Tuesday 21 April 2009

OUT OF HOURS SERVICE, OUT OF TREATMENT


It seems that all I write about on this blog is bad news, and to maintain that record here is some more:-BBC NEWS Row over GP out-of-hours service

This is the story in its entirety

‘A GP out-of-hours service has been criticised over claims it told a woman, who was later found to have contracted meningitis, to ring back the next day.
Christine Saltmarsh, 73, who lives in Alconbury Western, Cambridgeshire, is now in a coma and suffered brain damage after contracting meningitis.
Her son Nicholas Wood and daughter-in-law Samantha Wood are concerned about the delay in getting treatment.
Cambridgeshire Community Services said it had started a full investigation.
Her family said Ms Saltmarsh called her GP at 1430 BST on a Sunday afternoon complaining of "earache" and was put through to the out-of-hours service.
Found unconscious
An hour later a doctor called her back.
She said she was worried she had meningitis because she had had it before but they claim she was told to call back the following day.
At 0905 BST the next morning she texted her son saying she had a headache and 24 hours later she was found unconscious.
Ms Wood said: "She rang on the Sunday and was told to wait until Monday. As far as I am concerned an emergency service is for emergencies.
"If she had got the right medication she may not have been in the bad state she is in now."
Ms Saltmarsh was taken to Hinchingbrooke Hospital in Cambridgeshire and put on a course of antibiotics.
In a statement Matthew Winn, managing director of Cambridgeshire Community Services, said: "We have launched a full investigation into the circumstances leading to Mrs Saltmarsh's admission to hospital and the response she received from the Out of Hours Doctor Service.
"Once the investigation has concluded I will meet with the family to explain the results and the actions we took on 22 March."’



But this isn’t the only one-Boy, 3, died from tonsillitis after out-of-hours GP told parents to 'wait for medication to work' Mail Online

The NHS Blog Doctor looks at from a GPs perspective.

Another dismal tale of the NHS, the out of hours service has never been acceptable, and cases like this reinforce my opinion.

A single act does make a difference...it creates a ripple effect that can be felt many miles and people away.” Lee J Colan


Angus

Angus Dei on all and sundry

NHS Behind the headlines

Angus Dei politico

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