We've noticed your using a old browser this may cause issuse when experincing our site. We recommend updating your browser here this provides the latest browsers for you to download. This just makes sure your experince our website and all others websites in the best possible way. Close

Friday Rant – Nicola Hayward

Friday Rant - Nicola HaywardWe’ve all got that one patient haven’t we? The one who shouts the loudest so gets what he/she wants, regardless of the rules/procedures/protocols that we’re supposed to follow.  I’ve caved in on a few occasions with patients who’ve been put through to me to try and sort them out – and even I can’t get them to toe the line – and because you’ve got a shed load of work to get through, and a distraught receptionist, you give in and they get what they wanted in the first place.

So how come there are those of us screaming and shouting at the powers-what-be (you know who you are Jeremy!)… and yet we get nowhere!  Are we being too polite? Is the fact that we refrain from using such bad language as can be thrown as us from time to time all part of our inability to be heard?  It’s not because we’re British and we just don’t do that (I can swear like a builder if I really try)… No, it’s because we’re too professional for our own good.

Let’s take some of the things I’m regularly screaming about…

The pharmacy led scheme for flu jabs – now in what world is it safe to go and have a needle stuck in your arm and injected with fluid (of Lord only knows what) by someone who doesn’t know your medical history (other than what you decide to divulge), has no idea of your allergies and adverse reactions (unless you decide to tell them) and has no access of course to any sort of medical record?!

Look at the situation with the Junior Doctors’ contract – even strikes haven’t got Jeremy in a room with them talking common sense. And Boris is in trouble with the NHS Chiefs because he’s used the NHS logo on his Brexit Bus without their permission – although personally I thought they would be interested in the £350 million that (allegedly) goes to the EU and could be better spent on the NHS?!

And how about that bloomin’ chestnut CQC. There’s a lot of talk on this ‘ere website saying on the one hand there are inaccuracies of reporting, unfair inspections, inspectors making staff cry… right over to the other side of the coin with good days, inspectors who make you feel at ease, reports that perfectly reflect your practice, what you do and how you do it.  You’ll know that I have bleated on and on (and on and on and on and on… yes I know!) about this and we didn’t really get that far.

So what do we do peeps? Should we strike? Well that’s not worth it as apparently we’re the ‘hidden workforce’ – we don’t technically exist.  When have you ever heard a Minister for Health talking about the hard work done by Practice Managers keeping Primary Care going? I can have a tantrum if pushed, I can scream and shout if necessary – but it doesn’t seem to get us anywhere.

When we deal with an employee who’s not doing what they should, or did something they shouldn’t, we have to deal with them fairly; we have to take a consistent approach and treat everyone exactly the same to ensure we don’t end up on the wrong side of employment law – otherwise we risk that God awful tribunal (and NO-ONE wants that!)

So, how come that ‘rule’ doesn’t apply to every other organisation/person-in-charge?

Can we/should we lobby CQC to take a fair and consistent approach to their inspections?

Can we/should we ask them to use a template for their inspections that would mean we all get asked the same questions about the same things in the same way?

Can we/should we just open the bottle of wine/gin/vodka and accept that we can’t change anything and wait for Jeremy and the Prof to decide that actually, they can’t really do the job they’re being paid loads to do?!

And finally…  should I try and find something else to rant about for a change?  Mmmm….

Well I know which one of the above is the easiest option!

—————————–

Topics trending in the forum:
Condescending and rude patient
CQC – collective evidence of inaccuracies
Flowers in waiting room

Rating

Nicola Davies

Practice Manager regularly ranting about the NHS. 35 years in Primary Care and still getting irritated by constant change for change sake! West Country Women Awards Nominee 2022 https://westcountrywomenawards.co.uk/

View all posts by Nicola Davies
Complaints Manager – A quick overview

February 1, 2024

What’s new across Practice Index – February 2024 roundup

March 7, 2024

3 Responses to “Friday Rant – Nicola Hayward”
  1. Pam evans Says:

    Hi

    Couldn’t have put it better myself. I have been in this job far toooooo long and am actually retiring next year but that does not mean I am not passionate about what I do. I would like to leave this job knowing that by successor has a good understanding of what is required but the goal posts change constantly so I think she/he will probably be in the same boat as the rest of us and just needs to try their best.

    Reply

  2. Jacky Slator Says:

    I too agree wholeheartedly with everything you say, Nicola. And I really like the idea of the CQC template. They could have a small section that varies depending on the area or specific issues for individual Practices, but otherwise they follow a consistent method/process to their inspections.
    I’ve just retired from Practice Management and returned on a part-time basis to help us get Federation (Networks/Alliances/working at scale/transformation etc etc)off the ground locally – but, like Pam remain passionate about the PM role and primary care in general.
    I think we often work best when we’re not ranting and raving (although I do have my moments!) – we’re generally excellent at working behind the scenes to effect real change. We just get on with it and we are used to not taking the limelight for the improvements we bring in. Is that our strength? Should we use stealth to get our views heard?
    No, actually, I’ve just talked myself out of that – stealth might work at a Practice level but Nationally WE NEED TO GET OUR VOICES HEARD and we need to find a way of gaining the respect we deserve!
    Maybe we need to start small (ish!) – and the CQC idea plus pharmacy flu jabs sound really good places to start. A Government petition that we can all sign perhaps? Or something we can all contribute to here on this forum, get some firm agreement on next steps and then put them into action on a National level?
    Ooops, I think this is becoming my Friday rant now, as well!

    Reply

  3. Alan Moore Says:

    You forgot … Partners who think that MB.BS is a management qualification : Practice Nurses who can`t accept an HCA is capable of doing all the work-up tasks that they `like` to do because its` easy ; Reception staff who seem incapable of realising they are the first point of contact with patients and what they say/do DOES leave an impression and I could go on and on.
    No job is perfect and as far as having the same template for CQC to work to – there is, its called the Key Lines of Enquiry, and only when 8000 independent practices start working in exactly the same way will the Inspection process be exactly the same in every one of them.
    There is a dire need for a recognised professional body for PMs to both set standards (and they DO vary wildly) as well as represent our views. Volunteers take one pace forward !

    Reply

Leave a Reply

Get in the know!
newsletterpopup close icon
practice index weekly

Subscribe to the Weekly, our free email newsletter.

Keeping you updated and connected.