Subarachnoid haemorrhage : I had a... - British Heart Fou...

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Subarachnoid haemorrhage

Nanny72 profile image
31 Replies

I had a valve replacement in 2018 with good recovery.

In October I had a subarachnoid haemorrhage with similar symptoms prior to it happening.

Yet again symptoms ignored by GP. Severe hypertension, low potassium and high sodium.

Passed out in the street. 10 day stay in hospital after diagnosis. The hospital consultants were brilliant.

Still not seen GP although he has rung me twice and altered my medication after asking me to record it myself for two weeks and let him know the results.

Does anyone else have these problems with their GP?

I did decline an appointment with a Health Care Assistant because I felt the problem was outside her capabilities.

I worked as nurse and midwife in the NHS for 40 years and feel very let down.

People keep telling me I was lucky. I don't feel very lucky.

Sorry, it is a bit of a rant. But I feel ignored.

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Nanny72
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31 Replies
Janma123 profile image
Janma123

Sorry to hear of your problems.

We had a few issues with my husbands GP but have always found that the Advanced Nurse Practitioners are excellent and much more in tune with patients than some GPs. Ours will always consult the doctor if she comes across anything she is unsure of or needs checking.

Best wishes.

Nanny72 profile image
Nanny72 in reply to Janma123

Advanced Nurse Practitioner ignored my severe aortic stenosis because he didnt understand the scan result. GP also ignored the scan result, leading to 111 ordering an ambulance and admission and valve replacement as an emergency.

Unfortunately this has resulted in lack of faith in GPs as general.

Janma123 profile image
Janma123 in reply to Nanny72

Oh, that’s very understandable! I’m surprised that it was your ANP or GP interpreting the scan, I would have thought it would have been the cardiologist looking at that.

Nanny72 profile image
Nanny72 in reply to Janma123

At that point I was still waiting to be referred to a cardiologist. The only reason I got the scan was because a locum doctor referred me. Unfortunately it was his last day at the surgery.

When I complained after the event a meeting was arranged with the GP who asked if I was going to sue. I said no and his main comment was I had slipped through the cracks.

What does "Health Care Assistant" do exactly? I'm assuming that these roles are created to ease the workload of GPs (?). In other words, buck passing from your point of view?

If the patients central issues are medical, then yes, seeing the surgery's Advanced Nurse Practitioner seems like a much better option. I spoke to the surgery Nurse last year about this. They do seem to understand more on some aspects.

I would be interested to know more about this myself.

Nanny72 profile image
Nanny72 in reply to

Health Care Assistants can check blood pressure and urine. They have no nursing or medical qualifications.

Dolphin14 profile image
Dolphin14 in reply to Nanny72

Don't they have to be certified to do the things they do?

Nanny72 profile image
Nanny72 in reply to Dolphin14

Health Care Assistants do not have any qualifications. They can do an NVQ but that is after they have obtained a post.

Dolphin14 profile image
Dolphin14 in reply to Nanny72

Ok not sure what that means I'm in the US

Lezzers profile image
Lezzers in reply to Dolphin14

An NVQ (National Vocational Qualification) is a work-based way of learning – which is carried out at a college, school, or workplace. Each NVQ level involves a range of on-the-job tasks and activities that are designed to test you on your ability to do a job effectively.

Dolphin14 profile image
Dolphin14 in reply to Lezzers

Thank you for explaining that. So, how did they learn to check blood pressures if no one trained them?

Lezzers profile image
Lezzers in reply to Dolphin14

I don't know but as it's just a case of putting the arm band on and pressing the button on the monitor I would assume someone would have just watched over them for a couple of times. I do know that when I was a Dr's receptionist they were going to have us take blood & one of the nurses was going to show us how to do it.

Dolphin14 profile image
Dolphin14 in reply to Lezzers

Omg lol! I'm thinking they are doing a real blood pressure with a stethoscope!

Hahahah

Milkfairy profile image
MilkfairyHeart Star in reply to Dolphin14

Now you're talking old school when back in the day blood pressure was taken using a mercury sphygmomanometer

and stethoscope.

Dolphin14 profile image
Dolphin14 in reply to Milkfairy

Im laughing at myself over here hahahah

Milkfairy profile image
MilkfairyHeart Star in reply to Dolphin14

Laughter is the best medicine 😊

Dolphin14 profile image
Dolphin14 in reply to Milkfairy

👍

Nanny72 profile image
Nanny72 in reply to Milkfairy

Remember those days. Qualified as nurse in 1969 as midwife in 1972. We have advanced in so e ways and not in others

Lezzers profile image
Lezzers in reply to Milkfairy

Am I right in think those are the ones that have a pump thing? If so our GP still uses one!

Dolphin14 profile image
Dolphin14 in reply to Lezzers

We have them in the Dr office. Visiting nurses use them.

Milkfairy profile image
MilkfairyHeart Star in reply to Lezzers

Yes they have a little hand held pump to pump the mercury up the glass tube scale.

They are not meant to be used as mercury is a bio hazard 😱

bmj.com/content/319/7206/36...

Dolphin14 profile image
Dolphin14 in reply to Milkfairy

Ok just one last question

Did people in the UK play with the mercury when it broke out of a thermometer?

Just curious. Lol

marypw profile image
marypw in reply to Dolphin14

Yes, we used to just play with mercury in our Chemistry lessons at school. We had no idea it was dangerous! I'm still here just about.

Dolphin14 profile image
Dolphin14 in reply to marypw

It was fun to play with. Who would have known.

Milkfairy profile image
MilkfairyHeart Star in reply to Dolphin14

Yes of course!

As marypw says we didn't know any better!

Dolphin14 profile image
Dolphin14 in reply to Milkfairy

Just wanted to be sure it wasn't just us over here playing with a dangerous substance. Lol

Lezzers profile image
Lezzers in reply to Dolphin14

😂 I'd completely forgotten about those.

Dolphin14 profile image
Dolphin14 in reply to Lezzers

Funny isn't it? I never thought about the automatic lol.

I'm showing my age.

Milkfairy profile image
MilkfairyHeart Star in reply to Dolphin14

Hi Dolphin

Here in the UK we have

Registered Nurses now usually degree level

Advanced Nurse Practitioners who may or may not have prescribing rights

Oh and we have Clinical Nurse Specialists too!

Both are registered with the Nursing and Midwifery Council

So registered professional practitioners who can be ' struck off'

Healthcare assistants are not registered healthcare professionals and work under the supervision of usually an Registered nurse or Registered Midwife

NVQ National Vocational Qualification.

The RN or RM is accountable for the Healthcare assistants practice

Then there are Nursing associates too who can through an apprentice type scheme eventually gain registration as a nurse

Midwives in the UK are a separate but allied profession to nurses and care for women through pregnancy , birth and early motherhood.

Most babies in the UK are delivered by Midwives.

Most midwives are graduates too. You do not need to be a nurse to be a midwife.

Nurses were first registered in 1919

Midwives 1902

There used to be the General Nursing Council and Central Midwives board

These were amaliginated into the Nursing and Midwifery Council.

Dolphin14 profile image
Dolphin14 in reply to Milkfairy

Thank you so much:)

Janma123 profile image
Janma123 in reply to Nanny72

I see why you felt it was beyond his/her remit!

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