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AIBU?

To feel so happy about my mum's care by NHS?

17 replies

GoldenSpacedCadet · 12/03/2016 12:16

My DM has had an 'upset stomach' for 3 weeks. She is very independent and doesn't like to fuss or complain. She didn't want to see her GP but I was concerned that she's lost quite a bit of weight so I phoned her GP with her permission. The receptionist offered me a telephone consultation. I spoke to a lovely doctor who agreed mum should be see and her bloods checked.

Mum visited the doctor, weighed, bloods taken & referral for tests. Later that evening her phone rang. Mum didn't recognise the number & thought it was a nuisance call so didn't answer. At two in the morning she heard a hammering on her door. She looked out the window and there were two men, ....obviously as she is elderly & living on her own she was reluctant to answer the door. They signed at her to answer her phone. They were doctors who told her her potassium levels were dangerously low & they were calling an ambulance to take her to hospital.

After a short time in A&E she was transferred to a side room in a ward where she is receiving good care. The nursing staff are obviously very busy but nothing is too much trouble.

What a very positive experience. I so hope (probably naively) that the NHS continues.

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AntiHop · 12/03/2016 13:52

Wonderful. Hope she is back to herself soon.

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ChestyNut · 12/03/2016 14:00

That's lovely to hear OP Flowers

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cleaty · 12/03/2016 14:01

That is lovely to hear, I hope she gets better soon.

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NoodleNuts · 12/03/2016 14:15

Why would 2 doctor's turn up at 2:00am? That would scare me and I'm not elderly and don't live alone! It sounds like she's in good hands now though, hope she gets better soon.

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Sirzy · 12/03/2016 14:17

Fantastic, hope she is feeling better soon.

I have had lots of fantastic care on the NHS, mainly my sons care. The latest being 2 consultants from different hospitals working together to put together an action plan on a Sunday morning recently when he was pretty ill.

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Musicaltheatremum · 12/03/2016 14:42

It was most likely a doctor and the OOH driver. It happens. Low potassium can be fatal. As can high.

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Pippa12 · 12/03/2016 14:45

Noodlenuts- if your potassium is low it causes cardiac arrhythmia leading to cardiac arrest. The doctor obviously thought this was a distinct possibility.

Thankfully your mum has lived to tell the tale. I hope she's feeling much better soon!

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Northernlurker · 12/03/2016 15:00

If she's not been eating or absorbing food well that could have contributed to the low potassium which is a medical emergency. I imagine the two men were very relieved to see her alive at the window. If she hadn't answered they would undoubtedly have had to have called the police to break in! The side room is most likely because she has d and or v.

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lougle · 12/03/2016 15:32

The doctors have a duty of care, NoodleNuts. If a blood result is seriously deranged, they have to take immediate action to get medical attention for the patient. If they can't raise someone by phone, they will drive out to the property. At the hospital, if we request blood tests and they reveal serious issues, we get a telephone report prior to the written report and we have to state our name and job role for their record.

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TheRealBarenziah · 12/03/2016 16:20

Yup, I've had Out of Hours shifts in which I've been dispatched to someone's house - we normally try phoning 3 or 4 times first! If a blood result is dangerous and needs immediate action, we have to try and get hold of the patient one way or another. As musicaltheatremum says, the other chap was probably a driver. The other possibility is that it was a registrar who had a supervising senior GP with him.

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Danlsb · 12/03/2016 16:52

Thank you I'm so Glad to see a positive nhs post and pleased your mum is ok. So often I see negative experiences reported ( understandable as it can be v distressing) but usually when things go well we don't think to say anything. Our nhs workers do an amazing job 🙂

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GoldenSpacedCadet · 12/03/2016 17:23

Thank you for your replies. Just been to see her now & she's still getting excellent care at Wythenshawe hospital. Not only are the staff very helpful but the ward/corridors and cafe areas are spotless!

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AStreetcarNamedBob · 13/03/2016 08:07

Wow that is an incredible story. Good for you as well OP for taking it forward even tho your DM didn't want to bother anyone.

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Eve · 13/03/2016 08:09

That's great, wish my mum is has been on a waiting list for over 12 months to get an injection to relieve arthritis in her back could get seen. She can barely walk now.

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GoldenSpacedCadet · 13/03/2016 08:31

Oh Eve that's terrible for your poor mum. Is it a steroid injection she's waiting for? Has she tried a TENS machine to help alleviate her symptoms? Is a misery waking up everyday in pain.

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Eve · 13/03/2016 08:33

I think it's a steroid one, I've been telling her to make a fuss but of course she won't!

Haven't thought of tens machine..I'll get one and send it to her ( if I tell her she'll not bother)

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GoldenSpacedCadet · 13/03/2016 08:56

I bought a cheap TENS from Lloyds chemist when I had a bad back and it helped me cope. Luckily my GP did steroid injections so I didn't have to wait too long. Could you make a fuss for her Eve ? I know I'm unable to make a fuss for myself but I can for others.
Some physios are also trained to do steroid injections so it might be worth finding out if there are other options.

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