Will you pass your MOT.
 

The government is proposing to implement Medical MOT's for us all at various times in our lives. These medical assessments will be purely voluntary......but will the government put the resources in place to cope with the extra work? Will GP's be penalised if they do not reach set targets?(this government is target driven) and if this is the case how long will it be before Doctors are telling us that unless we attend they will no longer provide us with medical care????????? Will you attend for one of these Medical MOT's?

Re: Will you pass your MOT.
 

Given the ages at which the propose to do them I'm already past my sell-by date!

One thng I was wondering though, seeing as how it's next to impossible to get a doctor's appointment now at some surgeries how are they going to manage to fit in all the extra work? :confused:

Re: Will you pass your MOT.
 

Might not be a bad idea Margaret, I begrudgingly went for a check up late last year because I felt sluggish. I was a stone and half over weight and my cholesterol was far too high. I did diet as a result and lost a stone (I’ve put 7lb back on over Christmas) and dropped a trouser size and feel much better for it. There are a couple of things still to attend to and we only have one life, in these bodies anyway.

I don’t think we need to go to these extremes of MOTs and the like. What is needed is greater education and the opportunity to see a Doctor when you need to not when they can fit you in.

I don’t know if you know but the Government are looking to put computerised self monitoring modules in some public places where you can have routine and basic feel well checks done. I have some paper work somewhere I’ll dig it out. Anyway it’s all related to “Telecare Monitoring” within the Health and Social Care sectors.

Re: Will you pass your MOT.
 

I would, I think they'd be a good thing and help people keep fitter. We're getting fatter and more unfit in the uk, cholesterol is higher, junk and take away food is more comnmon than ever. An mot will tell us we are going wrong and we can do something about it. Sometimes we need telling, even if its obvious to others.

Re: Will you pass your MOT.
 

And the data collected could be used to more acuratly show the health of people

Re: Will you pass your MOT.
 

Doug, when I was last in Oz, Uncle Toby's...which is like our Quaker Oat Breakfast cereal maker, sponsored caravans in all the shopping malls....there was a nurse present and she would weigh you, check your blood pressure.....do a fingerprick test for diabetes and also for a cholseterol reading. All these things were fed into her laptop and it generated a read out for you to take to your own Doctor. She did not promote the products made by the sponsoring company but on the way out one of the company workers gave you a bag of goodies.....all healthy, low salt/sugar cereals and snack bars with a heap of leaflets on healthy life styles.

I thought these were a fairly good idea.......and I think it could be done over here.....it wouldn't even need nurses to do the checks......just someone who could do the checks and feed the info into a laptop.

I think we expect far too much from our GP's and their time should be taken up with caring for those who are ill.

I feel that if these proposals become reality, many GP's will have technicians doing the checks......and maybe nurses monitoring the results and only weeding out those who need to see the GP for further health intervention.

Re: Will you pass your MOT.
 

now that is a good idea MP, that would do it and keep the gp's free.

Re: Will you pass your MOT.
 

I totally agree with what your saying there Margaret. I don't think we do enough to promote good health.

Looking at today’s youngsters it’s only going to get worse, binge drinking, over use drugs, smoking and poor sexual health education, and the lack of exercise due to schools failing to promote competitive sports amongst pupils. I’d hate to be a Doctor in ten or twenty years time.

Re: Will you pass your MOT.
 

Well, it isn't really my idea.... it is just an initiative that is being successfully used in OZ. I do believe that we should use other peoples ideas if they have been proven to work.....no good re-inventing the wheel.

Re: Will you pass your MOT.
 

Doug, it is no fun being a Doctor at present.....there are so many pressures on them to meet targets. It is almost like being on a production line.

I don't feel it is necessary for people to have these proposed tests done by a medically trained person......it will be enough work for the GP's to monitor the people that these tests identify as being 'at risk'.

Oh, and well done on your pro-active attitude to your own health.....and weight loss.

Re: Will you pass your MOT.
 

This is true, we think we're really clever at coming up with these new ways to make the wheel, cheaper, quicker, lighter, easier to do, easier to use, erm easier to break!

Re: Will you pass your MOT.
 

If people didn’t reinvent things Margaret, we’d all be dead. It’s a good Idea and it’s workable even for a shabby little Council to organise and promote. You with us PB……

Re: Will you pass your MOT.
 

Yes, it would be a very good initiative.....it would be even better if it were sponsored by some health conscious firm.

To be realistic, if you do want to have your blood pressure checked and a diabetes test you can have bothings done at no cost in Lloyds Chemist on Broadway...and I'm not too sure about this but I think that BOOTS Chemist used to do cholesterol tests too(not sure if they charged).

Re: Will you pass your MOT.
 

Re: Will you pass your MOT.
 

Infact I think they'd be better done away from the doctor, no production line, more time to ask advice.
Our doctors are really good here, they call a spade a spade, tell you how it is, if they think your being a whimp they tell you, although when I got my double hernia and he said come back when it's worse, he did give me a good telling off when I went back ten years later complaining I couldn't lift a 5kg bag of spuds.

