Contacting someone's GP. Does it really work?

[TheOtherHotstepper]

I keep seeing on here that if you contact someone's GP and express your concerns in confidence, they will call the person in and assess them. Has anyone actually done this? Did it work?

Family member seems less and less 'with it', less able to keep up with conversation and/or remember what has been said. Asks the same question repeatedly. Cannot remember anyone's name.

Also completely drawn into conspiracy theories that he clearly doesn't actually understand.

Today he can't remember what model his car is, the year or reg plate and at one point could not remember how to get out of it and could not find the door handle.

I think he needs assessing, but I know he won't willingly go anywhere near a doctor, so I'm trying to figure out how best to start the process.

Thanks

Yes, I think it can work.

I've done it for a relative in the past - I think they agreed to do a welfare visit for my relative IIRC.

It's definitely worth a try - they might not be able to tell you anything, but it gives them a heads up, and they might be able to help your relative.

Is this a parent or are you the next of kin?

I was at my wit's end with my mother's dementia which neither she or my dad could acknowledge. She was becoming violent towards him so I phoned their GP for advice and they sent a doctor round the same day. I was amazed, tbh, but the doctor was brilliant and referred her for a hospital appointment there and then. Don't expect the elderly person to be grateful though both my parents blamed me for interfering during the nearly 3 month wait for the appointment but she did get some medication which helped make life better for them both for a while.

I've done this very recently, with my mum. I didn't get a response, so I've no idea if it made a difference, but they did do a memory test at her next appointment and have referred her on. I get the impression they were 'primed' to do the test because of my email, but I'll never know for sure.

Yes it works. We get requests from worried relatives from time to time and always act on it. I also ask patients who have capacity and I know their offspring are keen to be involved if they want me to update them after a visit or consultation. Patients even with capacity forget things and it's good to have everyone on board. I have become much more mindful of this as my parents and my in-laws are aging and we have a great relationship with their GPs.

I did it for my mum. She wouldn't take any notice of me, but would of a GP. Hers was great. Came out, told her what she had to do, he made a referral to a hospital and she did exactly what he said.

Is this relative still driving? I’d be concerned about that.

My parents did this with my granny she had a mole on her face that was getting bigger but didn't want to bother anyone with it so they spoke to her GP about their concerns and he made a house call said he was passing by and wanted to check on something but while I'm here I think you should come see me in the surgery about that mole.

I work in a senior role in primary care, and with my experience and training I would suggest:
Encourage your family member to seek help, offer to go with them for support.
It is not unusual for patients to refuse to seek help as feelings of shame and fear about the future are quite common
Is there a Lasting Power of Attorney for Health & Welfare in place? If there is, then the GP is much more likely to be able to speak with the LPA about their concerns
If there are concerns about your relatives ability to drive, the GP might need to contact the DVLA
You could cotact the GP, but without consent from the family member, they will be quite restricted in what they can share with you. You can share your concerns though and the GP will note it on the medical record.
You might find support from organisations such as Age UK, especially about how to broach your concerns, which might take several attempts.
Making a note of the times and scenarios these difficulties crop up helps to build a picture of what is going on.
A referral to the Dementia Support Service (or equivilent based wherever you are) is usually the gateway to getting assessments, starting medication etc and if necessary getting social care involved.

Any kind of cognitive decline is horrible for the person affected, as usually the difficulties start off transiently, and the person is aware of the changes which can be very distressing. It can be brutal on the relatives to see the changes and support their loved one, who sometimes accepts the help and other times refuses to acknowledge there could be a problem. If you are a carer (even informally) make an appointment with the social prescriber at your surgery for your own support and guidance. Good luck.

I'd be contacting the DVLA while I'm at it if they're still driving and hiding car keys.

I have done it for both my mother and my brother. The GP has contacted them to make an appointment on some vague pretence/ongoing health issue, and covered what I was worried about. So it can work.

Yes, did it for my DM who was showing signs of dementia. I wrote to the practice and the GP made a house call.

My mother's GP did. He obviously couldn't discuss her with me, but he could listen to me about her, and he knew enough about her that when he asked, "have you spoken to your mother about this?" and I said she wouldn't listen to me and might respond violently, he definitely understood.

I rang Age UK to ask that if I wrote to my mother's GP whether they would take any action. His response was that some GPs would be 'brilliant' but others would do nothing. I do feel for you OP, seeing a deterioration in their health when they are so doctor avoidant is so hard.

No it doesn't work - and didn't for me. I contacted my father's doctor as I was very worried about a problem I knew he had but hadn't discussed with the doctor. I was really hoping the doctor could probe a bit more at the checkup I knew he was due to have. I was bluntly told nothing can be done unless I get a letter of consent from your father. I then spoke to my dad and he gave me a signed letter of consent as he said he felt his problems were too much to handle for him and he wanted me to discuss with his doctor. But the response from the doctor was that this was "highly unorthodox" and he couldn't verify my father's signature and wouldn't do anything about it. Sadly my dad passed away about 6 weeks after this so I took it no further. So in short - it doesn't always work in my experinence.

I’ve done it on two occasions for my parents. Once was for a health issue and the other with a dementia concern and the doctor was excellent both times and saw my parents straight away.

The one time my parents would not let me visit but the doctor managed to get in! My dm did indeed have an infection which needed antibiotics.

With the dementia concern the doctor told me the family had to be open about it and make an appointment for my father. Everyone in the family was in denial but the doctor saying that gave me the confidence to tackle it.

It worked with my Mum when I was first getting concerned that she was developing dementia. I explained my concerns to the GP's receptionist, who knew my mum and I suspect had already realised that she was becoming very confused, and she arranged for me to have a telephone consultation with one of the GPs. He was lovely and listened to all my concerns. He suggested that he should write to my mum to invite her in for a general health check so he could assess her. When I took her for the appointment, he carried out the basic screening questions for dementia as part of the discussion about her health issues, in a very kind and tactful way. He was really discrete and my mum had no idea that I had contacted him. He made a referral to the memory clinic, and was happy to speak to me on the phone as things got worse.

I meant to add that I didn't have power of attorney at that stage but the GP asked my mum at the first consultation if she was happy for him to discuss any medical issues with me. I assume a note to this effect was put on her file as everyone at the practice was always willing to talk to me.

I'd ring social care too, they might visit. But you can only give information, they won't update you.

I have twice contacted a GP with concerns.
The first time was a friend who I thought was showing symptoms of schizophrenia. He told me a few weeks later that his GP had given him new tablets and the voices had almost stopped.
I wrote to my wife's GP with some concerns, possibly early signs of dementia I know the GP spent time talking to her about this.
In both cases I clearly stated in my letter that I did not want a reply and did
not want to be told anything as in my opinion everything said between a GP and
patient is confidential.

Yes twice with different family members. Turns out the last time I called, it was about a DCousin well into their 80s, another DCousin had already written to the GP.

They've since been assigned a SW, had a Care Needs Assessment, help with applying for Attendance Allowance and a review of their medication. They're Type-2 diabetic and weren't even checking their blood as they couldn't figure out the testing kit that they'd been given.

They don’t do memory tests as routine. so something triggered it.

In answer to PPs, not a parent and yes, I believe there is a Power of Attorney in existence. The Attorney will be his DD, who lives 200 miles away and has not bothered to come to see him for nearly a year. I have no contact details for her.

Sounds like the GP thing may work, depending on the GP. On the other hand, maybe I should just bat it back to the DD.