Disgusted with the GP.

[Daisymae15]

This is not a bashing the NHS thread we are so angry with the GP.

My Mil 92 is in a nursing home last Thursday she had a minor stroke the home called the GP and all she has done is send aspirin, wouldn't visit.
Yesterday she had a fall, banged her head, shoulder and back. Not injured enough to call an ambulance.
The GP was called yesterday and was supposed to phone, as of 7pm tonight she still hasn't rung. When WE phoned the surgery told that she is on the list to be called.
The home are frustrated at not being able to give anything stronger than paracetamol. We are frustrated because of covid we are not allowed to visit.
(Someone tested positive on Saturday so they have gone back in lockdown)
We feel as though the GP is hoping she dies so she doesn't need to bother. DH has spoken to the home and they have said that they are worried about her, she is in a lot of pain, very depressed and not even got dressed today. Last night she slept in a chair as she couldn't lie down.

As I have said I'm not bashing the NHS as in the last year I have had breast cancer and my treatment has been first class.(Not under the same surgery)
We can't change surgeries as each home in town has an allocated practice.

Is covid to blame or is it possible that she is a shit GP.

With the mini-stroke (TIA?) were the Paramedics called to assess? GPs might see a patient with suspected TIA on a Ward round but does not necessarily warrant a home visit if the symptoms resolve--they tend to rely on what the nurses say/do.
If the GP does not call back, the nursing home should arrange OOH GP via 111.

If she has.had a fall and is in pain the home need to.call the out of hours service.or.call for an ambulance. Particularly as she banged her head, is on aspirin and has had a tia.

She needs to be checked urgently I would call 111 - can the care home not do this? I dont want to alarm you but my 88 father had a slight fall, banged his head and ended up with a bleed on the brain. I think the home needs to be more proactive.

Its worrying that she was in too much pain to even lay down, she could have I jurednher spine or elvis. The home need to get her medical help so she can have xrays and decent pain control.

Pelvis, not elvis. Hope she gets the help she needs and feels better soon.

The home should be calling 111 or out of hours yes the go should be on it but he/she isn't the home has a duty of care push for the home to do something if they say no you do it please get her seen hope she will be ok x

The doctor has just phoned the home. Co codamol has been prescribed but it can't be delivered until the morning as the script has gone to boots.
GP was not too concerned even though Mil has moments where she appears vacant. She won't do a visit because someone tested positive for covid.
We did ask the nurse from the home if she should have an ambulance but we have been told that if one was needed the doctor would authorise who had said one
was not needed.
DH will be phoning this GP in the morning.
This time last week Mil had knitted a cardigan for one of her great grandchildren. Today she hasn't got out of her chair. They brought in a comode as she couldn't get to the bathroo

It's the nursing home I would be annoyed with I think, I'm really surprised they didn't call an ambulance when she fell.

It sounds like an ambulance should have been called when it first happened. Especially with a head injury.

If it has been decided she is to be kept comfortable at the home and not for hospital admission, then I guess apart from pain relief there is little to be done. Any CT scans that need doing would be done if she went to A and E.
Not sure if this conversation about whether your MIL is not for admission no matter the health condition.

Nurses do not need a doctor to authorise an ambulance, if they are worried about a resident who has not even be seen by a doctor they can make that decision, is it a nursing home with registered nurses. No one knows if she has injured herself without actually seeing her and she has no pain killers until tomorrow, what's she supposed to do overnight.

@DogsSausages

Nurses do not need a doctor to authorise an ambulance, if they are worried about a resident who has not even be seen by a doctor they can make that decision, is it a nursing home with registered nurses. No one knows if she has injured herself without actually seeing her and she has no pain killers until tomorrow, what's she supposed to do overnight.

this..

do not let strangers decide your loved ones Fate

It's the nursing home I would be annoyed with I think, I'm really surprised they didn't call an ambulance when she fell.

This. Completely.

I think leaving her in so much pain over night again sounds negligent from the home. If she was in your house under your care would you not phone an ambulance or take her to a&e? Sounds like it may be worth trying to push the home to do something tonight.

DH is on the phone to the home now.
Just to say all the residents have a DNR in place.

Call the ambulance service yourself?

Since when does a GP authorise an ambulance dispatch?
Appalling service!

If you believe she is in grave danger .... hit 999 🌸

The nursing home should absolutely have called an ambulance. She definitely needs xrays and maybe a ct brain. I think nursing homes can be reluctant to send residents to the hospital as often a member of staff has to go with the patient. The GP might not be getting accurate information from the nursing home. If the nursing home are refusing, then you should speak to the duty dr at your gp practice - explain that she has sustained a head injury on aspirin and that she's not able to move from her chair. They will definitely recommend an ambulance, and should have done so already if they knew that info from DH. She really needs to go to hospital. Good luck

@Daisymae15 why do they have a DNR in place? Honestly I’m in absolute and utter shock!

I don’t think the DNR is relevant OP, hospital for pain management is normal (in necessary circumstances) even at end of life care. No matter what age or health, they should respect her right to comfort and dignity. I hope she’s feeling better soon OP, it must be very stressful

The home and the GP are both to blame here! 100% they should have called an ambulance when she had a stroke and 100% when she had a fall and hit her head! The GP does not need to authorise this and the home should know to do it! I'm actually speechless that they didn't and would be contacting CQC to be quite frank! This is a serious safeguarding issue. She should have been admitted after the stroke!!!

I agree with others, it sounds like she needs more immediate care than a GP would give . I'm surprised at someone having a stroke and a bad fall and all that's been done is phone the GP surgery.

If your MIL had a TIA the nursing home absolutely should have called an ambulance. I'd be reporting them to the CQC. Your poor MIL.

DNR means do not resuscitate? Not leave alone injured and in pain

If she can get through this I would see about moving her

Why do all the residents have a DNR?!

Is this from earlier in covid when elderly and disabled people in care were subject to blanket DNRs?

Obviously if MIL has chosen to have a DNR then that's her right, but if she hasn't consented to it then it's absolutely not OK.

I find it unlikely that every single resident has independently consented to a DNR.

www.google.com/amp/s/amp.theguardian.com/world/2020/oct/12/inquiry-begins-into-blanket-use-in-england-of-covid-do-not-resuscitate-orders