how to get hospital appointment?

[LondoMalari]

Hi everyone,
I am looking for advice? Maybe somebody had similar situation. My friend’s daughter is being ill for the past 2 months. It looked like tonsillitis at first. She is having high fever often, yesterday she was rushed to the hospital having fever 41C and sent back. Her GP keeps prescribing antibiotics (5th now in a row) and refusing to investigate what is wrong with the child (8 years old). My friend (it’s her daughter) is really concerned but due to the luck of language skills she asked me for help. Is there a way how to get the hospital appointment (apart from the Private Clinic)? Any advice would be appreciated. Thanks.

[LordProfFekkoThePenguinPhD]

I think the doctor will need to refer you to a specialist. She will need to press for it very firmly though if the doctor is not suggesting this.

[silver1977]

I would suggest she phones 111 or the doctors surgery again and ask to speak to a different doctor and just push for a referral. I'm surprised given her age this hasn't been investigated further? She must be missing alot of school as well.

[LondoMalari]

Thank you, LordProfFekkoThePenguinPhD, unfortunatelly, I think (and I hope I am wrong) the doctor is kind of taking advantage here since my friend moved in to the country just a year and a half ago, therefore her English is not advanced yet and she simply cannot express herself probably. I offered her help to go to the next GP appointment with her but she said it's OK. I wonder, would the complaint letter help? I am not a doctor but even I think that since the 5th antibiotics do not help it needs some investigation.

[LondoMalari]

Thank you, silver1977, yes, she comes and goes to school when she feels like, but the fever quit often hits out of blue. GP though keeps insisting that since the child is nor very sick, she will not refer her and keeps advising taking paracetamol and ibuprofen. They help only temporarily. I also do not understand why she refuses. How ill does she want to see poor girl? In a cofin (ttt)

[LordProfFekkoThePenguinPhD]

She should have someone with her to translate - 5 lots of antibiotics sounds really high. My doctor is very trigger happy when it comes to referrals. I’d try to go with her if at all possible to help explain her concerns and hear what he is to say.

[LondoMalari]

yes, LordProfFekkoThePenguinPhD, I offered her this option. Does anyone know if you write a complaint on a particular GP would that help? I also advised her to switch the surgery.