Part of the system
Having had probably more insight into the NHS IT Programme than most sane people would choose, I had the exciting prospect of actually using it today, when my GP decided to refer me to the hospital [1]. For those of you with a more normal level of familiarity with the new system, this is done using a system called Choose & Book. Having been warned by the GP about how unreliable and broken this was (i.e. it's often inaccessible), it actually worked fine, showing us a range of clinics, and giving me the option, should I want it, of travelling all the way to Berkshire or Swindon should I have anything against the JR. It also helpfully advised us that the average waiting time for my chosen clinic is 51 days (which is fine - it's nearly 6 months since I last saw the GP about it so there's no hurry), and printed out my 12-digit reference number, and on a different sheet, a two-word password. The words are clearly chosen at random from a dictionary (e.g. "sheep whistle"), and mine sounds vaguely like it should be the name of a french peasant dish, which amused me.
Now, the bit of the IT Programme that I spend most of my time working with is HealthSpace, which I happen to know is linked with C&B, and so I was hoping to log into my HS account, do the Choose & Book thing, and see how well they do actually intertwine. Except I'm in Oxford. Which doesn't do online bookings yet. So I have to wait a few days for the letter to be written, and then call the hospital... Which is not much different from how it has always worked, except for the choosing of clinics bit.
Sigh.
I can see why the doctors get frustrated. They get promised the earth, and they see stories about other people actually playing with a cute green-and-blue swirly thing, but all they get is a bucket of sand.
I still believe in it though. I do believe that one day, it will all work and help people and stuff. Just not yet, I guess...
[1] DON'T PANIC. I have migraines that are frequent enough to qualify for preventative treatment, but I have asthma, which contra-indicates all of the standard preventers. I've tried the remaining 2 and they haven't worked, so she's hoping (probably in vain imho) that the neurologists in the headache clinic will have some better ideas. Seriously, I'm fine :)
Now, the bit of the IT Programme that I spend most of my time working with is HealthSpace, which I happen to know is linked with C&B, and so I was hoping to log into my HS account, do the Choose & Book thing, and see how well they do actually intertwine. Except I'm in Oxford. Which doesn't do online bookings yet. So I have to wait a few days for the letter to be written, and then call the hospital... Which is not much different from how it has always worked, except for the choosing of clinics bit.
Sigh.
I can see why the doctors get frustrated. They get promised the earth, and they see stories about other people actually playing with a cute green-and-blue swirly thing, but all they get is a bucket of sand.
I still believe in it though. I do believe that one day, it will all work and help people and stuff. Just not yet, I guess...
[1] DON'T PANIC. I have migraines that are frequent enough to qualify for preventative treatment, but I have asthma, which contra-indicates all of the standard preventers. I've tried the remaining 2 and they haven't worked, so she's hoping (probably in vain imho) that the neurologists in the headache clinic will have some better ideas. Seriously, I'm fine :)