Elderly FIL and blood test

It’s standard but when this has happened to me (when I learnt it was standard) I was very much made to feel like this was a me problem and not an nhs problem. Like somehow it was my fault for not bringing it rather than the nurses fault for not issuing it. It sounds similar with your FIL.

And you’re deluded if you don’t think it will cost billions! There are 100’s of pieces of documentation for each episode of care 😂

Having joined up computer systems will be the very last thing on my mind tomorrow on my 13 hour shift , the lack of beds, staff and equipment will! I hope they put the wonga there!

And possibly also have ID cards with all important information linked. Alas, the UK thought ID cards were invading their privacy.

@ExitViaGiftShop it happens frequently on intensive care where I work. You speak with family or (if the patient is unidentifiable in which case you wouldn’t have their records anyway because you wouldn’t know who they are!) you provide care ‘in the patients best interests’

Nope. We may be able to see some of your clinical notes if your GP surgery is in our area and happens to be linked to our computer system. This is mostly the case is physical health hospitals. If we are a MH hospital, we cannot see your physical health notes and vice versa as we operate two completely different computer system. Similarly, I cannot see any community notes for local patients. But if you are an out of area patient, I have no chance of accessing your medical notes. I have no idea how people cope in A&E and I suggest you have a card on your person which states your allergies and medication in case of emergencies. For example, if you take blood thinning meds and have a stroke, trombolising will have a catastrophic effect. Don't risk it. Hospitals are operating blind in emergency situations so do your best to have basic info with you.

@LOpportunityCestFuckingEnorme its only possible if they use the same system. Three hospitals I work at, within 25 minutes of each other use completely different systems which do not speak to each other what so ever, so it’s not possible unfortunately. If it was I’m sure the phlebotomist would of done so.

Different trusts use different systems. You can pick up very very basic GP information and some clinic letters if your system is compatible and you’ve allowed your information to be shared, but otherwise it’s a fact finding exercise by the health care professional.

I've taken DC for 4 blood tests as ordered by the GP in last few months, in a community hospital. They just asked who ordered the test, look it up on their PC, and do the right test. The GP doesn't give any paperwork, not even to make the appointment at the hospital which I had to do. So it is possible!

That's how it works in my NHS GP practise too. The GP refers you for bloods - if he can't take them then, you'll have an appointment within 24 hours with a nurse. She does the tests, sends them off and results are back within 24 hours again.

Ah, okay.

It seems a bit silly that a GP practise can manage it but a hospital can't, though! Relying on someone to remember a piece of paper before they can have their appointment is batshit, lol.

Sounds great, but presumably the country where you live in Europe spends more than the UK on healthcare.

My local hospital won't see you unless you have the paper slip it's not negotiable

That’s different, the PN has the form and sends both form and blood off to the lab.

I've had several blood tests in the last few months and haven't needed a form for any of them!

The practise nurse has all the details on her computer/in her files and just brings it up before she does the test

Because at some point (maybe 10 years or so ago) the government spent billions trying to centralise the database and then abandoned the project. Quite why they wanted to create a new system rather than picking one well-designed system already in use, I haven't a clue.
I am surprised you are surprised to learn this. It was quite a big deal at the time.
Yes, the system is crap and we waste a lot of clinical time due to this. "The doctor didn't even read my notes" - 99% of the time there are no notes to read.

https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/health-and-families/health-news/nhs-pulls-the-plug-on-its-ps11bn-it-system-2330906.html#:~:text=A%20plan%20to%20create%20the%20world%27s%20largest%20single,after%20running%20up%20billions%20of%20pounds%20in%20bills.

Never experienced this but it sounds like something from fifty years ago. The NHS is really bizarre sometimes.

It seems to be standard, but what a load of outdated, convoluted bollocks. A waste of the OP's time, her FIL's time and the phlebotomist's time - and the FIL is no closer to getting the results of the tests than he was when he was initially referred (and presumably the FIL now has to go back to the GP, get another referral letter, wait for an appointment and then make plans to get to the hospital again).

Where I live (in Europe) if the GP decides that I need a blood test, he takes it there and then and sends it off. Or if he's busy (which he very rarely is) he'll ask the practice nurse to do it - having printed off the requirements letter so she knows which bottle/tube to use and where to send the sample.

They are not being awkward . It depends where you live Vs where you are getting tested.so I don't need a form for my local place, but other people living out of area do. And by out of area they may actually live closer to the blood place than me , but their GP is linked to a different trust.

Standard procedure here. But they don't always make it clear that you have to bring a form which is really frustrating

Also if a patient doesn't have I really do try to get it either emailed from the gp or if one of our consultants requested it then we can't ask if they would do another one. But that then delays the whole clinic for all those other patients & you can't guarantee that that dr is in or that the gp will email it to you in time. Different tests need different bottles & some need to be stored differently/sent immediately. I'd love there to be one central system but it just isn't like that. I can think of 7 off the top of my head that I use, & I'm only a health care assistant!