You are here: Home / Archives for Health Education

Medical Negligence: What It Is And How To Claim

March 13, 2013 by

Medical negligence may not be something that people would ever want to think about, but whether it is intentional or not, sometimes it does happen. When incorrect or inferior healthcare is administered it can mean a misdiagnosis which can lead to pain, injury, financial loss, mental issues or even death in extreme cases. The situation can be caused by the NHS or in private healthcare, but either way, you may be able to claim medical negligence compensation to help you through tough times.

Your first concern should be to get back to full health, or at least start down the right road again. It can be hard, as being a victim of medical negligence can knock your confidence in medical professionals. Getting the right treatment and physiotherapy is the best way to get back on your feet, but sometimes you will require help to get the best treatment, which is why it can be a good idea to start a claim for compensation to help you get the treatment you deserve.

medical negligence

It can be more difficult to claim for medical negligence compensation because it needs to be proven that your injury or illness was caused by incompetent healthcare or a lack of judgement. It also needs to be proven that this negligence caused the injury, rather than it been a possibility that could have happened anyway.

Luckily, within the medical profession there is a lot of paperwork, double checking and confirming information – with the express intent of reducing cases of medical negligence. In rare cases, cracks can appear, but the things that do work can help people claim as there is often a large amount of paperwork and other traceable items which can help claimants.

Some people choose not to claim as it can be a very sensitive time and they do not want to be intruded upon any further – which links back to the feeling of vulnerability and distrust. There are companies out there such as claims.com who deal with clients on a one-on-one basis and ensure that the client feels comfortable with the whole process and outcome.

Don’t suffer in silence or struggle along, compensation is available for a reason. If you think you are eligible, get in touch with professionals to find out more.

Did you like this? Share it:
Filed Under: General Health, Health Conditions, Health Education, Health Professions

What you need to know about contraception

July 8, 2012 by

Contraception is a sensitive issue and some people may find discussing the matter with a doctor quite uncomfortable. Nevertheless, to avoid unwanted pregnancies it will take just a short consultation to find the right form of contraception for you.

There are a number of contraceptives available these days and a short consultation will provide you with the information you need in order to choose the best option for you.

During a consultation a doctor will usually ask about the following when assessing your contraceptive needs:

  • Sexual activity (frequency; number of sexual partners)
  • Current health; medical history
  • General lifestyle
  • Whether you wish to have children in the near future
  • Age

It is helpful to remember when you visit a freedom health hiv clinic that anything you discuss is treated with the utmost confidentiality and in a completely professional manner; doctors discuss these things routinely and are not uncomfortable in doing so even if you are. If, though, you prefer not to discuss the matter with your regular GP then there are other options, such as: family planning clinics; your midwife or health visitor; and if you are under 25 you can also discuss this with Connexions or Brook.

It is important to look closely at the variety of contraceptives on offer because some can help with other problems you may have, such as painful cramps, heavy or irregular periods, or acne. Some may not be suitable due to health problems or other medication you take. Some may not be as easily reversible as you might like, for instance after stopping some contraceptives it could take up to a year for your fertility to return to normal.

Did you like this? Share it:
Filed Under: Health Education Tagged With: , ,

Healthcare programs at risk

December 19, 2010 by Leave a Comment

Health education is likely to be one of the first cuts made when healthcare budgets are decided. With the government cutting funding to the healthcare industry, doctors and hospital bosses have to decide what services they can get rid of. Obviously, they are not going to close emergency rooms or wards, or stop vital, life-saving surgeries from going ahead, so it is likely to be the healthcare programs that will suffer. This will affect the support groups for those with serious conditions and the education programs that aim to prevent situations like teenage pregnancies, drug addiction and the spread of HIV. If health education suffers, then hospitals and doctor’s surgeries may find themselves under more pressure. If at risks children and adults are not educated about health risks by these vital healthcare programs, then who will educate them?

Healthcare cuts

In the US, many states have been told to cut healthcare programs to try and save money. While this may save a few dollars in the short term, the impact it will have on service users’ lives will be massive. Some of the programs at risk include those which provide support to disabled people, helping them to live independent lives and even find work; without these organisations, these disabled people are more likely to end up living in sheltered housing or a care home, and being even more of a burden on the state.

Another program facing a massive shortfall in its budget for next year is one that provides health education and counselling to pregnant teenagers who have been thrown out of their homes. Without the support that this health care program offers, they will have nowhere to go. In the UK, too, the government has announced huge public sector cuts. While they claim that this won’t affect the NHS, it will undoubtedly affect health education programs run by local councils.

Increasing costs of professional training

More worrying, is the likelihood that money will no longer be spent on health education programs for members of staff. If budgets are tight, then there are fears that healthcare professionals will no longer be encouraged to take expensive training courses that would benefit not only their patients but also their employers too. Tuition fees for UK universities are on the rise, meaning that the cost of qualifying as a doctor could be £9,000 a year for seven or more years. It is already prohibitively expensive to study medicine in the US, with many students leaving university with thousands of dollars of debt.

