Tragic death-NOT due to swine flu

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Specializes in ICU,ANTICOAG,ACUTE STROKE,EDU,RESEARCH.

My work colleague returned from holiday today and told me that her brother-in-law had died whilst she was away.

Apparently he was unwell and called the GP who said it was swine flu and not to come to the surgery.

24 hrs later he went to A/E by ambulance as was drowsy and very unwell.

4 hours later after 2 cardiac arrests he was dead.

Diagnosis-meningitis.

He was 51 and leaves his wife and 6,4 and 2 year old kids.

This is due to the stupid UK policies brought in because of the "swine flu epidemic". When many viral and bacterial infections present in a similar manner as seen by a lay person, there is no justification for diagnosis over the phone.

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Specializes in Medical and general practice now LTC.

I am so sorry for your loss. I am amazed that diagnosis can be made without actually seeing the patient first. You just can not assume it is one thing and not think of other similar diseases/illnesses

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that is very sad and unfortunaley not the first occurance of things being missed.

i am told pt are still going to our a&e with flu like sysptoms and being seen. not everyone with menigist alos has sepiticeamia with the rash so how is a lay perosn to know how even are medical/nurisng staff to know.

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I am not completely sure that it was not flu. Flu does cause meningitis, it most certainly does. Matter of fact it causes a host of neuro illness including GBS and Parkinson like tremors.

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Specializes in ICU,ANTICOAG,ACUTE STROKE,EDU,RESEARCH.
I am so sorry for your loss. I am amazed that diagnosis can be made without actually seeing the patient first. You just can not assume it is one thing and not think of other similar diseases/illnesses

Precisely!

But this policy of telling people not to come to the surgery was put in place some time ago by the DOH.

Apart from being a dangerous practice because some people will have something other than swine flu, it also falsly infates the swine flu numbers.

Even if it was meningitis secondary to flu ( but I would think this was unlikely as bacterial meningitis is usually the most serious rather than viral-if I remember correctly) he should have been seen by someone.

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a high school class mate of mine just lost an inlaw encephalitis of as yet unnamed cause......in new england

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Specializes in intensive care, recovery, anesthetics.

The idea that infectious people shouldn't go and sit in waiting rooms is good I think, but obviously they need to be seen, so GP's need to get the N95 out and go and see their patients at home! If they don't provide that service it's neglect in my opinion!

5cats

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Specializes in Medical and general practice now LTC.

I too agree that infectious people shouldn't go to the surgery or A&E but they should still be seen and assessed.

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