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NHS smoking data

I got a letter from my GP practice recently which asked me for my smoking status. It admitted no middle ground between "I have never smoked in my life" and "I smoke x cigarettes/cigars per day". Wouldn't it be better if there was an "occasional use" category too? ("x times a year"?)

written 19th April 2009 | | abusive?
rated 6.0/10 by 5 users | rate a random post

Responses

William notes: Yeah. Or "only during my divorce/while I had a recording contract". I guess if public services ask for feedback via quesrtionnaires they should design them well. I feel better design is becoming a leitmotiv here...

written 19th April 2009 | abusive?

Tom L notes: WIBBI if they collected this info when you were actually at the GP's, rather than wasting paper and postage costs? As regards your comment, it's certainly logical, but remember that most doctors believe you to be lying whatever you say. If you say 10 a day, they think you mean 20, etc

written 2nd May 2009 | abusive?

J King notes: You should be asking why you got a letter from your GP asking this. The reason is that the QOF system means that to get the maximum payment they have to record smoking status at least every 15 months. Did they also offer you assistance to stop smoking in the letter, if required of course. If not, this was just a cynical exercise to maximise practice income, not to look after you as a patient.

written 2nd June 2009 | abusive?

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