"Patient care"

A close relative was so ill the surgery was rung 3 consecutive days for home visit. Day 1 - pm call: told no afternoon visits undertaken. Dr rang back; patient diagnosed over phone as having a virus. Day 2 - am call: dr rang back; patient again diagnosed as having a virus. No home visit. Day 3 - similar occurence as day two despite doctor being informed patient not eating and only drinking teaspoon of liquid every 5 minutes. Still no home visit. Patient has other life limiting medical condition (heart) and is under care of hospital consultant and nursing team. Day 4 - Heart nurse was contacted in desperation and contacted this surgery on the patients behalf. An agency nurse was sent and diagnosed an infection. 3 days later surgery was rung again as patient was fatigued, feeling nauseous, still not eating and complaining of back ache. Dr rang back and was going to prescribe cream for back ache until carer demanded a Dr visit. Patient now has other complications possibly caused by the failure to diagnose an infection in the initial stages. Bloods were taken after the initial infection was treated on behalf of the heart nurse. Heart nurse seen 3 days later and advised patient there were anomalies in the blood which needed addressing by the doctor. 8 days after the blood test doctor rang patient (after being pestered by the heart nurse to do so) and advised another blood test was needed as first test showed liver function poor and very low iron levels. 2nd test showed same. No iron tablets prescribed until heart nurse got involved ans requested them. Reception staff good but doctors need to be more proactive in their patients' care.