Re: Will you pass your MOT.
 

Mad hatter, I like the phrase....If it ain't broke don't fix it......and this scheme does seem to work well in Oz......used by both young and old......the caravan was always busy......now whether that had anything to do with the bag of freebies, I'm not sure.

Re: Will you pass your MOT.
 

you dont half talk about some strange things in accy land!

Re: Will you pass your MOT.
 

funny I was thinking that very phrase myself.

Re: Will you pass your MOT.
 

Strange? in what way is it strange?

Re: Will you pass your MOT.
 

I DO know what you mean Doug......but there are things that these generic care workers (if properly trained and monitored) can do that will leave time for trained medical personnel to do things that only they can do.

We had some very good auxiliary nurses on our unit and we were active in the training and monitoring of their role.......we saw them as more than just people who could deliver basic care needs.....our auxiliary nurses would escort patients to theatre......do basic observations and other similar things.
it motivated them and made them feel more integrated in the team......they were always encouraged to work with a trained member of staff....and were only permitted to do the things that they were comfortable with and trained to do. I know some nurses felt threatened by this.

Re: Will you pass your MOT.
 

The proposed MOTs are a typical example of this government's obsession with "spin".

In fact, these check ups are already available via "well man/well woman" clinics. But more importantly, do you think those most in need of them will actually bother going?

No, Bliar and his cronies are frantically trying to divert attention away from the fact that they have raised taxes, partly, in order to pour millions into the NHS. But because that money has been squandered on pointless red tape and ruinous PFIs, many health authorities are cutting back on operations, beds etc because of their debts.

Still, yet another regurgitated idea looks good for the electorate, doesn't it?

Re: Will you pass your MOT.
 

Ah the escort to theatre by the sexy nurse, If it wasn't for her holding my hand I'd have never gone through with it. with The things they tell you COULD happen it's a wonder anybody has an opp.

Re: Will you pass your MOT.
 

Never heard of well clinics, not much good to me if I've never heard of them are they. Where are they?, are they free? Why can't the gov integrate these as part of this new thing

Re: Will you pass your MOT.
 

I agree with you Wynonie......the Wellness clinics don't hit all the people who need to be targetted.....in fact the people who do need to go to the clinics do not attend. I don't mean this in a derogatory sense......... but the lower socio-economic groups are the ones who need this service the most because, frequently their life styles are the ones that cause the most concern for health. The people who attend the Wellness clinic are those who are already doing what they can to improve their health.
That is why I think the mobile check up centres work well in Oz......all kinds of folk are picked up just as they do their daily shopping or pick up their benefits etc. The fact that they give out freebies is an additional draw too I'm sure.

Re: Will you pass your MOT.
 

I know Margaret I was an Auxiliary for eight years working on geriatric wards. I usually undertaking most of duties the EN would normally do. Things where fine until they introduced the Grading scheme and then everyone got all professional, the Royal Collage and the protection of title issues arose again. Overnight I was reduced from an equivalent Grade “C” to a Grade “A” and a lot of the work we use to do went undone due to the lack up take of Qualified Geriatric vacancies.

Today I work as an advisor to the private care sector and earn the equivalent of a Grade E Nurse, I’m not bragging but it’s a indictment of how the NHS as failed to keep pace with reality.

Re: Will you pass your MOT.
 

Well, MH......we had a couple of young and pretty Auxiliaries.....and on our unit the patients usually walked to theatre.....I suppose you could still have had your hand held though.

Re: Will you pass your MOT.
 

The NHS was very short sighted in doing away with the EN grade. I knew some En's who had been auxiliaries for so long that they were just given the qualification.....and again I don't mean that to sound derogatory.....to my mind they had earned that because of their experience.

Re: Will you pass your MOT.
 

NA's are encouraged to do NVQ's and this enables them to increase their grade and consequently their pay......all the tinkering that has been done hasn't improved the situation for patients.

Re: Will you pass your MOT.
 

oops.....I think I am thread wandering here... better stop before I get my hands slapped.

Re: Will you pass your MOT.
 

Doug, I could tell you all sorts of things about the NHS as Mrs H works in it.
And as you say, well clinics are very good for those of us who care about our health.

However, I haven't time because I'm going up the pub to get ratted...:)

Re: Will you pass your MOT.
 

Margaret I agree with that absolutely. It was much my experience of the ENs who for the most part where my teachers, along with a couple of fantastic Ward Sisters I worked with, all of whom put time in. Today you can train and be running a ward by the age of 22. Qualified yes, experienced I not sure about.

Re: Will you pass your MOT.
 

Which one, I could do with a pint....:D

Re: Will you pass your MOT.
 

I was 30 when I got my first Sister's post.....and I hadn't that much experience of nursing (6years).....but I had quite a bit of experience of life.
I spent a lot of time teaching all grades of staff and eventually went on and achieved an adult teaching certificate. I loved the work but hated all the political stuff.

Re: Will you pass your MOT.
 

Doesn't experience depend on how keen you are to get that experience? you could be doing it years and experience very little, or only do a few years and have experience of a lot if your very keen

Re: Will you pass your MOT.
 

