfit.

//something like 15 million NHS appointments are missed in a year.//

I’m not surprised. Mrs NJ had a letter, correctly addressed to her, giving her an appointment at a hospital forty miles away . This surprised her because she had never had any dealings with the said hospital and in any case was not awaiting treatment for any ailment. She did the decent thing and phoned the hospital to inform them of their mistake (taking the best part of an hour to do so). She was told that nothing could be done because the hospital had no idea who the appointment was meant for. Two months later she received an identical letter with a further appointment. That went in the bin. One of my acquaintances was awaiting a hospital appointment. He received a letter with an appointment to go to hospital A. At 5pm the day before the due date he received a text reminding him of his appointment at hospital B. By the time he contacted someone the next day to find out where he was supposed to go, he was informed his appointment was in fact at hospital C, which was too far away for him to get to in time. So that’s five of the 15 million missed appointments accounted for.

[johnny.5]

They are not wasting money but they need to be seen to be doing something
rather than just going through the motions


Am I right ?
I'm Not Wrong !

[theshedman]

I know that jno but 1 a few days before that appointment would be enough. I have always said if you can make an appointment then if you cannot make it you should have the decency to call and let them know. This should apply both ways too. I went for an appointment a while ago, went to check in at the desk and was told they had had to cancel it but they hadn't let me know. Waste of my time too.