Antibiotics Prescription

[Carol_21011]

Thanks again Charles. Glad to hear things are looking positive. May I ask which antibiotics your wife was prescribed? Don't worry if you would rather not say. My dad had Flucloxacillin tablets first which did nothing but then had IV Flucloxacillin in hospital and oral Clindamycin on discharge. These seem to have worked well on the original foot but now the other foot has started to get worse so Ciprofloxacin has been prescribed.
I have put all my concerns in a letter to the GP so we will see what happens next. My dad has now been without any antibiotics for 2 weeks.
Sorry for the late hour when posting. I've just finished changing dad's 4 different dressings, emptying catheter, changing colostomy bag and administering medication. I don't know how I find the time to post on here as well! Haha!

[bowlingbun]

Carol, dad was entitled to 6 weeks free Reablement care. Was it arranged for you both?

[Charles_2112]

Thanks again Charles. Glad to hear things are looking positive. May I ask which antibiotics your wife was prescribed? Don't worry if you would rather not say. My dad had Flucloxacillin tablets first which did nothing but then had IV Flucloxacillin in hospital and oral Clindamycin on discharge. These seem to have worked well on the original foot but now the other foot has started to get worse so Ciprofloxacin has been prescribed.
I have put all my concerns in a letter to the GP so we will see what happens next. My dad has now been without any antibiotics for 2 weeks.
Sorry for the late hour when posting. I've just finished changing dad's 4 different dressings, emptying catheter, changing colostomy bag and administering medication. I don't know how I find the time to post on here as well! Haha!

The antibiotics my wife was on were for a very severe sinus infection. She'd had something like 3 lots of different ones before that one. Can't remember the name - it was a mouthful!

[Carol_21011]

Yes dad had his 6 weeks of reablement. I've had my Carer's Assessment and all agencies are happy with what I do. I am not concerned about the things I have to do for dad and am more than happy to do them. I volunteered to change the dressings as from past experience the community nurses are over stretched and this must be a worse situation now with more Covid worries. We also bought a wheelchair accessible vehicle to be able to get out and about and get to appointments. Dad is in a wheelchair but apart from the foot ulcers is not unwell and is keen to live as much of a normal life as possible. The only time he has seemed unwell and depressed is when he was under the care of the community nurses for 6 months when he was discharged from his first hospital stay in Oct 2020. Waiting around all day for nurses who often didn't turn up (not their fault as they are overstretched) was soul destroying for an active person like him and resulted in a painful sore on his bottom.
Thanks for your concern Bowling Bun but dad and I are fine with our situation and try not to be a burden on the NHS. I just can't understand why this strong drug has been prescribed when the Patient Leaflet, NHS website and NICE Guidelines say prescribe with caution for someone with his co morbidity.

[Carol_21011]

P.S. Bowling Bun
You are worse than me as I see you were posting at 4 in the morning! Thanks for responding. Just having a sounding board really helps.

[Carol_21011]

Unfortunately no resolution with this issue yet and now another Dr has prescribed iron tablets which dad can't take because he has a stoma. The advice leaflet with this prescription also says do not use with the antibiotic that caused the issue last week.

I now feel that I can't query this inappropriate prescription because the surgery will think I am just looking for a chance to challenge them again.

Does anyone know if doctors check a patient's medical history and co morbidities before prescribing? I've always assumed that they did but if it is not standard practice then that would explain why dad's last prescriptions were inappropriate and possibly dangerous.
Does anyone have any ideas about how I can approach the surgery with my concerns again without looking like I'm being critical? In the meantime I'm also worried that the medical conditions these were prescribed for are going to get worse without some form of treatment.
I don't want to formally complain to anyone as the surgery is generally very good and I wouldn't wantvto cause any bad feelings.

[Melly1]

HI Carol,

regarding the iron tablets and your Dad having a stoma, I would query it with the pharmacist, they tend to be more knowledge than GPs about medication or does your Dad have someone that monitors his stoma? This health professional can then raise concerns with the GP surgery rather than it being you. The GP should certainly be checking your Dad's health records before prescribing. It's a good job you are vigilant.

Melly1

[Charles_2112]

Melly's right - definitely check with the Pharmacist. If they're not happy they'll raise it with the GP. GPs are supposed to check these things but tend not to. Some GPs now have a practice Pharmacist to monitor stuff like this.

[Carol_21011]

Thank you to everyone. I did consult the pharmacist next door to the surgery first and then spoke to dad's stoma nurse. I will have another chat with him and see if he does have links with the surgery. That would be a good way of raising a concern without stepping on anyone's toes! It's getting a bit tiring having to be so vigilant and I think sometimes dad thinks I'm fussing!