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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To expect a home visit from a GP

21 replies

Robin60 · 02/06/2021 22:19

My 90 year old mother in law was diagnosed by the local hospital with diverticulitis and sent home with antibiotics four weeks ago. After a two week course she was still in considerable pain she contacted her GP, who sent her for a blood test and to submit a urine sample. This time she was told she had a kidney infection. She has again been prescribed another course of antibiotics - this time for one week. By the end of this course, she’s no better at all and phoned the surgery again. She has another telephone consultation and yet another course of antibiotics- these ones have left her vomiting. This time when she phoned the surgery and asked for a home visit as she’s now pretty weak she’s told they don’t do them anymore! Is it really true that home visits don’t happen?

OP posts:

stclair · 02/06/2021 22:22

The gp practice I work at certainly does!

legotruck · 02/06/2021 22:35

Our surgery does them but only for patients who cannot attend in person. Obviously 'pretty weak' could mean anything so it's hard to judge whether this would merit a home visit.

DeathByWalkies · 02/06/2021 22:36

We may be very lucky, but the local GP practice is practically falling over themselves to offer home visits to a relative in her late 90s and still living independently!

Bargebill19 · 02/06/2021 22:38

We had to sign a waiver for home visits when we joined our surgery.

Blossomtoes · 02/06/2021 22:43

They have to do home visits for very old people. Most practices have a home visit list. If you don’t get any joy with having her added to the list, contact your PCT.

motogogo · 02/06/2021 22:47

They do but only if they are housebound, if someone can get them to the surgery then they should book an appointment

legotruck · 02/06/2021 22:49

They have to do home visits for very old people.

Age isn't the criteria.

MichelleScarn · 02/06/2021 22:51

Is she bed/house bound?

ShopTattsyrup · 02/06/2021 22:52

They definitely do do home visits - although the criteria for them will vary from surgery to surgery.

I was texting my GP best friend only an hour ago who said she was having an early night becuase she has a mammoth home visit list for the morning with an early start.

GertrudePerkinsPaperyThing · 02/06/2021 22:59

I got one in 2009/10 when I had what they think was swine flu. There was no way I could go anywhere and would also have infected people!

catfeets · 02/06/2021 23:00

My 90yr old gran was refused a home visit this week too. She is passing clots of blood in her urine and the doctor said no gps are doing home visits due to Covid. My mum pointed out that her doctor does them and she was accused of lying about it. The gp said they absolutely would not come out and would send for an ambulance instead.
My mum said it was obviously a

Ozanj · 02/06/2021 23:00

It would depend on the GPs at the practice. At my last one they were all pushing 60 and were shielding so definitely wouldn’t have done home visits - those needed to be organised via 111 and another practice did them. At my current practice the GPs all seem to be under 40 and are doing them for multiple practices so have a strict booking system. Home visits are now pretty much only for the sickest patients and end of life care.

Original poster

Robin60 · 02/06/2021 23:01

@MichelleScarn

Is she bed/house bound?

Prior to this illness she wasn’t. Due to being in such pain and discomfort as well as being weak and dizzy she hasn’t left her home in almost four weeks.

OP posts:

CrocodilesCry · 02/06/2021 23:04

It's really difficult isn't it? But if they're point blank refusing to see her, I'd call 111 and see what they suggest and if they can arrange a home visit, or a paramedic. Worst case scenario they send her back to hospital but after 4 weeks someone needs to see her.

catfeets · 02/06/2021 23:04

Ahh, posted too soon.
They were happy to send an unvaccinated 90yr old to hospital just to be told she needs antibiotics.
GP insisted it had to be ambulance or nothing. Ambulance wasn't happy about it when they got there and the hospital only provided 3 days of antibiotics so the infection is back already.
The GP's opinion is that my gran shouldn't bother going to a hospital appointment to investigate the bleeding as she's old and it's a waste of time investigating it. So no wonder they couldn't be arsed doing a home visit if they're ignoring patients' medical needs entirely.

Mydogmylife · 02/06/2021 23:19

@catfeets

Ahh, posted too soon. They were happy to send an unvaccinated 90yr old to hospital just to be told she needs antibiotics. GP insisted it had to be ambulance or nothing. Ambulance wasn't happy about it when they got there and the hospital only provided 3 days of antibiotics so the infection is back already. The GP's opinion is that my gran shouldn't bother going to a hospital appointment to investigate the bleeding as she's old and it's a waste of time investigating it. So no wonder they couldn't be arsed doing a home visit if they're ignoring patients' medical needs entirely.

That's bloody disgraceful!

MichelleScarn · 02/06/2021 23:35

robin im sure you have but did you make this clear to.surgery? How is she for mobilising and transfers? Any steps at all in the journey from home to gp? Could she safely get in/out of a car? Make sure they know she couldn't.

MournfulTromboneNoise · 02/06/2021 23:39

@catfeets

Ahh, posted too soon. They were happy to send an unvaccinated 90yr old to hospital just to be told she needs antibiotics. GP insisted it had to be ambulance or nothing. Ambulance wasn't happy about it when they got there and the hospital only provided 3 days of antibiotics so the infection is back already. The GP's opinion is that my gran shouldn't bother going to a hospital appointment to investigate the bleeding as she's old and it's a waste of time investigating it. So no wonder they couldn't be arsed doing a home visit if they're ignoring patients' medical needs entirely.

Lazy bastards.

We got a home visit for a child recently, offered as they were vomiting so frequently they were unable to attend surgery. We didn't even ask. It was offered.

Eilethya · 03/06/2021 00:02

What do they expect you to do?!

I would call in the morning, get practice managers contact details and put in a written query, clearly asking what they expect you to do at this point.

EachDubh · 03/06/2021 00:12

20 years ago my mum's gp refused a home visit when it was explained to them thst she couldn't walk, sit up unaided due to horrific sick bug and unchecked diabetes, they sent a prescription for anti sickness medication via chemist. No she wouldn't need to see a dr for her diabetes which had been diet controlled and for which she has no way of checking her bloods. Same dr denied her need for an ambulance even when she finally got the home visit a week later and she said she believed she was going losing consciousness. Finally sent a dr out she slipped into a coma in the ambulance and died without waking up.
Please be your mils advocate and fight for her right to healthcare. Our biggest regret was listening to the gp.

81Byerley · 03/06/2021 00:27

I'd be dialling 111.

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