Monday 7 January 2008

Health screening prevention something new?

So we have a new health initiative, well so the Prime Minister has announced today, is that so? Well what the hell has my own doctor been doing these last 4 or 5 years and others re prevention where health is concerned, this is not new it is old hand what is new is the fact that there is no funding to support what is being planned. Like stroke there is a lot of talk but only hot air when it comes to setting up the infrastructures that are needed to pull this off.
Sorry have to dash out, back later. Hi back with you all who read this.

The new screening announced today, is it so new? Screening has been going on in one way or another for some years now, the only difference I can see is that they are to target certain people of a certain age sometime soon, has anyone seen a starting date for this? I have regular bloods test done, for diabetes, cholesterol and so on, blood pressure also regularly, my weight, height and life style looked at, and yes I take exercise 4 to 5 times a week, the test have been carried out for the past 9 years and the exercise for the past 2 years, but I can not be the only one doing this surely? In fact I know I am not two of my friends both stroke survivors also have these things done and go to the gym to help improve their fitness and mobility, so you see this is not new, but I am not knocking it, far from it, all people should have had this kind of service from their GPs/Health clinics etc! But here is the big questions will the people contacted turn up for their screening when called to do so? Remember the figures being branded about are in excess of 6 million.

Then there is the problem that not all PCTs will see this a main priority, and go in different directions doing their own thing, you only have to look at stroke services over the past 10 years to see how that has been delivered across England and Wales, fragmented now there is a word we all know about when it comes to treating stroke.
Some of us stroke survivors have been lucky and received good care, dedicated professional staff trained to a very high standard this includes staff in private sector and local services who deliver first class treatment and rehab, all trained to a very high standard in stroke treatment and care.

No comments: