So, recently mum has had a huge decline cognitively and physically. She's been sleeping more and more and crying saying she is so tired. No immediate signs of infection so GP dismissed it as worsening dementia and I did not even get a response last week when I reported she is worse and that the District Nurses had still not taken bloods she had requested 3 weeks prior.
This weekend the paramedics saw her as she was not responding at all. Because the GP had referred to the local hospice (even though she had not yet been seen) I was constantly asked for paperwork and she was dismissed as a social problem/ dementia/palliative.
Thankfully the frailty team did a very thorough assessment rather than assuming anything and realised how recently mum was still able to feed and care for herself (2-3 weeks ago was toilet ting and feeding self - now needing help) and advised investigation - the dr was not even going to do blood tests before that!!!
Mums haemoglobin levels are extremely high and rising. This was dismissed by the GP as dehydration with no urgency to recheck. Mums normal Hb is 12, down to 8-9 if she has a gastric bleed but her latest is 19. I am so not looking forward to being old and dismissed.
This weekend the paramedics saw her as she was not responding at all. Because the GP had referred to the local hospice (even though she had not yet been seen) I was constantly asked for paperwork and she was dismissed as a social problem/ dementia/palliative.
Thankfully the frailty team did a very thorough assessment rather than assuming anything and realised how recently mum was still able to feed and care for herself (2-3 weeks ago was toilet ting and feeding self - now needing help) and advised investigation - the dr was not even going to do blood tests before that!!!
Mums haemoglobin levels are extremely high and rising. This was dismissed by the GP as dehydration with no urgency to recheck. Mums normal Hb is 12, down to 8-9 if she has a gastric bleed but her latest is 19. I am so not looking forward to being old and dismissed.