Comments for binscombe.net http://binscombe.net/blog Doctor Blog Mon, 14 May 2012 19:29:56 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 Comment on To Tweet or not to Tweet? by Martin Brunet http://binscombe.net/blog/?p=318#comment-133 Martin Brunet Mon, 14 May 2012 19:29:56 +0000 http://binscombe.net/blog/?p=318#comment-133 Thanks Lesley. Yes, a ghetto of Twitter doctors is probably not a healthy idea! I do follow some people who are on Twitter as either patients or carers. As you say, their stories and opinions are important - @patientopinion is a good one to follow, as it has stories from all sorts of people. I'm also very happy to chat to patients from Binscombe if they would like, or if they find something they think would be interesting to me (many things are!) - which can always be done by mentioning me in a tweet. I read the other day that several large companies are so aware of the power of Twitter that they emply people to respond within minutes to any Tweet complaints! Thanks Lesley. Yes, a ghetto of Twitter doctors is probably not a healthy idea! I do follow some people who are on Twitter as either patients or carers. As you say, their stories and opinions are important – @patientopinion is a good one to follow, as it has stories from all sorts of people. I’m also very happy to chat to patients from Binscombe if they would like, or if they find something they think would be interesting to me (many things are!) – which can always be done by mentioning me in a tweet.

I read the other day that several large companies are so aware of the power of Twitter that they emply people to respond within minutes to any Tweet complaints!

]]> Comment on To Tweet or not to Tweet? by Lesley Beeton http://binscombe.net/blog/?p=318#comment-132 Lesley Beeton Mon, 14 May 2012 16:08:46 +0000 http://binscombe.net/blog/?p=318#comment-132 Whilst I agree that you shouldn't follow everyone back, it might be useful for doctors to read what patients are saying, not just what other doctors are saying. Twitter is a very powerful communication tool. Yesterday, one Tweeter was distressed, in pain and tweeting for help from her post-surgery hospital bed. The Twitter public were outraged and the Matron was forced to intervene. I wouldn't be surprised if this story makes the newspapers shortly. Ignore Twitter at your peril. Whilst I agree that you shouldn’t follow everyone back, it might be useful for doctors to read what patients are saying, not just what other doctors are saying.

Twitter is a very powerful communication tool. Yesterday, one Tweeter was distressed, in pain and tweeting for help from her post-surgery hospital bed. The Twitter public were outraged and the Matron was forced to intervene. I wouldn’t be surprised if this story makes the newspapers shortly.

Ignore Twitter at your peril.

]]> Comment on To Tweet or not to Tweet? by Martin Brunet http://binscombe.net/blog/?p=318#comment-131 Martin Brunet Thu, 10 May 2012 16:39:53 +0000 http://binscombe.net/blog/?p=318#comment-131 That's a really good question, Lesley! I've been wrestling a bit with this as well. Thinking about it as a patient, I think I would want to be able to follow my doctor to see what he or she thinks about things, but I don't think I would want my doctor to follow me and see every tweet I sent - so that if, for instance, I wanted to send a tweet about needing a glass of wine on a Friday night I wouldn't think that my doctor was taking notes!! On that basis I think it best if I don't follow back if I know someone is a patient of mine - does that seem sensible to you? I might not know someone is a patient, of course, but if I follow back "by mistake" I would never be offended if someone blocked me. Obviously Twitter is a very public form of social media, so we must all be aware that anyone can look at our Tweets, and if a patient joined in a concersation then I would reply to them - but that is different to looking at every tweet. I think it would be a different issue becoming a friend with your doctor on facebook, as this is a much more private space - unless, of course you really were friends! What do you think? This is very much still a new thing for me, and for many doctors as we work out how best to use social media. I'd value your thoughts! That’s a really good question, Lesley! I’ve been wrestling a bit with this as well. Thinking about it as a patient, I think I would want to be able to follow my doctor to see what he or she thinks about things, but I don’t think I would want my doctor to follow me and see every tweet I sent – so that if, for instance, I wanted to send a tweet about needing a glass of wine on a Friday night I wouldn’t think that my doctor was taking notes!!

