Dad too unwell to get to hospital appointment

[ImHavingAnOldFriendForDinner]

Wasn't sure where to post this.

Basically my Dad is very very unwell and has finally got a hospital appointment Friday to have some tests done (we aren't expecting good news) but he can't get out of bed to get there. He is having awful diarrhoea most days and sleeps for many hours yet the GP has told my Mum today that if he doesn't get there then his appointment will be cancelled and he will be put back to GP care.

My parents GP has been absolutely awful through all of this and he should have been referred months ago so I'm not surprised she isn't being helpful now.

Does anyone have any ideas what we can do? If he still can't get out of bed tomorrow would it be unreasonable to ring an ambulance (we have done this before but they have refused to take him in as the GP was dealing with it)? Would the hospital be more helpful if we call them?

I think the Gp would be happy to leave him at home to just deteriorate.

Bless you, your mum and dad - this was me last year with a family member and it’s so so tough to be fighting for them to receive basic care all the time. Big hugs and I hope it goes well.

To be honest if he really is that unwell it would be better to take him to ED anyway

I was just thinking that. If he’s been consistently in this state for a while he could be massively dehydrated and exhausted.

Has his GP actually lain eyes on him? To leave someone of his age like that with zero support is shocking tbh. At the very least he should be getting supportive treatments to make him more comfortable whilst waiting for tests so he doesn’t get dehydrated/malnourished.

Sorry your poor father is going through this no help at all but sounds like the same situation we experienced years ago (with go too) and we just had to keep fingers crossed no one would suffer disciplinary at work for having to go against the boss and not turn up for work that day. Life made hell but that’s another story. Embarrassing doesn’t come into it and the staff were horrified when we turned up but as they themselves said, there was nothing else for it. Wish you and especially your father well.

He sounds quite poorly, agree with pp that if you get him to the CT then A&E after is not a bad idea, at least a doctor will see him in person and assess if he's well enough to be at home.

So glad you’re going. I really hope you get him there ok. Make sure you tell them how unwell he is x

I hope you manage to get your dad to the appointment.
I really think you should complain to the GP surgery as well. Not seeing him at all Is unacceptable.

I used to work in care, and once had to go to a hospital outpatient appointment with a patient who needed one to one care. We went on hospital transport which we then had to wait 6 hours for to return. Both the patient and I went without food and drink for the entire time, and it was horrendous.

Please don't advocate patient transport in this situation.

Good luck.

The Elderly Parents section here is always helpful for advice. It's all very difficult.

Hope you manage to get him there.

I hope it all goes to plan this afternoon for you. The staff doing to CT could go and find a member of staff from the appropriate department to see him. I had test recently in hospital and the surgeon doing the test went to find the doctor (the result was one he wouldn’t deal with) to prescribe some medicine immediately to halt the problem.

Has he had recent bloods done? You said 6m loose stool but is the reduced mobility recent or increased lethargy? Just trying to work out if this is a recent deterioration that has left him bed bound? I work medical receiving and I'd be pretty concerned about getting him seen quickly. Is he alert and oriented?

The best place to find a Dr from the appropriate speciality to treat him is A&E. CT are unlikely to be able to just find a Dr from the right speciality to see him. We don't even know what's wrong with him yet, and ED will be able to fo urgent bloods, fluids and other investigations.

I would also take him to the emergency department afterwards.
My Dad was very ill and ended up dehydrated, it was this and not being able to eat that got him admitted twice.
If possible ask for another GP to treat him, my Dad's was new and unknown to us but couldn't do enough to help him.

Good luck for this afternoon , sounds like the GP is pretty crap and in those cases you need to be very assertive as a patient / relative which it doesn’t sound like your mum is managing to be . Whether you get as far as the scan I’d just take him into the A&E and get him looked at there , at least you’ll get some bloods etc .

You need hospital transport (which is considered an ambulance, but not an emergency ambulance) and this is organized via the hospital.

Definitely do not call a 999 emergency ambulance.

Good luck with the appointment today.

I hope it’s all going ok and he gets the care he needs

Good luck & well done for finding him a solution to get there.
Are there any other GPs at his surgery?
I think going to A&E is needed if not.

Hope it went ok and that your dad starts getting appropriate care soon.

Good luck today x

Hope the appointment is helpful.

Hospital transport is great in some situations but as others have outlined, not so good for very unwell and immobile people, especially with delays and the many potential stops and drop offs.

I do hope that today went OK and you are all going to get some real help

Good luck. It's so hard when our parents become ill like this. I hope they had some answers today.

I hope today went well 💐

How are things, OP?