Complaining about a G.P.

[Tilly2]

This is going to be a bit long winded.

My Dad, aged 81, an ex coal miner has serious mental health problems as well as pneumoconiosis, diabetes, and arthritis

I took him to see his psychiatrist yesterday who said to me as we were leaving 'Get your Dad to a G.P. as he has a chest infection'.

I took him back to his care home and informed them and they rang his doctor.
The doctor prescribed antibiotics over the phone and has not been out to see my Dad.
I asked them again today to call the doctor in to see my Dad in his home but apparently they 'usually just do phone consultations ans write a 'script for the resident.'

I think this is appalling.

Last week, when my Dad was having problems with his delusional disorder problems, the GP said take him to A and E. I refused to do that but that is another story.

I rang PALS today to talk to them and they suggested I put in a formal complaint about this G.P. practice.

Do you think I'm justified in doing this?

[woofgang]

If you feel that you are justified, then you are. I think the scrip over the phone is appalling myself. The usual route is to the practice manager, then if you can't get satisfaction there, to the PCT.

[RATTER15]

A very common tale, ive experienced it many times. im not sure why you refused to take him to A&E though.

[bednobs]

as woofgang says, if you feel justified then you are. however i'm not entirely sure what a visit from the GP would achieve - your dad has started treatment, and i doubt the GP would have a different diagnosis if he saw him

[Tilly2]

Because Ratter, he spends his life in terror thinking that people are going to get him, and sitting for three hours in A and E would not be an option. He needed to go to the mental health unit. As I said, that's another story

[seadogg]

I suspect that many GPs are saving money on older patients. My daughter, a nurse consultant, is certain they are

[pizza]

You know in your heart Tilly this G.P should have visited before prescribing for chest infection and yes you are justified in your complaint x
I couldn't get a prescription without going to see Doc x

[sherrardk]

I think lots of people are scared of complaining about doctors (I was sorely tempted to complain about one of ours once but chickened out). If you feel strongly enough about it and it isn't going to add to all the other stresses in your life then you should complain. Just because our dad is old doesn't mean he should have sub-standard care.

[Eve]

My GP practice often will sort things over the phone (you can't book a general appointment without speaking to a doctor/nurse and them ok'ing it) and I've often had a prescription written for me to pick up just by speaking on the phone. They make an appointment if they think they need to see you or you need bloods or other tests doing.

Do you think there is something they may have missed in not coming out to see him, I'm guessing with him being an ex-coal miner or the pnuemo condition you mentioned (I don't know what that is but guessing lung related)? Maybe speak to the home and see what was said over the phone to the Dr.

Does your A&E have an emergency mental health team/contact? Might be worth checking that too as I'm sure ours does - maybe just to put the advice in context to get a more informed view as to how reasonable (or not) the advice was.

Could you have a chat with the GP, with your father's consent if needed, to see why the advice was given as it was and maybe go through potential issues to help his care in the future, maybe something on his notes if appropriate, especially if the home are ringing for him.

I can't say whether you are justified or not but I'm wondering if there is some more fact finding and talking to be done before things escalate to complaint stage, find the best way forward for your father's care and how best to go about it.

[boxtops]

As woofgang says, if you feel you have a complaint, then you have. Write a letter of complaint to the surgery, every surgery has to have a complaints procedure these days - they have to acknowledge the complaint and give you a timescale for investigating and reporting back to you. If you are not satisfied, go back to the PALS service and they will tell you about the next steps.

[Eve]

Speaking to another GP or maybe the practice manager could also help.

I had a situation some years back when I had an appalling reaction to going in with a concern over a lump in my breast. I was talked into going back by friends and went to see a female GP. She was fantastic and, although the issues with the previous appointment pretty much stuck out like a sore thumb without me having to even say much, let alone complain, she was very apologetic and it was a fantastic appointment.

[boxtops]

It's certainly worth having a word with the practice manager, and saying that a complaint is likely to be forthcoming.

[pdq1]

When the Duke of Edinburgh has been admitted into hospital 3 times this year for a minor complaint and we hear compaints like yours we realise we're living in an unfair and unequal society.

[boxtops]

Ah, but the Duke pays for his treatment, he'll be a private patient, big difference.

[boxtops]

http://www.dailymail....nsure-discharged.html

[puzzled54]

Surely the psychiatrist is a trained doctor and has already diagnosed the chest infection.

[boxtops]

A pscychiatrist is a specialist mental health physician, though - he won't have listened to dad's chest or made a physical examination for such a diagnosis, and it's not in his remit to do so - whereas it IS the GP's. Different kettle of fish altogether.

[petal54]

my dad's been in a care home for a year,mum in own place still(selling)the doc was on a 'home visit' to dad some months back,dad flaps re mum & insisted doc prescribe anti depressants for mum,(mumnot there at time) which the doc did,I collected script,but I kept scipt & no mention of this script has been brought up sinse by dad,mum or doc,mum had an 'episode 18 months ago when sort of took overdosse,not enough to do any damage,yet doc wrote script with no follow up re this nor other meds(on temazipan for 30 years)

[welshlibranr]

I really do think that you should complain!........how can they prescribe if they haven't seen the patient........disgusting!.............

[lcg]

psychiatrists are perfectly qualified to diagnose a chest infection and write a prescription for anti biotics!!! he just couldn't be bothered and fobbed it off to the gp to do - who didn't bother much either. crappy levels of service all round, imo....a patient of that age should be checked physically as complications or serious disorders coyuld be missed. complain away and if i can be of any further support, tilly....let me know x

[MissCommando]

I work with the elderly and the amount of times that the GPs just prescribe antibiotics over the phone is unbelievable! I don't agree with it at all but I'm guessing it must be allowed as they do it all the time!