On that basis I think it best if I don’t follow back if I know someone is a patient of mine – does that seem sensible to you? I might not know someone is a patient, of course, but if I follow back “by mistake” I would never be offended if someone blocked me.

Obviously Twitter is a very public form of social media, so we must all be aware that anyone can look at our Tweets, and if a patient joined in a concersation then I would reply to them – but that is different to looking at every tweet. I think it would be a different issue becoming a friend with your doctor on facebook, as this is a much more private space – unless, of course you really were friends!

What do you think? This is very much still a new thing for me, and for many doctors as we work out how best to use social media.

I’d value your thoughts!

]]> Comment on To Tweet or not to Tweet? by Lesley Beeton http://binscombe.net/blog/?p=318#comment-130 Lesley Beeton Wed, 09 May 2012 17:57:42 +0000 http://binscombe.net/blog/?p=318#comment-130 I have to admit that I hesitated before clicking the follow button on your profile. It's not that doctors shouldn't embrace social media, but given the local nature of networks it is possible that several other patients will follow you, too, and many of these are in my network. So do we treat you as one of us, or should it remain that doctors are set apart? I have to admit that I hesitated before clicking the follow button on your profile. It’s not that doctors shouldn’t embrace social media, but given the local nature of networks it is possible that several other patients will follow you, too, and many of these are in my network.

So do we treat you as one of us, or should it remain that doctors are set apart?

]]> Comment on A Small Contribution to the Year of Protest by An Englishman Stirred – the False Dichotomy of “Children’s” and “Adult’s” Cereals | binscombe.net http://binscombe.net/blog/?p=191#comment-129 An Englishman Stirred – the False Dichotomy of “Children’s” and “Adult’s” Cereals | binscombe.net Wed, 02 May 2012 14:34:31 +0000 http://binscombe.net/blog/?p=191#comment-129 [...] but that does not mean that my quest has faltered, nor has my zeal lost its edge. I first blogged on this subject at the end of December, and that it has taken me 4 months to plot my second move is something I [...] [...] but that does not mean that my quest has faltered, nor has my zeal lost its edge. I first blogged on this subject at the end of December, and that it has taken me 4 months to plot my second move is something I [...]

]]> Comment on PSA and the Prostate Cancer Conundrum. by Quick Post – Mixed fortunes for new Prostate Cancer Treatments | binscombe.net http://binscombe.net/blog/?p=85#comment-127 Quick Post – Mixed fortunes for new Prostate Cancer Treatments | binscombe.net Tue, 24 Apr 2012 20:28:33 +0000 http://binscombe.net/blog/?p=85#comment-127 [...] screening – and the major question remains – should these men be treated at all? I have blogged on this before, and we must remember that it is hard for a new treatment to have fewer side effects [...] [...] screening – and the major question remains – should these men be treated at all? I have blogged on this before, and we must remember that it is hard for a new treatment to have fewer side effects [...]

]]> Comment on To Tweet or not to Tweet? by Martin Brunet http://binscombe.net/blog/?p=318#comment-126 Martin Brunet Wed, 18 Apr 2012 13:56:45 +0000 http://binscombe.net/blog/?p=318#comment-126 Thanks for your comments, Dave, always appreciate them. We used to have a notice in the waiting room asking people to switch there phones off, but we took it down a while ago. Now we just ask people to be respectful to others in the waiting room - eg to take longer calls outside and have phones on silent if possible when actually having a consultation. Tweeting from the waiting room would be fine! You are right about the potential for addiction and I shall have to watch out for that! I promise never to tweet during an actual consultation!! 140 words is a challenge - sometimes can degen into txt spk! On the other hand, if there is a link to an elegantly written article, then maybe our language can be saved afterall. Thanks for your comments, Dave, always appreciate them. We used to have a notice in the waiting room asking people to switch there phones off, but we took it down a while ago. Now we just ask people to be respectful to others in the waiting room – eg to take longer calls outside and have phones on silent if possible when actually having a consultation. Tweeting from the waiting room would be fine!

