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To: Steve Barclay
NHS to prioritise carer needs
Avoid hospital admissions for the vulnerable.
Highlight the rights of an underrepresented demographic of the UK - full time carers are saving nursing home costs for those eligible for free support dur to their income/savings. They are on occasions sacrificing their own needs to avoid their relatives from hospitals or care homes which anyone in their right mind in this country needs to avoid at all costs.
Why is this important?
Dear Steve,
I am a carer for my father who has terminal lymphoma. At every touch point within the NHS the objective of avoiding hospital admissions when possible is highlighted. I am also keen to avoid this as on the last two admissions to our local hospital Arrowe Park, Wirral, he came out in a worse condition than when he came in - a story for another time.
With this in mind I was highly disappointed with the treatment I received whilst trying to get an out of hours prescription for migraine medication I desperately needed. This medication would have cured my migraine within an hour. I used NHS 111 - the front line staff were excellent, as were the clinicians. However the GP service was unacceptable. The first contact prescribed the wrong drugs and the second was unable to handle the fact that I was raising my voice due to extreme pain, sleep deprivation and frustration. When she accused me of harassment I had to hang up to protect myself from exploding. I deal with frustrated people on regularly as a mental health advocate. I have the skill set to manage their behaviour. This woman did not in any way shape or form. Finally the last GP I spoke to revealed that the first "doctor" i spoke to was actually a nurse and that as a nurse he did not count her as one of his colleagues!!! Out dated beyond belief.
As it was I had a migraine from 11pm Friday until 6pm Sunday. My symptoms are very severe. I can't move out of a dark room. I can't keep fluids or food down and I am at high risk of not being able to keep down the medication to manage my own illness, bipolar disorder. If this happened my own risk of hospital admission is very high. If the first doctor had prescribed the correct drugs as discussed I would have been fine by Saturday 10am not Sunday evening. This failure cost me £250 in additional care and meant I lost valuable "me" time. It would have been avoided if my needs had been prioritised in allocation of GP out of hours time. Each 111 staff member and clinician understood that because I was ill, the person I was caring for was vulnerable and at risk of hospital admission. Luckily I have the means to employ extra support. Many carers do not have this luxury. If you could raise this issue as a matter of urgency I would be extremely grateful.
Many thanks
Briony Davies
