Out-of-hours GP 'refused to visit'
A patient has criticised an out-of-hours GP service after he said he was refused a home visit and told to get himself to hospital.
Maurice Williams, from Thurnby Lodge, Leicester, who has a heart condition, ended up having to spend two days in Glenfield Hospital.
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Mr Williams, 66, who has a number of health conditions, began to feel ill on Saturday.
He said: "I felt groggy and almost collapsed so I pressed the panic alarm which I wear.
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"The operator said he would call for a doctor. Someone, I assume a doctor, from the out-of-hours service rang me 20 minutes later. I gave him all my symptoms and he asked what I wanted him to do.
"I said I thought I just needed to be checked over but he told me he couldn't come out to me and didn't have any equipment to test my blood pressure.
"Instead, he would book an appointment at a clinic at Leicester Royal Infirmary but I would have to make my own way there."
Mr Williams drove to the infirmary, where doctors found he had low blood pressure and admitted him to Glenfield.
Mr Williams, who is now recovering at home, said: "I was disgusted by the out-of-hours service.
"In the time it took for someone to call they could have come and seen me and maybe I would not have needed to go to hospital – it was the last thing I wanted to do."
He has made an official complaint about the service.
A spokesman for Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland local medical committee, which is responsible for the out-of-hours contract on behalf of 149 GP practices, said he could not comment as the matter was going through the formal complaints process.
Anita Dixon, chief executive of Central Nottinghamshire Clinical Services, which runs the service, said: "The quality of the out-of-hours service is regularly monitored against a range of performance measures.
"Patients' experiences are also measured and 95 per cent rated the overall level of care as either excellent or good."
Lesley Harrison, associate director for primary care for Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland, who oversees the service, said: "We will seek assurances a full investigation is carried out and any necessary remedial actions are taken."
Comments
by Just_Saying
Sunday, January 13 2013, 2:02PM
“anobserver - I DID write that if the doctor really didn't have the correct kit, he should NOT be paid as he was incapable of carrying out his duties.
I find it hard to believe this was the real reason. Even if he didn't have the equipment then surely he could have called in at the surgery he was covering for and borrowed one ?
All very odd!
Will be interesting to see the result of the formal complaint - I hope LM will update us at the appropriate time.”
by leic-star
Sunday, January 13 2013, 10:19AM
“if you have any form of heart problems in this day and age it is common practise to have your own blood pressure monitor.
im not saying the doctor made the right decision but if i was mr williams i would have dialled 999 rather than than a doctor if i thought my heart problem was playin up.
even if the doctor came mr williams would have been admitted to hospital.
on that note i cannot see what he is complaining about.”
by anobserver
Saturday, January 12 2013, 4:21PM
“"just",I think it is worth reporting,as it highlights a problem that should not exist.It is as stupid as having a service offering a 24 hour breakdown service,only when you ring up they say"sorry" the van is not working.Or ringing The AA to say your car does not start and they say "It's ok .you are safe .We will be there in the next few days "
As for a 24 hour call out doctor,who does no have the right,basic,kit makes as much sense as someone calling themselves a car mechanic but aint got any spanners !”
by Just_Saying
Saturday, January 12 2013, 11:03AM
“"he told me he couldn't come out to me and didn't have any equipment to test my blood pressure."
If this really was the case, this doctor should not be paid as he was not equipped to carry out his duties
"Mr Williams drove to the infirmary",
Was this wise/safe ? If I was feeling that ill I would call a friend or neighbour. If none were available it would have to be an ambulance as I wouldn't risk being out of control of my car.
"where doctors found he had low blood pressure and admitted him to Glenfield." - sounds like admission was necessary. A 'check over' at home as requested, wouldn't have prevented his admission.
Is this really 'news'?”