hospital care

Paul007

Ok, quick scenario for you.

Elderly person enters a hospital emergency department due to feeling unwell. After examination, a suspicious lump is found.
No further investigation is made there and then but patient is referred to their GP.
Would this be considered normal procedure?

Zambia

What would you expect to happen?

It really would depend on the Lump and how unwell they felt syptoms etc I suppose.

Paul007

I would have thought the hospital would be the best place to investigate the lump further considering they have all the equipment and expertise at hand.

Afterall, a GP would only end up sending the patient back to the hospital for tests anyway.

TylerIE

Very normal.

If the lump isnt causing any acute or emergency conditions (e.g. seriously affecting breathing) and/or if the history and exam lead the physician to believe that its not a particularly aggressive growth, then there is no need for the patient to be admitted.

The GP can follow up by arranging and co-ordinating the relevant tests. The hospital will almost certainly have sent the patients GP a letter, and may have given the patient a copy (occasionally, not always) to give in case they see the GP quicker than the postal copy would arrive.

Based on the results of any tests undertaken the GP can then refer to appropriate specialists if required.

If every patient who had an unusual lump / pain or felt generally unwell was admitted until the cause was discovered there would be no real care provided for those who are seriously ill. Also, and its no reflection on the hospitals or staff, unless your sick the safest place for an elderly person who is self-caring to be is at home. Hospitals are full of sick people (surprise surprise) and transmissable infections, and being stuck in hospital also can cause a decrease in independence and negatively affect the mental health of otherwise healthy people (change of environment, missing family, neighbours, home carers etc).

Why is this in the legal forum though?

Tom Young

I think it is quite evident why this is in the legal forum. However, I agree with the last poster. This is not appropriate.