"Poor GP care for dying patient and family in Doncaster"

Our beloved family member (Male in 80s) has been diagnosed with terminal cancer. After being sent home with a basic care package, his condition deteriorated rapidly and the family found the pain and stress of trying to care for him too much. They were totally exhausted and at wits end, as his condition also meant that he was restless and confused, incontinent, in pain and the carers were awake 24 hours per day.

The GP had been contacted at the beginning of last week and they did not come out to the home but left a Px for morphine, increased from 5mg BD to 10mg BD. We had to ask the GP to come out as this was an unmanageable situation. The GP was at best dismissive, uninterested and rude. Refusing to do anything other than contact a hospice (even this was after much heated discussion with the family and only after a family member revealed they were an NHS professional themselves for 30 years and were confident to argue our point) and yet no guarantees this could be provided (told would have to go on a waiting list and "wait our turn").

No dignity was afforded the terminally ill family member and no acceptance that he had been already fast tracked on the continuing care programme. The GP left the house with a final "take it or leave it" attitude and told us that was all they could do.

Thankfully the district nursing team was present and along with social care colleagues, contacted the CCG, funding for palliative care in a specialist nursing home was agreed within an hour. Thank God for those angels.

Shame on the GP who frankly should not be in that job and God, please help all of those people who don't have the knowledge of the NHS as the family member did.

This has been a very undignified and difficult time for all, the ill family member has been a hard working member of society, always worked, was in the armed forces and then, ironically, the NHS!