"X ray"

The GP referred my 86 year old mother to Garston Walk in Centre for an xray on her hip. She was in considerable pain and had extensive bruising on her upper thigh area.

The person who undertakes the xrays came out and spoke to my mother in the waiting area to discuss the situation. Although they asked my mum if it was okay to speak to her in the public area, my mum was to polite to say no, but was embarrassed about it as there was another patient in the waiting area sitting near by. They should not have asked her this.

The person then said they were not going to xray her as she was too old. They said that there are national rules been introduced not  to xray anyone over 45years old unless there has been trauma. The reasons being that elderly people should not be subject to radiation and in my mothers case an xray would not tell her anything.

This person went on to undermine the GP by saying the gp should have referred her for a scan (ct scans give off more radiation than xrays) and referred her for osteoporosis tests and there was hardly any information put on the referral form. This all may be true, but I think it was very unprofessional to undermine the GP in this way to my mother in the public area.

When we went back to the GP it seems our only option for an xray is to attend A& E. As previously stated she is 86 years old, quite frail with a heart condition and currently in pain and discomfort. It takes her all her efforts to manage a GP app, she would not cope with A& E.

I also. intend to write to my MP about no xrays for over 45year olds unless there has been a trauma because this ought to be public knowledge. I do not think this person should have overrode the decision of the GP who knows her best, there should have been more professional integrity and not undermined the practise of the GP and this discussion should not have taken place in the waiting area and will no doubt justify this by saying my mother was asked if this was okay, I believe most elderly people do not argue with medical people.