COPD - surely my Dad should be under the care of a specialist

[GColdtimer]

My dad was diagnosed with COPD by his GP about a year ago. Since then he has had a number of infections and episodes where he has been given antibiotics and then steroids. He has never seen a consultant - surely he should have seen a specialist by now? Just feeling his GP is being a bit matter of fact about the fact he has a condition that cannot be cured and that they will treat his symptoms but that will his lot.

I would image that a specialist would only treat his symtoms too. What sort of treatment do you have in mind for him?

Hi, sadly I do not think there is much a specialist can do. It is one of these things where they will have a worsening and need antibiotics and steroids til they get better. On the medical wards I have worked, we normally get the same ppl in all the time a few times a year with exacerbation of COPD who need treatment and oxygen.

I do not know if there is much they can do to prevent infections or other problems.

My mum was diagnosed with this last year, after lots of hospital tests. Diagnosis came from a consultant. Very surprised that a GP would diagnose this himself.

I don't think there's much the consultant can do though, and don't think mum has seen him again since the diagnosis.

I am sure you are right about the treatments, but it is just that he just has loads of questions about it that his GP can't answer and so he keeps asking me to look things up on the internet for him. I would have thought when you have been diagnosed with something like this that there is at least an opportunity to speak to an expert in the condition and find ot what the best and worst case scenarios are for future years. Perhaps I am wrong to expect this.

twofalls... your dad should ask his GP to refer him to your local specialist service. He may not see a consultant, but I'm betting there will be a team of nurse specialists who can answer all his questions

COPD can be diagnosed in practice by a GP, especially if they have done spirometry. It is rare to be referred to a consultant unless there are co-existing respiratory problems.

Most people with COPD can be well managed by their GP. Does your dad's surgery have a practice nurse doing a COPD clinic? Many do now. If not the local hospital may have a respiratory nurse clinic that offers support.

Managing symptoms and preventing exacerbations is all that can be done for COPD - there is no cure and no reversibility.

Thank you, he goes to a tiny village surgery so I will tell him to ask to be referred to a clinic.

That is all he wants really, someone to talk to and answer his questions. He knows there is no cure and no reversibility.

Thank you for your responses.