Northam Tragedy: An Addendum
As the media coverage continues, another thought that occurred to me today, is why is it not possible for there to be a well-recognised easy to follow chart for Accident and Emergency staff at remote hospitals (accepting for present purposes Northam would be accepted as such), as to observation or triage findings which should mandate a medical consultation?
For example, why should a temperature greater than a set limit in a teenager not be something that mandates such a review? As I understand the media reports, Andrew had a temperature of 40 degrees at attendance.
Why is it too hard to have simple guiding 'sign post' protocols to assist staff across the State?
I do not suggest that medicine can be run by computer software. There is obviously no substitute for an experienced, skilled clinician's evaluation of a patient. When this is not available however, why not assist the staff to avoid tragic mistaken calls...?
