Leading on nicely from one of the issues highlighted in the DH patient blogs, the BBC today has an article about a study in The Lancet which looks at the number of patients who have two or more illnesses. They found that over a quarter had two or more long-term conditions and identified an issue that is clear to patients - a lack of co-ordination between the specialist healthcare teams. A very good suggestion is made by the author, Dr Chris Salisbury, from the School of Social and Community Medicine at the University of Bristol, is that "in hospitals, those with multimorbidity should be assigned to a generalist consultant who would be responsible for co-ordinating their care."
Graham Watt, Professor of General Practice at Glasgow University, reiterated that point,saying that "rather than more specialists, patients with multiple conditions need someone who can oversee all the problems of a patient."
The reality of that may be different - it is important that the doctor who is overseeing the patient knows what their responsibility is, and acts on it!
Graham Watt, Professor of General Practice at Glasgow University, reiterated that point,saying that "rather than more specialists, patients with multiple conditions need someone who can oversee all the problems of a patient."
The reality of that may be different - it is important that the doctor who is overseeing the patient knows what their responsibility is, and acts on it!
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