The Importance of being proactive

[Desanthony]

Unfortunately, a close relative who lives quite a way from us died recently alone in her home whilst making her dinner. She was 74 had well controlled COPD but recently - over the last 4 - 6 months had been complaining of episodes where she had heart palpitations and felt ill. She couldn't get to make an appointment to see her GP but did at one time manage to see a triage nurse who was supposed to refer her to a cardiologist - though it looks like this wasn't done. It seems from what the police have told us that she had an episode at home one evening recently and hit her head as she fell. Of course we don't know if it was because of one of these episodes yet - we have to wait until they decide whether or not the health board decide on a Post Mortem - we hope they do of course but can't help thinking that they may decide not to do one to cover their backs - though I hope I am wrong. It just shows the importance of being proactive and either making an emergency appointment to see the GP - if possible or dialling 111 when she was having one of these episodes or took herself to A&E when she had these episodes. Then we may have been able to celebrate her 75th next year with her grand-daughters' 30th and 18th - one grand-daughter has her birthday on the same day as her grandma. We were all looking forward to the celebrations. Do just remember don't be put off. Check that referrals have been made where promised and if you continue to have problems then dial 111 or go to A&E

[10gingercats]

I rang 111 last Monday re. a pain in my whole left arm....very bad pain.The girl on 111 sent an ambulance immediately and it arrived within 10 mins....lucky. Nothing could be found to account for the pain...second occasion actually this had happened within 12 hours but i am keeping my eye on it. Thanks for your reminder re. your relative, Sorry to hear of the outcome though.

[Threecats]

I’m sorry to hear about your relative, Desanthony and the manner of her passing. My condolences to you and your family. TC

[Desanthony in reply to Threecats]

thank you

[CDreamer]

So sorry for your loss and thank you for posting, indeed a timely reminder to be proactive.

[Buffafly]

That is really sad for you and your family but hopefully your warning will save at least someone else ❤️‍🩹

[wilsond]

We have to be our own advocates these days it seems to get attention. I'm so sorry to read this ,seems so unnecessary. A sad ending.

[meadfoot]

Sorry for your loss. You are absolutely correct especially in current circumstance within our health care system in crisis we need to be extremely proactive. Its a disgrace that it has come to this. We need to fight for ours selves to be safe and protected. So sad your relative suffered so.

[bassets]

Poor lady. Meadfoot is right on all counts as it seems the older you are the more likely you'll be shrugged off. Sorry for your and your family's loss.

[Desanthony]

I have to say I called my surgery a few weeks ago - fell down in my wife's craft shed - she said I wasn't to go in there and there are signs saying that trespassers will be prosecuted etc Had a bruised arm for about a week when that went I had a lump on my elbow - that went after a couple of days but then a couple of weeks later (maybe I banged it again) it came back. I was told to go to A&E! All I wanted was a routine appointment which I know we have to wait 3 weeks for - though we can make emergency appointments for that day early morning or late afternoon and I can't grumble about my surgery. Had I thought it was an emergency I would have asked for an emergency appointment. I have now got a routine appointment by saying I wanted to talk about something else. (?) I am guessing this is bursitis or a ganglion - looks like I have two elbows! I really didn't want to go and sit in A&E for a day just for this - you should see our A&E departments we have two close by and a minor injuries unit at another hospital but last time we went we couldn't park all day I had to stay in the car and move around all the time to let cars pass! My wife sat there from 10 until gone 4 although she had been triaged early on. However, if surgeries are telling their patients to go to A&E then that is going to happen. With a new Coronovirus rearing it's ugly head I don't really want to sit in a crowded A&E for hours on end - even with a mask on. I had enough of Covid last March - heaven forbid it could have been worse had I not had all my vaccinations.

[Norfolk_spaniel]

I took myself to A&E at the beginning of May with heart palpitations. Doctor there said I needed an urgent appointment with my cardiologist. I had a phone call last week from his secretary giving me an urgent appointment at the end October. So, 6 months is how the NHS define urgent. Meanwhile, debilitating ectopics almost all day every day.

