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  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    My understanding is that a Living Will is not legally enforceable in the UK. 

    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • punkdocpunkdoc Posts: 15,039
    Unfortunately, living wills are rarely available if you are taken to A and E at 3am, in cardiac arrest.
    How can you lie there and think of England
    When you don't even know who's in the team

    S.Yorkshire/Derbyshire border
  • Jenny_AsterJenny_Aster Posts: 945
    edited January 2022
    OFF TOPIC, THIS IS ISN'T A CURMUNGEON! 

    OH was blue lighted to hospital on Wednesday because of low BP, luckily he was discharged last evening.

    Previously I'd written a log of his medicine for his three ailments, lymphoma, heart condition, and arthritis. I also printed out chart I'd been keeping to record his BP. Although I wasn't able to go in the ambulance with him, the paramedic was grateful for the info. My OH wasn't all that coherent at the time, although he told me the doctors in A&E were grateful, they said it made their job easier. OH also took his personal file of his hospital discharge papers, test results....

    The NHS is under terrific strain, and I think it's for our own good to help the NHS, to help us, as much as possible about our health. 

    There's a website I've been made aware of by my doctor step-son-in-law where people can upload their tests and information regarding their health and their treatments. You can register using your NHS app.  There are info areas on the site such as 'Events/Messages', Health, Treatments, Diary, Files, Devices and Sharing.  

    This means you can have your relevant medical history to hand should it be needed. 

    Website is https://my.patientsknowbest.com/
     
    Trying to be the person my dog thinks I am! 

    Cambridgeshire/Norfolk border.
  • floraliesfloralies Posts: 2,718
    We have a similar system here which has been trialed in my department, all of our tests,x-rays visits to health professionals etc are now on line for any doctor to view. You are automatically on this unless you opt out before the six weeks after you receive your letter. I should say that this has been instigated by our health care system. Sorry this is not a curmudgeon!
  • KT53KT53 Posts: 9,016
    My best friend had a degenerative disease which had the same effect as MND, in that he went from being extremely sporty to totally incapacitated over a period of years.  He, and his wife, coped incredibly well with his diminishing capabilities but he spent the last year of his life in hospital and unable to do anything for himself.  I went to visit him regularly, and he made it very clear to me that he'd had enough and just 'wanted to go'.  He had DNR on his notes but was still given oxygen etc in order to prolong his life.  'Life' isn't just about the number of birthdays you clock up, the quality is far more important than the quantity.
  • BenCottoBenCotto Posts: 4,718
    That must have been a frightening time for you @Jenny_Aster so I’m very pleased for both of you that the outcome was good.

    Thank you for posting that link which I am now going to investigate closely. What I would like to hear from medical professionals is whether the data we upload is useful to them. Is it routinely accessed? Does it get flagged when our details are entered on the computer?

    I am inherently traditional in my approach and, accompanying my wife to medical appointments, have often found it helpful to have been able to provide the staff with two typed sheets detailing her significant operations and interventions - date, hospital, consultant, outcome.
    Rutland, England
  • BenCottoBenCotto Posts: 4,718
    @KT53 - I have just liked, and then unliked, your post. What I am saying is I agree entirely with what you have written but to have ticked ‘like’ might just have been construed of approving of your friend’s awful, debilitating illness. A good friend of mine has MND.
    Rutland, England
  • Nanny BeachNanny Beach Posts: 8,719
    Living wills or advanced directives are legally binding in this country
     A friend of over 30 years got me to witness her signature. There is a copy at her home,her GP she did it properly via a solicitor. I don't know what would pan out in the case of sudden cardiac arrest. I imagine she would be treated initially. She has specified if comatose,she refuses any type of tube feeding, ventilation

  • Jenny_AsterJenny_Aster Posts: 945
    edited January 2022
    BenCotto said:
    That must have been a frightening time for you @Jenny_Aster so I’m very pleased for both of you that the outcome was good.

    Thank you for posting that link which I am now going to investigate closely. What I would like to hear from medical professionals is whether the data we upload is useful to them. Is it routinely accessed? Does it get flagged when our details are entered on the computer?

    I am inherently traditional in my approach and, accompanying my wife to medical appointments, have often found it helpful to have been able to provide the staff with two typed sheets detailing her significant operations and interventions - date, hospital, consultant, outcome.
    Thank you @BenCotto - we're a bit 'punch drunk' at the moment, but we're managing to dodge most of the blows. :)

    The site's obviously a new concept. Last September we moved from West Midlands Health Authority to East Anglia Health Authority, and were taken somewhat aback to discover the computer systems are not compatible with each other. Therefore each authority has to ask the other for x-ray films and other documents to be sent via snail-mail. So having a recognised entity such as this site where we carry around (via our smart phones) our personal medical information must be the way to go.

    My step daughter deals with 'Big Data' on medical issues, when we chat next I'll ask her how did she and her husband come across the site.
    Trying to be the person my dog thinks I am! 

    Cambridgeshire/Norfolk border.
  • KT53KT53 Posts: 9,016
    BenCotto said:
    @KT53 - I have just liked, and then unliked, your post. What I am saying is I agree entirely with what you have written but to have ticked ‘like’ might just have been construed of approving of your friend’s awful, debilitating illness. A good friend of mine has MND.

    No problem @BenCotto.  I suppose it could be misinterpreted but your comments are appreciated.
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