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.

If you complain about the issue with the GP and the medication, I just wanted to point out that in the beginning you said the GP wasn’t doing anyth and said they had to go to the scan. But in fact they had already been referred to a consultant who ordered a query cancer scan. So the gp has done the right thing and you are under the hospital so not sure at that point what you wanted the GP to do? They had already referred on and you were under a specialist. The consultants would also have access to the medication list.

Just for when you do complain you complain at the right thing. Understand that it was terrifying seeing your father but it sounds like you were diverting your worries at the wrong thing at that point. And didn’t want you to feel dismissed if they said that nothing was done wrong at that point.

What a relief to find out your dad is ok, it’s must have been such a stressful time for you all.
I would definitely complain, I wish we had.
My mil’s GP diagnosed her with IBS after she complained of tummy pain and diarrhoea. MIL went back and forth to GP but still, for a whole year this GP insisted it was IBS (this was a 75 year old who had absolutely no previous digestive issues throughout her life).
Eventually she could not put up with the pain. She demanded to be referred. Her symptoms turned out to be a neuro endocrine small bowel tumour.
And even after the diagnosis the GP prescribed lots of different meds, one day MIL became very unwell and was rushed to hospital, she ended up nearly dying and it turned out to be because she was taking too many different medications.
Sadly, she has since passed away but I am still so angry with the GP. I attend the same surgery but will never see this GP as I have lost all faith in her.
I hope your dad managed to feel much better over the next few weeks.

Your post isn't very clear @RedCardigan - are you saying the GP repeatedly just saying that OP's father has to get there without offering any other support was appropriate care? As in my practice, the GP would suggest calling the relevant hospital department, or (usually) contact them him/herself to explain and arrange transport. Maybe it's different where you live.

Anyway, the GP was certainly negligent re: the medication, OP's father could have died, and has damaged organs because the GP couldn't be arsed to check the doses properly. That's an utter disgrace and that GP should be sanctioned.

@Trinidading3

The OP started this thread a month ago.

Maybe read her updates.

Can you phone passenger transport? He sounds like he's too unwell to travel. Why not ring the department and tell them to arrange passenger transport or 999?

Thank you for updating us with the relatively good news. It seems like your GP is pretty unsympathetic and useless, I would be asking to change to another, possibly in the same practice, and letting the practice manager know precisely why. Glad that your father is feeling a bit better.

Read the OPs updates.

Nobody needs to call 999.

The GP wasn’t doing the right thing if they didn’t check the medications! A regular review is supposed to happen at least every 6 months to a year. And certainly when the patient is showing signs that things aren’t going well. A reaction to a drug/side effect isn’t some thing either unknown or unusual and the GP should have checked that!!

Why do people post before they read the full thread?!

OP so pleased your dd is feeling better xx

just a slight aside in vase
it helps anyone… every hospital I have been to (and there has been a lot) has had wheelchairs for public use. Key places to find one are entrance halls or a&e or, failing that, ask at a help desk.

@ImHavingAnOldFriendForDinner really happy for the good news and your dad is on the mend.

Id also advise to change GP (or even surgeries tbh) even if you don’t go down the route of putting a complain in. Your dad deserves better care than that.

That’s wonderful news about your father and very scary that he has had to suffer so much(as you all have) because of negligence x

What's you issue? Don't be so rude @ parposine

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Don’t take it personally @Trinidading3. it’s generally considered good form on MN to read the OP’s posts on an older/long running thread (you can filter the thread just by the OP’s updates if you click on ‘see all’ on their first post).

Don’t sweat it though, I’ve certainly done the same without realising. It’s just the conversation has moved on.