Did you like this? Share it:
Filed Under: Health Education Tagged With: ,

Healthcare degree programs

November 22, 2010 by Leave a Comment

For many people who want a career in the healthcare industry, health education begins when they are still in their teens, with their choice of degree program. Medicine is the top degree program to choose, but it is not suitable for everyone, requiring excellent grades and a long-term financial commitment. Besides, not everyone wanting to go into medicine wants to be a doctor! There are literally hundreds of careers in the healthcare industry, and while not all of them require you to have a degree, a college education will stand you in good stead when it comes to the job market, especially if you have studied something relevant to healthcare.

Medicine degrees take many years, even longer if you decide you want to specialise, rather than becoming a family doctor. Nursing degrees are also available, and again you can study for longer if you want to specialise and become a particular type of nurse. Nurses work in all areas of healthcare, and their health education programs reflect that. After all, there are theatre nurses, emergency room nurses, geriatric care nurses, paediatric nurses. Each one needs different skills and, in some cases, different qualifications and experience.

Healthcare career options

If you know you want to work in the healthcare profession, but don’t think a medical career is right for you, there are still hundreds of options. Even if you just want to work in a care home, looking after elderly or disabled residents, you can still take a relevant health education course at college. Other options, still working with patients but not on a hospital ward, include mental health nursing or counselling, physiotherapy, occupational therapy, pharmacist, radiologist and countless more. Health education also covers nutrition, dentistry and training; running the kind of organisations that provide health education programs to either other professionals or members of the public.

Work experience

All healthcare degree programs will start in the classroom with theory and training, but they will also all contain some work experience. After all, medicine is a very hands-on profession and there is no point in training to be a doctor or a nurse and then never seeing a patient until your first day on the job. This work experience will take different forms, depending on what stage of your training you are at. You may just observe other professionals work, being able to ask them questions, or you might assist in a small way with a treatment. As your degree continues, you will become more involved with the practical side of your chosen degree, usually with the support of a local teaching hospital.

Did you like this? Share it:
Filed Under: Health Education Tagged With: ,

Professional training online

July 22, 2010 by Leave a Comment

If you want to pursue a career in the healthcare industry, but don’t have the time or money to give up your job to study, then there could be an alternative. Health education courses, including some degrees, are available online. Obviously, you can’t study something practical like medicine, unless you have a laboratory in the basement, but nursing is often offered online, along with many other options like pharmacy, nutrition, counselling and dental assistant.

You should always check the credentials of any online university you sign up with carefully. Otherwise, you could end up paying a lot of money for a course that is not accepted by any local employers. Check with your local hospital to see if they have heard of the institution and if they would accept an application from you if you had a degree from them. There are plenty of established universities that offer online degrees, so it just depends how much time you want to put into studying each week as to which is most suitable for you.

Practical work

As with full-time health education courses, you will find that you will be expected to carry out some practical work. As you are studying online, you may need to set this up yourself, so ask around to see if friends or family know anyone who works in your chosen field. You’re much more likely to be accepted for work experience at a hospital or healthcare establishment if you know someone who works there, rather than as a complete stranger. When you do arrange your work experience, collect contacts while you are there, especially other students, and keep in touch with them as their input could help your own studies.

Online resources

There are lots of health education resources on the Internet, whether you are interested in studying or just looking to do some research. Often the first thing people these days do after being diagnosed with a certain disease or condition is look it up online. Additionally you can also use Internet resources to check out conditions that haven’t yet been diagnosed, to see if you should call a doctor. If you are concerned about the health or behaviour of someone close to you or one of your children, there are many Internet sites that provide health education about what the problem might be and how best to tackle it.

Talking to your children about health education issues such as puberty, sex and alcohol can often be difficult for parents, and again the Internet can help here too. There are sites that give you tips and tools about how and when to approach the conversation, how to answer difficult questions and how much information you should give to children of different ages.

Did you like this? Share it:
Filed Under: Health Education Tagged With: ,

Health education courses

May 19, 2010 by Leave a Comment

Are health education courses competitive?

Medicine has been traditionally thought of as a competitive career because of the high wages available at the end, however, this is not necessarily the case for other healthcare professions. Health education courses in nursing should be relatively easy to get on, provided you have the right qualifications.

I’m in my 30s, is it too late to take a health education course?

Definitely not. In fact, many hospitals or clinics prefer members of staff to be a little older and with some life experience, as they feel this gives their employees a greater understanding of some of the problems and issues they face.

Where can I find details about healthcare courses?

There are many online sources that list universities and colleges that offer healthcare courses and also online studying options. Search colleges and universities near to where you want to study and see what kind of healthcare courses they are offering. Don’t be afraid to contact them directly if you want more information about the course you are thinking of applying for; you can even ask to speak to someone from the department if you have specific questions you would like answered.

Should I withdraw my children from sex education in school?

This is always your choice, but the evidence is that children who have not gone through sex education lessons at school are less likely to use contraception when they start to become sexually active. Health education in schools is very responsible these days; it teaches children what they need to know, while still advocating abstinence as the best way of staying sexually healthy.

What health education can I expect as a first-time mother?

Being pregnant for the first time can be pretty scary, but there are lots of people out there who will help. If you are really worried about something urgent, then go to the emergency room, otherwise speak to your family doctor or nurse. You will have regular scans and the technician will be able to answer any questions you have about the development of the baby and finally, there are the ante-natal classes that will prepare you for the birth. If you are worried about how you will look after the baby, there are health education classes and health workers who can help you with that too, or you can just read lots of parenting books!

Did you like this? Share it:
Filed Under: Health Education Tagged With: ,