"It's just a virus"

My father had been ill since early January and when he started falling I called NHS 24 a few days later for advice. 9 hours later a local GP visited and said it was just viral and it would pass. Several falls later, and my father was basically sleeping most of the day with a severe temperature. We called the paramedics who also stated it was viral. We then decided we should get another GP out to re assess. Unfortunately we were visited by a practice nurse who also said it was viral, and to keep taking paracetamol.

I was not happy with this response as not one of the professionals that visited my father took urine analysis or bloods, so how could they possibly know what was going on without basic checks? 

I feel they read the notes of the previous GP and just followed on from these. My father had basically slept for over a week, and lost the use of his legs while trying to mobilise when he is normally a fit and healthy man. He was hardly eating, and taking a little amount of fluids when he was awake. He was also confused, and incoherent at times.  However, the practice nurse informed him to carry on taking paracetamol despite not eating for days. I was most unhappy with their decision and could clearly see that it was symptoms of an infection, so why couldn't they? A urine test is basic health care.

Luckily another GP a few days later visited and gave him a thorough examination and he was hospitalised within two hours. He had a severe kidney infection, a blood infection as well as an infection in his heart. My father has remained in Ninewells since then with a scheduled heart operation in Edinburgh this Friday. I honestly think if he had been left in this condition a few days more he would have died.