Hello Folks!
This is an aside to the post I made earlier and has an important observation / message that deserves it’s own post.
Linked post : Problems sleeping - only when lying down. Part Ducks
Mum is a stroke survivor who had her stroke in the late 80s (her age and not the calendar decade) and isnoe in her mid 90s.
The above is important because it helps explain why I am banging my head against a brick wall, though it no longer hurts!
Ever since she had her stroke, Mum has been discriminated against purely on the grounds of her age in terms of the help and support she has been afforded as a stroke survivor. Had she been given the “usual” care and support she would likely be what some people on here call normal or their old self. Actually, she would something even better because that’s what Mum does.
She has survived and improved herself to the condition she is in today and yet, as recently as two days ago (Sunday night and Monday) health professionals pretty much ruled out any tests she might have benefitted from to identify her latest health condition (see linked article). The reason why she would not be tested - her age.
111 - On call doctor visited and did standard obs (BP, heart, lungs and O2) declared her strong. Also asked if, considering her age, she should be treated at home (palliative) or in hospital (agressive) if needed. We requested hospital if this meant the best care she can expect.
He noted our request.
Having found nothing that concerned him and Mum in rude health (which in some ways she was at the point of testing, but she was not on a feed and she was not lying down), he said he would make a referral to the GP and ask them (GP) to make referral to hospital for:
- Ultrasound (UCG)
- Abdominal and Vaginal examination (PV)
- Comprehensive blood tests
- Fungal infection medication (aside minor issue).
Next day - GP visited and discussed having received above referral from 111 overnight duty doctor.
With regards to the 111 doctor tests the GP suggested all those would be “invasive” and stressful for Mum (her age).
Advocates (family) said “she (Mum) is a young 90 something”
GP - but she’s still 90 something - tick box says 90 somethings should not be considered for “stressful” tests.
Upon further interrogation from advocates, GP said she would still be offered tests but it would be up to the consultant examining/treating her if she would “qualify”. We know what that means.
In the end, the GP somehow by-passed all of the above and instead made a referral to the hospital gastro team for an examination of the PEG ( percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy) tube as this is the likely cause of the troubles. Somehow during the discussion, the GP had managed to turn the conversation, point of focus on the PEG tube.
Note:
Mum’s medical notes say that the Gastro consultant has already said he is unwilling to do any medical procedures on Mum’s PEG tube. Is it just coincidental the GP has suggested a referral to the gastro team who clearly do not wish to treat Mum any further and will recommend palliative care?
The GP did make a referral the Gastro team and they made a referral to the Abbott’s Nurse (Abbott is a nutritional specialist company that works with Dieticians and who are specialists in PEG/PEG tubes).
Abbott’s Nurse came along the same day (credit to her - Abbott’s has been one of the better partners involved in Mum’s post-stroke care).
Abbott’s nurse did her routine tests and concluded the PEG tube might be dislodged and hence causing the problems.
Advocates sighed (in silence) as this was clearly a mis-diagnosis - sorry but there is no way the tube can be dislodged (trust me, I am Mum’s carer and have been for the entire time she has been cared for and I know pretty much all there is to know about her condition and support equipment/aids) and I know when I smell BS when it comes from the so called specialists.
Anyway, with no point in arguing, we went along with the nurse who assured us she would make un urgent referral to the GP to make a referral back to the hospital (protocol dictates this is how it happens i.e. Abbott’s Nurse, although specialist in this and who works closely with the hospital cannot make the referral directly).
Bottom line, Mum will never be treated again if it means the procedure is “risky” or stressful.
Btw, the GP gave a stressful procedure example viz a comprehensive blood test (as suggested by the 111 doctor). Seriously, a blood sample being taken is going to stress my Mum? My Mum is the sort of person who would have surgery without an anaesthetic, but will anyone ever listen?
Wait, I think someone else has asked this question on this forum quite recently.
Yes, I bang my head on the wall because that is all I can do, but I feel no pain. I don’t know how I can convince someone who has taken a Hippocratic Oath to honour it.
Thank you for your interest.
Up the Stroke Survivors!
Up the Carers!
Namaste|
What a dreadful time you have all had and yes GP’s forget about the oath. I have a family friend who took early retirement because of all the changes with the GP system and how they were now to treat patients He stands by his oath and it does not mean how we are now taken care of. Have as good day as you can with your family and your mum sounds like a real strong Mum just like my Asian brother & sisters mothers. 
