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Swollen calf and pain in leg

Posted By KateM

"Swollen calf and pain in leg"

About: NHS 111 St George's Hospital (Tooting) / General surgery

(as the patient),

Last month on Friday I contacted Harmoni regarding a swollen leg and it was painful to walk. I went through a series of questions. I was given an appointment 2 hours later that evening (approximately 8: 30 pm). I was seen an hour late by the Doctor who was very helpful and kind and advised that he thought I had DVT. I was told that I had to register again with A&E and I wasted another few hours waiting to be seen by an A&E doctor who arranged for a blood test that night.

Due to high protein level and inflammation level I was not discharged and stayed in A&E the whole night as there wasn't a bed available and I was admitted to a Ward at 5am and given Fragmin.

I stayed in hospital for 6 days and had a Doppler scan on the Monday which showed 3 clots under my knee.

I feel that Harmoni should have advised me to go to A&E rather than see the Doctor at Harmoni. Waiting for about 6 hours to see a Doctor, the clot could have moved elsewhere for example to my lungs or heart. I think they should perhaps give Fragmin to all suspected DVT cases on arrival at hospital. Why wait for a few hours?

It was the weekend and a scan could not be arranged until Monday. My case was a bit difficult as I was suffering from excessive bleeding due to heavy periods. But this could have been serious and I feel Fragmin should have been given earlier and they have to weigh the risks.

I hope they can learn something from my case for the future.

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Responses

Response from Amanda Mayo, NHS 111 Service Director, Harmoni 11 years ago
Amanda Mayo
NHS 111 Service Director,
Harmoni

Submitted on 07/03/2013 at 17:22
Published on Care Opinion at 17:28

Thank you for taking the time to post your experience on Patient Opinion.

In order for me to respond to you I need more information regarding your case so that I can investigate the reason for advising an appointment six hours later.

If you are happy to, please provide the above details with your name and contact number to harmoni111.feedback@nhs.net and I will personally look into the sisues that you have raised

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Response from Amanda Mayo, NHS 111 Service Director, Harmoni 11 years ago
Amanda Mayo
NHS 111 Service Director,
Harmoni

Submitted on 08/03/2013 at 18:26
Published on Care Opinion at 19:26

Dear Madam

Thank you for taking the time to talk to me this afternoon. I note from our discussions that you had a positive experience with the NHS111 Health Advisor, the Out of Hours GP and the Emergency Department (ED) staff. Your assessment with NHS111 was thorough and timely and you were offered an out of hours appointment within 1 hour and 40 minutes following the telephone assessment.

Unfortunately the out of hours service was running late and your appointment time was delayed. You were referred through to ED and unfortunately this resulted in a further delay. Once assessed you were given the injection required however there was a time delay in this. As discussed I will pass the issues you have raised onto the St Georges Hospital Patient Liaison Service (PALS) who can contact you at the times we discussed.

I hope that your future contact with the NHS111 service is efficient and effective.

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