[mike1961 in reply to Norfolk_spaniel]

Norfolk_spaniel, I won't entertain waiting 6 months to see a consultant. OK an initial 1/2hr private consult is £200 or so, but then the subsequent 15 min consults are a more modest £100-120. OK, I appreciate such sums aren't 'small change' for many folks. But even so, if I - and I'm confortable, not wealthy by the way - go to my local hospital on the NHS I'll spend an hour driving each way, spend money on petrol, have a nightmare trying to find any parking, then invariably sit in the waiting room for an hour or two before getting to see someone, then have a 50:50 chance of seeing a registrar who not only won't know me, but - and no arrogance intended here - likely won't know as much as I do about AF. Half a day of lost earnings (way in excess of £100 for me anyway) - and for what. That's why I'm more than happy to pay privately for consults - which I do by video as then I can consult from home very quickly and effectively.

[Tigger_2 in reply to Norfolk_spaniel]

I'm in the same boat.Complete heart block, pacemaker for 18 years.

What has now been diagnosed as PVCs (ectopics) started in January 2023 with one blackout, involuntary falls and some really unpleasant sensations.

The ectopics make the heart block treatment even more difficult.

What a struggle it has been to get proper advice from the cardiologists.

Waited 10 weeks for a 10 minute phone call.

Now have an appointment for October face to face, so that's 9 months.

I sometimes think pets get a better deal.

On principle, I will not pay them for a private consultation.

Why do I have to buy their time?

The 10 minute phone call person has at least three private occupations as well as the NHS.

He had better not be on the picket line.

[Norfolk_spaniel in reply to Tigger_2]

I was offered a phone appointment for October but insisted on face to face. I'm just 20 minutes drive from a large teaching hospital but nearest private cardiac services are well over an hour away.

[mike1961]

Sorry to hear of your loss Desanthony.

Yes proactivity is key. A&Es are a nightmare but if one is in bad/symptomatic shape then at least there if something goes badly wrong whilst waiting it can be dealt with quickly on the spot.

[Raewynne]

Very sorry to hear.My condolences. Thanks for the reminder that we must speak up if we think something is not right.

[Quilter43]

Very important to be alert and proactive before too late.With palpitations went to ER...with almost fainting after booster a pacemaker..with finding pea size nodule breast cancer treatment..pay attention all I can say,...

[Singwell]

So sorry to hear this. I totally agree re being proactive. Could you tell my other half please?

[Dollcollector]

That is appalling. So sorry for your loss. It is a sad state of affairs when we can't trust a doctor or nurse to do what they said they are going to do. Both my partner and l have experience of waiting for a letter or phone call from the hospital only to find out that the doctor hadn't been in touch and they knew nothing about it. It seems that you have to pester , even if it is not in your nature. If you wait patiently , you get forgotten about.

[Desanthony]

Absolutely for a number of years - after a similar experience my wife and I ask for copies of all letters to and from consultants including test and scan results and offer to pay if required - we have never had to pay - yet. In the case of reports and results of tests and scans we then wait a while before checking that these have also been received by our GP and if there is action to take make an appointment to see the GP. If I haven't heard from them within two - maybe three weeks now after pandemic complications I call the GP surgery to find out if the referral has been typed up and sent - if it has and more than a week has elapsed since it was sent I then call the hospital and ask for the secretary of the consultant concerned if they have received it. If it was only recently sent I leave a sufficient amount of time and then make the call. I then tell them that as we are retired I can attend a short notice cancellation or no show appointment - this often speeds things up a little. I just make a polite enquiry. My wife went to see a respiratory consultant many years ago - had a CT Scan and some blood tests. The report was sent to the GP. The consultant did tell her she had a cquired another lung condition on top of her asthma but that was all. 5 years later when she was still poorly and decided to go for a private consultation it was found that the report sent to the GP recommended a change of medication which had never been done - it was likely the letter had been placed on her file but never actioned or even read by the GP.