"Poor communication"

A family member was told last year that, after 4 years of living with lung cancer, the cancer was now progressing and there was nothing further that could be done.

Since this time his wife has had to contact the GP on numerous occasions when he has been unwell and as a result he has ended up on various courses of antibiotics and steroids. At no point had there been any follow up regarding the fact this elderly gentleman and his wife had been told his cancer was getting worse or to ensure they had support at home etc. The communication between secondary and primary care has been extremely poor. It has taken a visit from 1 locum GP in the past few weeks to finally pick up that there’s obviously a bigger picture here and she has been the only person to have carried out a home visit and take the initiative to speak with the patient and his wife to find out what is actually going on. He now has a MacMillan nurse, support in place and is receiving proper palliative care thanks to this amazing locum GP who has taken the time and is the only person to have taken a holistic approach in the care of my Grandpa. 

Patients should not have to contact their GP surgery after being given such devastating news to inform them of the likes of their prognosis!! The family as a whole feel disappointed that it has taken 6 months from being told till now for the appropriate care to be put in place.