Does she need to be seen?

[Wombatbum]

My 85 year old great aunt has been unwell with a cough/virus this past week. She has phoned my mum this morning very upset and scared, which isn’t like her at all. My mum has gone to her and she’s very shaky and out of breath when she moves anywhere. When she’s phoned the doctor’s surgery an automated message says that if anyone is calling about cold/flu symptoms to hang up and either go to the pharmacy or ring 111. My mum went to the pharmacy spoke to the pharmacist and got some covonia. He said if she’s worried to ring 111 and that it could be covid and not much point testing as new strain isn’t showing up on tests.

I’m unwell myself so don’t want to go down in case I infect her with something else! But I’m worried. Should my mum carry on and try and get her seen by the GP or just go for 111? I’m worried it will take hours if we ring 111 to speak to someone. I’m concerned that she needs her sats checking with her being breathless and shaky.

I would take her to a walk in. There may be a long wait though.

Ring 111. You'll be at home while waiting instead of a room full of sick people and if she needs to be seen they will make her an appointment.

We don’t have a walk-in GP centre any more so it’d have to be urgent care. Waited 6 hours there with my son a couple of weeks ago 😢 I’m concerned that she won’t want to go, I took her there a few years ago for something and she was very uncomfortable 😣

111 for advice.

Can you get a pulse oximeter from the pharmacy and check her blood oxygen level?

Going to do that now, thank you

Got here, she was upstairs getting dressed, levels were 81 when she first came down and climbed quite quickly to 85. When she’d been sat down a while it was 87 then went up to 89 and stayed there. She’s not happy with me because I rang the doctor’s surgery who are getting a doctor to phone us.

Under 90 is too low, she likely needs oxygen. Try and keep her calm and still, how is her mobility? can you help her gently move into a prone position? It can improve oxygen sats

Older people don’t like to make a fuss so don’t take it personally that she’s not happy with you. Those sats are not great so you’ve definitely done the right thing. Hope she’s okay.

make her a hot drink, i hope all is ok

I looked in the gov site for information and it said if oxygen levels are below 92% and feeling breathless to call 999 or go to A&E

Thanks everyone we have been at the hospital for 4 hours now, still not been triaged 😩

Do walk ins exist anywhere now? I always see them recommended on here but we've not got any around here. They would be so useful!!

Hope you get seen soon

Hope she gets seen soon x

Still here, 10.5 hours now, she’s had oxygen, antibiotics and fluids, but not been seen by a doctor. It’s absolute bedlam, people everyone in corridors. She’s tested positive for flu. There’s a man been sat here since 7am. She’s sat in a wheelchair and is absolutely shattered and very uncomfy, no bed free for her to lie on. It’s very scary seeing it like this.

how are things now, Wombat?

Still here. They want to admit her but no beds. Sat in a flu room, worried I’m now going to get flu, my mum is coming to swap with me because I’m exhausted but I feel guilty in case my mum gets it 😩 Aunty was meant to have an ECG at 3am but it hasn’t been done because they literally haven’t any space to do one. She’s had antibiotics because they were querying sepsis before her flu swab came back positive. She’s had tamiflu too.

The sad thing is she can only have got it from the supermarket as that’s the only place she’s been! She stayed at home alone on Christmas Day because she didn’t want to pass anything on to anyone bless her 😞

oh bless her
i hope she is being well looked after now

How appalling she has had to wait in a wheelchair. Just awful. I really hope she gets a bed soon.

So sorry this is happening to her wombatbum, unfortunately it’s the reality of the NHS right now. Can you ask the medical team if they have access to a virtual ward/hospital at home where she can be managed in her own home? She may not meet the criteria but if she does it will be so much better for her.

So so sorry to hear she is still waiting.
If you can bare to stay I would remain and keep your mum out the flu room. No need for you all to be exposed. But you mist be shattered. And your poor Aunt must feel worse. I hope she gets a bed soon.

Does she need oxygen all the time to keep her sats up? If not ask about hospital at home or if she can go home to be cared for by you there. (I’m not sure if our Hospital at Home services can give oxygen at home).

She needs it at all times unfortunately, she’s got a huge cylinder and we keep having to take it off for her to go to the loo and she’s so breathless just walking 10 steps to the loo. I’ve had to swap with my mum, she was with us both yesterday. I do feel very guilty but I’m so tired I don’t feel like I can think straight. My husband brought my mum and is driving me home as I wouldn’t be safe to drive. She’s in a high backed chair now but still not ideal when she’s had no sleep. She’s had little cat naps.

Sending you all love today. Whilst not yet ideal for your aunt with no bed (this is what is wrong with the NHS and needs fixing) at least she is in the right place. Here's hoping she gets one soon.