To be annoyed by this? (NHS thread)

[CalliopeCat]

My mam woke up this morning with reduced use/sensation in her arm. She rang me and I got a taxi to hers where we rang 111. Got told to head to a&e because they were worried it was a stroke.

Got there- the waiting room was totally empty. Nurse on the desk barely looked up as we explained why we were there. She asked my mam if she could lift her arm and mam showed how much she could (which I think is less than her usual range of movement)

We were then told to go home and ring the GP for a phone assessment which would lead to a face to face appointment. I again tried to explain that we'd used the 111 system and been sent to a&e to be told to go home again as the department didn't want to admit people due to the virus.

Got another taxi home and rang the GP who said it's not something they can really assess over the phone and to go to a&e. Mam explained what had happened so far and was told that the nurse at a&e was wrong and she should have been seen there. They arranged a phone consultation (which happened very quickly, to be fair) and the GP told her to go back to a&e.

It's cost me over £30 in taxis today, running back and forward between different points and mam is still no further forward. My sister has just been and picked Mam up and is with her at the hospital.

I'm so frustrated with the whole situation. The nurse on the a&e desk didn't even look at mam, just asked if she could lift her arm. I totally understand that they're under immense pressure but my area isn't badly affected- my town has around 100 cases confirmed. I'm worried that if it is/was a stroke all the messing on has ruined any chance of treatment she has.

Gosh OP that is extremely concerning. Did you use the word stroke the first time you were in A&E?

as for this pp Well yes obviously it is annoying but she is there now you need to read up on strokes.

When you do first aid courses here (Germany) these days half of it is taken up with teaching about strokes and how quick the patient needs to be seen

Yes, I went in an said 'We've been sent by 111 because they're worried my mam has had a stroke.'

The nurse said 'Can you lift your arm?'

Mam said 'A bit'

Then the nurse said we had to go home and ring the GP for an appointment.

I'm sorry you went through this. I hope she is okay going forwards.

I had similar with a rottweiler on the reception desk at A and E a few months ago.

I'd seen the GP who then called the surgery team in the A and E dept. Who wanted me to go in, said they'd be waiting. DH took me up, I explained to the woman on the desk who just said "no. That's not how it works" DH gave the woman the letter who accused us of making it up (letter headed paper and everything). Relented enough to let me sit down, said she'd put me in the system. Took three hours before the surgical team even knew I'd arrived. Because she had just triaged me as normal.

People like this scare me. They literally have your life in their hands only they don't have medical training so shouldn't be making the judgements they do.

My mil had to have 3 limbs amputated due to failings by the NHS. Even although she told them what was wrong, it was in her notes, no one took any notice and she was left for days without treatment, and that was before coronavirus. So YANBU to be annoyed by the lack of care from the NHS. Hope your mum is OK.

the NHS is great BUT there are individuals who work there from the consultants down who are not or who make major mistakes
Op write down exactly what happened as the first part of the complaint than do bullet points of actual misjudgement - I was advised how to do this for a very serious complaint about a surgeon & a specific hospital & request notes about this from the hospital that this …. idiot wrote about your dm the process is explained on the hospital website - the nurse needs to re educated on the process & her attitudes

This is an appalling catalogue of errors.
The original triage nurse should categorized her as a priority. However 111 should have sent an ambulance to take her to the nearest hospital with a stroke service.

She should have checked her over, However if she was indeed suffering from an actual stroke she would not have been able to walk in to A and E, or talk coherently. Possible TIA. I just imagine the nurse didn't think it could be that serious, she still definitely should have checked her for a TIA or anything else though.

My aunt had serious stroke a couple of years ago and was able to walk. Her main symptoms were the worst headache of her life and loss of sight. Please don't spread misinformation.
www.stroke.org.uk/what-is-stroke/what-are-the-symptoms-of-stroke

@questionablemouse it's not misinformation it's common symptoms of a stroke, there can of course be less common symptoms of everything including heart attacks which affect women very differently to men etc. Your aunts symptoms are more like that of a migraine, that's why so many things are missed they display symptoms which aren't the norm and I did say she still should have been checked over.

@firsttimemum30

www.nhs.uk/conditions/stroke/

This does not mention "not being able to walk" as a symptom.

Any sign of even a mild stroke should be treated as an emergency:

www.nhs.uk/using-the-nhs/nhs-services/urgent-and-emergency-care/when-to-call-999/

And the NICE guidance

www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng128/chapter/Recommendations#rapid-recognition-of-symptoms-and-diagnosis

Weakness in arms and legs, inability to hold arms up etc. Slurred speech.

Also in case you missed it I have stated more than once that ofcourse even with symptoms of a TIA she should have been seen so not sure what you're hoping to achieve. I imagine just boredom from lockdown.

You were wrong and should own that. 🤷🏻‍♀️

The difference between a TIA and a stroke is whether the symptoms are transient (TIA = transient ischemic attack) or whether there is the possibility of permanent damage as with a stroke (unless it's treated) . A TIA resolves within a matter of hours.

Exactly what functions are affected will depend entirely on which part of the brain is being affected. So it is entirely possible to have a stroke and still be able to walk. E.g. a stroke affecting the occipital lobe (back of the brain) could cause partial blindness without affecting the ability to walk.

If you develop weakness in one limb - there's no way of telling that it's a TIA rather than a stroke unless it has started to get better on its own. So someone presenting at A&E with recent onset weakness in a limb should certainly have been examined.

Thank you. That's pretty much what the consultant said to my sister and what is written in the letter mam was given. She's been told the scans and stuff that were planned for today will take place on Monday now because there was no doctor in to do them. So more time worrying what's going one. :(

I hope your mum is oK @callipecat - I agree with everyone else that you should make a complaint - don't forget to copy in the CEO so that it is definitely dealt with. It's been all over the news that yes you can go to A&E if necessary - please keep us up to date and my heart goes out to you, your mum and your sister.

Firsttimemum30 - absolute rubbish. When my mum had a stroke, she drove herself to the doctors, walked in and it was only when she couldn't remember basic information about her name and address did they realise she'd had a stroke and she was taken to hospital.

OP, I hope your mum is ok and receives the treatment she needs. She was treated very badly today.

Thank you. My sister has taken over a bit (she drives, and she's older than me so people take her seriously)

I spoke to Mam on the phone today and she seems okay in herself. She looks tired though and is covered in bruise from having blood taken and such.

I really appreciate everyone who's commented. Posting on here means I'm not dealing with this alone and it helps loads.

Please complain. This sort of thing needs to stop. Some medical professionals seem to think it's ok to dismiss patients and risk their life. I have heard horrific stories (including things that have happened to me) from before C19 so that's not the reason and even if it were, still not OK!!.

Hope your mum gets better very soon. 💐

I just came back to catch up on how your mum was doing and I’m sorry to hear her scans have been pushed back OP.

Thinking of you all, and yes, definitely complain.

Thanks x

I really do appreciate the support. It means a lot .

Glad to hear your mum has appointments for Monday. Try not to worry (easier said than done)