The Dog & Partridge, Heaton Mersey, Doug, but, alas, too late, I've been and come back (that's one more step on the road to failing my MOT). I'll have to buy you one in the Sports Bar one of these days. :)

Re: Will you pass your MOT.
 

I’m will be the bloke with the Grey Hair and the Grey Berghaus Jacket, In fact I’m that grey I make John Major look like a Gay Pride Participant………..:)

Re: Will you pass your MOT.
 

http://www.motester.co.uk/imagefiles/cog04.gif

If this MOT test is anything like for cars I know I'll fail!

Fuel System-Too much liquid fuel consumed at any one time.
Exhaust & Emissions- Excessive amount of fuel lost on start up, Continuous gas loss at all times.
Seat Belts- Will need to be tightened another couple of notches to fit comfortably.
Steering- Cannot control direction at certain times of the day.
Windscreen- Really should get some new glasses the scratches are terrible, hang on! it's not the glasses it's my eyes.
Bonnet Catch- Reverted back to zip fly, buttons take too long in emergencies (which are occuring more often).
Horn- Don't go there unless you want to see a grown man cry.
Number plate and vin- Yes of course I know my name just give me a second, I think it starts with 'L'
Lights-Strange how they need to be on more than off these days, it MUST be my glasses.
Brakes-That is one improvement, everything seems to break alot easier these days.
Tyres & Roadwheels-Well If it's not bunions or chilblains I don't know what it is but I find slippers more comfortable these days even when just nipping to the shop.
Mirrors- I avoid them at all cost there is an old stranger keeps looking out and pulling funny faces.
Doors- completly confuse me, if it says pull I push and vice-versa
Seats- I think I'm suffering Ducks disease my seat is too close to the ground.
suspension-like my seat it's alot softer than it used to be.

Re: Will you pass your MOT.
 

And who put the NHS in crisis in the first place? MT! I will say no more!

Re: Will you pass your MOT.
 

Thatcher?? Thatcher was 20 years ago! I'm talking about the here and now. This government have had nine years to put the NHS back on track and they've failed miserably.

Re: Will you pass your MOT.
 

Yes! And that's how long it takes to clean up Thatchers crap!

Re: Will you pass your MOT.
 

You seem to be as good at keeping your promises as your friend, Mr Blair.

The fact is, this government have raised taxes to increase spending on the NHS. All well and good. However, they have not spent it wisely, choosing to create vast swathes of bureacracy. The result is that the UK now has the only public-funded health service in the world with more admnistrative workers than beds. And this is why various health authorities are now going over budget, closing down wards and cancelling operations.

Re: Will you pass your MOT.
 

Err no more chance of being Prime Minister.

Re: Will you pass your MOT.
 

Re: Will you pass your MOT.
 

Quite a few of the local GP surgeries run well woman and well man clinics. They are usually run by the practice nurses and can include checks for blood pressure, cholesterol, smoking cessation, cervical smears, breast/testicular exams etc. I think that they include screening for whatever an individual may be worried about. They are advertised on posters at the surgeries but I have never been to a clinic. Not sure about the age group being targeted, or if there is a target group at all.

Re: Will you pass your MOT.
 

@m not sure the government have thought things out very well at all - unless of course it is the media who have misrepresented things......the other day they were telling us that ALL adults could elect to have a yearly MOT......now they are talking about 5 'time of life' assessments. Mind you, I don't think we should be surprised at anything this government does. Not long ago they were intent on getting rid of the small community hospitals.....now they are saying that they want to keep services 'Local'.

I wonder if they will get the police forces to merge......and then some months down the line decide it was not such a good idea after all.....that they really want to provide 'local' policing. They(the government) waste billions of pounds on madcap ill considered ideas.....and then revert back to what was working in the first place.

Re: Will you pass your MOT.
 

screening for whatever an individual may be worried about. ???

But don't people already go to the doctor for whatever they are worried about? I don't think I've seen any posters at Peel House. Mind you a doctor there gave me a note to take to the reception desk saying he wanted me to attend the blood pressure clinic. The receptionist told me there was no such clinic but I could call in any time and get the nurse to take my blood pressure - but that's all she does, just tells you the numbers, doesn't give advice or anything. So I went to the nurse and had my blood pressure taken and she suggested I attend the "blood pressure clinic" on Wednesday afternoons! I have just been today and all that the nurse does is take your blood pressure reading and tell you the numbers!

Aaaaaarg! Stop the world I want to get off!!!

Re: Will you pass your MOT.
 

And Willow, this is supposed to be one of the more 'enlightened' practices......so what are the other GP practices doing.....?

Personally I think it needs a more rounded approach, and people who are employed purely for health care advice......the work these nurses do is bolted onto their existing workload.....frequently they are not asked if they have any interest in the subject.....and that means that they just do the minimum to get by. I'm sure if you asked the nurse in question whether the numbers were satisfactory...she would tell you.....I'm also fairly sure that if she were worried about the figures you would be hearing from your GP.....or better still being referred directly to him at the same visit.