You are right about the potential for addiction and I shall have to watch out for that! I promise never to tweet during an actual consultation!!

140 words is a challenge – sometimes can degen into txt spk! On the other hand, if there is a link to an elegantly written article, then maybe our language can be saved afterall.

]]> Comment on To Tweet or not to Tweet? by DAVE HOLNESS http://binscombe.net/blog/?p=318#comment-124 DAVE HOLNESS Sun, 15 Apr 2012 20:25:47 +0000 http://binscombe.net/blog/?p=318#comment-124 It is requested that patients waiting for appointments in the surgery switch off their mobiles etc. We presume that there is a similar self imposed prohibition from the doctors etc. Is there a risk that the addiction to tweet at work will overwhelm you? Squeezing our rich language into 140 characters is sadly reflected in daily public speech and possibly some children not reaching basic English levels when they leave Primary school. It is requested that patients waiting for appointments in the surgery switch off their mobiles etc. We presume that there is a similar self imposed prohibition from the doctors etc. Is there a risk that the addiction to tweet at work will overwhelm you?

Squeezing our rich language into 140 characters is sadly reflected in daily public speech and possibly some children not reaching basic English levels when they leave Primary school.

]]> Comment on Screening athletes for heart problems – beware a knee jerk reaction by Martin Brunet http://binscombe.net/blog/?p=306#comment-123 Martin Brunet Thu, 12 Apr 2012 06:36:43 +0000 http://binscombe.net/blog/?p=306#comment-123 Thanks for your comment. Certainly screening family members where there is an incidence of sudden cardiac arrest in a young person is a very different matter. Targeted screening is usually much more beneficial than whole population screening. Thanks for your comment. Certainly screening family members where there is an incidence of sudden cardiac arrest in a young person is a very different matter. Targeted screening is usually much more beneficial than whole population screening.

]]> Comment on Screening athletes for heart problems – beware a knee jerk reaction by Y Gillespie http://binscombe.net/blog/?p=306#comment-122 Y Gillespie Wed, 11 Apr 2012 22:52:42 +0000 http://binscombe.net/blog/?p=306#comment-122 As a long term football fan, the collapse of Patrice Muamba was both startling and seriously of concern. Whilst I do not support the club Mr Muamba plays for, I personally felt for Patrice and his family and followed news on his recovery via the news service but also through his football friends and colleagues on Twitter. It was a releif to hear every little improvement and it was fantastic of him beng able to make that recovery. However, how much screening is given, surely will not pick up everything and the knee-jerk reaction that every young play is screened will not always produce any symptoms or have symptoms at thr time of the screening. Initially, it may be a call for screening for those who family memebers have presented with similar issues, and general screening can be researched more bevfore being offered to every young player. As a long term football fan, the collapse of Patrice Muamba was both startling and seriously of concern. Whilst I do not support the club Mr Muamba plays for, I personally felt for Patrice and his family and followed news on his recovery via the news service but also through his football friends and colleagues on Twitter. It was a releif to hear every little improvement and it was fantastic of him beng able to make that recovery.

However, how much screening is given, surely will not pick up everything and the knee-jerk reaction that every young play is screened will not always produce any symptoms or have symptoms at thr time of the screening.

Initially, it may be a call for screening for those who family memebers have presented with similar issues, and general screening can be researched more bevfore being offered to every young player.

]]> Comment on Motivation, Motivation, Motivation by Karen http://binscombe.net/blog/?p=285#comment-121 Karen Sat, 31 Mar 2012 08:51:38 +0000 http://binscombe.net/blog/?p=285#comment-121 As you say, the idea is genius and hopefully those seeking motivation will find penalties, whether financial or football related, to be just the encouragement they need. As you say, the idea is genius and hopefully those seeking motivation will find penalties, whether financial or football related, to be just the encouragement they need.

