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Topic Started: 9 Mar 2009, 10:37 AM (37 Views)
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It concerns me somewhat that people are not aware of contingency arrangements in place for emergency medical situations that may occur after the GPs surgery has closed in the evening.
Anything can happen to anyone at any time of the day or night and when the surgery has closed what do you do ?
You are in pain and worried about being stricken with a complaint or condition that bothers or frightens you and you do not know what it is and what to do ?
Being a night nurse for so many years since my return from abroad in 1990 I have been left in charge of nursing homes for the elderly with up to 60 plus clients to care for through a 12hr. night duty shift.
I have noticed a deterioration or change in a client and am pretty certain what it is and what to do but I have to have official recognition and approval to carry out a procedure or take a certain course of action and the arrangements in place for quite a few years now are laid down.
I have to look up the clients GP in the notes and ring the surgery number and I will be given a prerecorded message telling me that if it is an emergency I must ring 999. and if I needed a GP I must ring the `Out of Hours GP service.` and then follows a number to ring.
When you ring the number you are put through to a - receptionist , nurse or ambulance man , who will take the details and inform you that the Dr. will ring you back in about 10 to 15 mins. ( Sometimes takes an hour.) who will advise you or decide to come out and visit you at home. He has an ambulance car and driver at his disposal and has an emergency supply of drugs. He can also have you admitted straight to hospital if your condition merits it.
I was contacted recently late in the evening , by a responsible and intelligent person who I respect and admire who was quite distressed and in alot of discomfort and pain who wished for advice as to what to do and it intrudes on my mind that there may be others who contribute to and read this site might find themselves in the same situation and also would like to know what is in place to cope with such an eventuality and it is with this in mind that I post this message and hope that it clarifies the situation.
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