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[Redjune1]

Between Christmas and New Year my husband had 7 falls, three within half an hour. I ended up phoning for an ambulance which turned up 12 hours later. They wanted to take him to a&e but told us we could end up waiting up to 8 hours in the ambulance outside a&e and advised us to call our gp next day. Our gp told us that he would refer him to the falls clinic and he increased the dosage of his medication. The community nurses arrived shortly after and weren’t happy that he was in pain and hadn’t been seen and tried to get a doctor to do a home visit. Needless to say that didn’t happen and we also found out that the falls clinic had rejected the referral because of his condition. We had a visit from the OT later in the week and she said she would refer him for an X-ray. Today I found out that he wasn’t going to get the X-ray because they no longer X-ray for suspected arthritis. Nobody knows if it is arthritis because nobody has seen him. He is house bound and it would be virtually impossible to get him to the surgery for an appointment plus we don’t have transportation so rely on taxis. It seems to me like he’s been abandoned by the nhs

[Millidog]

Hi Redjune, so sorry you are having more difficulties. It does sound odd that they are diagnosing arthritis without seeing your husband. My husband fell a couple of times in quick succession recently and after one doctor appt when the doctor didn't even examine my husband we made another appt and the second doctor did examine and because of the frequent fall nature of PSP he wanted to ensure no spine damage and referred for a back x ray where 2 crack lower vertebrae and a crushed vertebrae were found and we now have a referral to a spine specialist next week . I would suggest you insist on a home appt from your gp or ask for a spine xray to check no breaks which are more likely with psp than a sudden diagnosis of arthritis. I would also emphasise that your husband is likely not articulating the level of pain and could be underplaying it unless specifically asked as was the case in my husbands situation where he only said it hurt when probed If your OT is supportive as you say ask for her help . I would also urge you to call the PSPA helpine and ask for their advise as they are great at providing info on your rights and can advise on best words and language to use to get response from gp s and other medical professionals good luck 😘

[Redjune1 in reply to Millidog]

Thank you for comments. Yesterday our gp told us to call an ambulance and go to a&e, so we did that. Got into trouble with paramedics because it wasn’t an emergency, but I couldn’t have got him there any other way. Phil had X-rays and they didn’t find any broken bones. So they thought maybe he has a water infection and gave him antibiotics. So now we are home again after a tiring day. I’m really struggling with his care though and feel like giving up

[OllieFisher1]

Surely an error somewhere along the line by one of the agencies involved. Go to A&E and contact your local MP. Even if its a long wait at A&E, he will get seen.

[Kelly2807]

Hi Redjune, I’m sorry you are going through all this, I not long had a similar experience with ambulance staff with my dad. They left my dad in agony for 5 days only to find out he had badly broken his hip. He has been in hospital now since November but to find out, his doctor had to request an X-ray at the hospital and I had to take him in a wheelchair taxi.

I would keep on at your OT or the doctor until they send your husband for one. I’m afraid the NHS are in such a crisis and it’s awful to watch when your in the hospital but people are being miss diagnosed so badly at the moment, there are so many horror stories.

Good luck xx

[MRSYafffle]

I am so sorry that this has happened. Try the gp again, ask for a home visit under the circumstances. I would call your local hospital and ask to speak with the PALS team (complaints)

Be adamant that you want to complain as they will try to put you off. Ask for their email and follow it up so it's in writing and include your MP.

I know how hard it is, sending lots of love your way.

The NHS has been abandoned, purposefully underfunded, 25000 beds cut under this Government. It has been sacrificed so that it can open the door for private healthcare. Scary how many in Government have links to private healthcare companies. Disgusting in fact. I was an NHS activist til my mum got so sick.

I knew this is where it would end up but people don't believe you.

I really hope you get sorted xx

[Joluu]

Hi so sorry for the awful time your having just a couple of thoughts. Surely your GP can arrange patient transport for non emergency trips to hospital so you don't have to suffer the wrath of paramedics when it's not an 'emergency' also ask your GP if you have a local falls responder service. We have one and when my mum was in her frequent falling stage the falls responders would come get her off the floor check her over and call an ambulance if one was needed or make her a cup of tea if she was ok.

[Redjune1 in reply to Joluu]

Yes there is a falls responder here. I’ve phoned them before. The reason they sent him to hospital is because he’s had 9 falls in two weeks and was in pain