]]> Comment on To wind the clock back? by Martin Brunet http://binscombe.net/blog/?p=277#comment-120 Martin Brunet Wed, 14 Mar 2012 12:31:35 +0000 http://binscombe.net/blog/?p=277#comment-120 Thanks for this moving account, Peter - I'm sure many people will be able to relate to your experience all too closely. I think that when people say they never want to go into a home, what they mean is that they don't want to consider the possibility that they could ever become so dependent that they have no alternative. While this is an understandable protective mechanism, it does make it difficult when you are faced with the sort of stark reality that you had with your mother. Not an easy one at all. Thanks for this moving account, Peter – I’m sure many people will be able to relate to your experience all too closely. I think that when people say they never want to go into a home, what they mean is that they don’t want to consider the possibility that they could ever become so dependent that they have no alternative. While this is an understandable protective mechanism, it does make it difficult when you are faced with the sort of stark reality that you had with your mother. Not an easy one at all.

]]> Comment on To wind the clock back? by Peter Tietjen http://binscombe.net/blog/?p=277#comment-119 Peter Tietjen Wed, 14 Mar 2012 11:37:17 +0000 http://binscombe.net/blog/?p=277#comment-119 Oh, how my mother would have agreed with you. She often said how she would have hated to become like her sister, expressed hope she would die before that happened and made me promise never to put her in a home. Mum was a proud lady and would have been disgusted at the change in her behaviour, cleanliness etc, as her dementia progressed. The time came when I was informed Mum could no longer stay in her own home and it broke my heart when I realised I had to break my promise. During the war, my mother was a nurse and my father was badly wounded. I shall always be thankful to them both for installing a "gallows humour" in our family which really helped soften the blow of the onset of this terrible disease. Eventually, though, it all became too heavy and stressful and I could no longer even bear to visit the home, for she was no longer my Mum. She was always a tough old bird and it was her nature to ignore aches, pains, accidents and illnesses, so she fought on valiantly until she died last December. But if she'd been aware of how she had become, I know she'd have thought twice about lingering the way she did. That's what really hurts. Given the option, Mum would have had no hesitation in turning the hands of her own clock forward a year or more. Oh, how my mother would have agreed with you. She often said how she would have hated to become like her sister, expressed hope she would die before that happened and made me promise never to put her in a home.
Mum was a proud lady and would have been disgusted at the change in her behaviour, cleanliness etc, as her dementia progressed. The time came when I was informed Mum could no longer stay in her own home and it broke my heart when I realised I had to break my promise.
During the war, my mother was a nurse and my father was badly wounded. I shall always be thankful to them both for installing a “gallows humour” in our family which really helped soften the blow of the onset of this terrible disease. Eventually, though, it all became too heavy and stressful and I could no longer even bear to visit the home, for she was no longer my Mum.
She was always a tough old bird and it was her nature to ignore aches, pains, accidents and illnesses, so she fought on valiantly until she died last December. But if she’d been aware of how she had become, I know she’d have thought twice about lingering the way she did.
That’s what really hurts. Given the option, Mum would have had no hesitation in turning the hands of her own clock forward a year or more.

]]> Comment on Quick Post – Work – not just about the money by Martin Brunet http://binscombe.net/blog/?p=253#comment-118 Martin Brunet Sun, 11 Mar 2012 22:01:34 +0000 http://binscombe.net/blog/?p=253#comment-118 Thanks for your encouraging comment Karen - I will keep them coming! Thanks for your encouraging comment Karen – I will keep them coming!

]]> Comment on Quick Post – Work – not just about the money by Karen http://binscombe.net/blog/?p=253#comment-117 Karen Sun, 11 Mar 2012 08:25:55 +0000 http://binscombe.net/blog/?p=253#comment-117 I like your quick posts idea. Your thoughts always make for interesting reading - thank youi. I like your quick posts idea. Your thoughts always make for interesting reading – thank youi.

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