The emotional injuries from trauma can be as disabling as the physical injuries. But in the US only a handful of trauma centers employ licensed psychologists to look after patients and and families.
Be prepared to wait when you get there.
Lynne Cameron/PA Wire
Graeme Currie, Warwick Business School, University of Warwick
The A&E crisis in the NHS this year seems significantly different to the “normal” winter crisis that happens each year from changes in seasonal demand. Given that the problem – waiting times, ambulance…
Very mobile monitoring.
Telehealth by Shutterstock
It has been widely reported that NHS accident and emergency departments are facing a crisis. Demand for A&E services appears to be soaring at the same time as austerity measures continue to bite. This…
Planning ahead for emergencies.
Ambulance by Shutterstock
Graeme Currie, Warwick Business School, University of Warwick
Every year demand for health services – specifically A&E departments – goes up in winter, something that the NHS seems to be unable to plan for. In England, almost 30,000 more people visited A&E…
We are a nation steeped in alcohol; it’s arguably Britain’s favourite drug, and its use is not without consequence and cost to our health and our wealth. These effects are felt at both a national and personal…
Beautiful doesn’t have to mean deadly.
Alan Hughes
The Scottish Highlands are beautiful: snow-topped mountains rolling down to deep blue lochs. The peace is untroubled by the widely dispersed population; it is rural tranquillity at its most spectacular…
My partner and I volunteered at a homeless shelter last month – the idea being to channel our spare time and seasonal spirit into something community-focused and productive. I’ve worked in many inner-city…
As I get out and about in the health service I never cease to be amazed by the quality of care that is provided every day. When we get it wrong, the implications can be catastrophic – and we need to understand…
Bit of first aid wouldn’t go amiss.
Lester Public Library
We expect just as much from our ambulance services as we do from accident and emergency departments. But under-resourced and overstretched health systems mean ambulance staff are increasingly under pressure…
NHS 111, the non-emergency helpline set up to ease pressure on the emergency services, actually increased the use of ambulances and emergency care services during its first year of operation, a study has…
The “crisis in A&E” has dominated headlines for months, with attention focused mainly on inexorably rising demand, ageing populations, and increased waiting times. In his much anticipated report into…
You never know what’s coming through the door.
Folkstone42
Walking into each room to greet my next patient often reminds me of Forrest Gump: “You never know what you’re going to get.” It’s challenging to have only one chance to get it right but I love being an…
Long distances make for long response times in rural settings.
robert wade
The first minutes of a medical emergency can be crucial for a patient’s chances of recovery, but what if that emergency happens in a rural setting, far away from help? Scottish ambulance crews respond…
Paying the price for jumping the gun.
PA/Rebecca Naden
The NHS 111 telephone service was designed to direct people to the right help for urgent medical problems but has faced a barrage of criticism since it was implemented in April. The most recent blow was…
Bum deal: people in poorer inner city areas tend to get worse services, such as less access to GPs.
PA/Gareth Fuller
A new study shows an association between less access to GPs and high rates of attendance in nearby accident and emergency (A&E) units. It’s an interesting piece of work but risks inflaming an already…
Emergencies only but are people turning to A&E because they find it difficult to see a GP?
Flickr/lydia_shiningbrightly
New research linking less access to GPs and higher demand in Accident and Emergency (A&E) departments could ignite the row over the A&E crisis. The number of people visiting A&E in England…