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AIBU?

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Original poster

To ask that Out of Hours GP does bloods tonight

77 replies

SnugNightsss · 05/04/2025 15:57

We’ve got an appointment for my child this evening. I’m concerned it might be appendicitis. I have not had good experiences at the out of hours service locally. Those who’ve had children with appendicitis, how did they diagnose it? Should I ask that they take blood to check for infection markers? Anything else I should be aware of?

OP posts:
Orangemintcream · 05/04/2025 16:35

Yes you need to take her to A and E now !

Honestly her symptoms sound classic appendicitis. If she needs seeing sooner they will see her sooner.

Not to mention if you’d taken her earlier she’d have been seen by now.

Original poster
SnugNightsss · 05/04/2025 16:33

Shall I risk taking her now then? She has fallen asleep, I’m worried if I take her to A&E now we’ll be seen later than the 7.20 app we have for the GP next door. They’re so busy nowadays.

OP posts:
Vannymcvan · 05/04/2025 16:31

You need to go to A&E, not mess around with OOH

Greybeardy · 05/04/2025 16:31

anaesthetist that regularly sees appendicitis here - this is not a GP issue - ED is the right place. Don't try the hopping thing - it'll just be painful and doesn't prove/exclude anything.

Shakethedisease · 05/04/2025 16:30

If they can get it to the next door A&E then they can. At the big hospital where I am they do them round the clock for emergencies .

Fullcircle90 · 05/04/2025 16:29

Nurse here - you should be at A&E with her right now

SalfordQuays · 05/04/2025 16:29

OP appendicitis is largely diagnosed clinically, on examination rather than blood tests. I assume if the A&E is next door to the OOH clinic, and the GP thinks it may be appendicitis, they’ll send you to the hospital to see a surgeon.

1AnotherOne · 05/04/2025 16:28

She needs to go to a&e

SalfordQuays · 05/04/2025 16:27

KnickerlessParsons · 05/04/2025 16:24

There’s no point in doing a blood test tonight as there won’t be anyone available to analyse it.

Hospital blood testing is 24-7.

KnickerlessParsons · 05/04/2025 16:24

There’s no point in doing a blood test tonight as there won’t be anyone available to analyse it.

Original poster
SnugNightsss · 05/04/2025 16:21

I forgot about the hopping test! I remember that now from when my cousin had it decades ago. I’ll try and persuade her to try.

OP posts:
Original poster
SnugNightsss · 05/04/2025 16:20

She’s 7, she ate at 11.30 just 2 olives and a slice of bread though. Not been herself all morning.
Vomited about 30 mins ago. Temp been normal until just now when I took it, it’s 38.4°. She had calpol at 14.15.
Hasn’t moved from the sofa since 12.00. Won’t let me touch her stomach so I can’t be certain it’s tender. Definitely wouldn’t accept food if offered. She’s miserable.

OP posts:
nocoolnamesleft · 05/04/2025 16:19

Can she hop? (Crude but fairly sensitive test for appendicitis)

MassiveOvaryaction · 05/04/2025 16:19

Can she hop?
I've not lost the plot, it's what they asked when we thought dc might have it. The fact he could and the pain didn't get worse during/after meant it was unlikely to be apparently.

Nuttygarlic · 05/04/2025 16:09

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Original poster
SnugNightsss · 05/04/2025 16:06

Sorry I should’ve explained. We don’t have a walk in centre. Very rural. Out of hours GP is next to A&E. So if she needs bloods the lab will be the same one A&E and all the wards use at night.

OP posts:
ExplorerBee · 05/04/2025 16:05

Bloods from a&e have a 1hr turnaround time from when they're received in lab where I work.

Take him to a&e if you suspect appendicitis. I had it as a child and it was diagnosed by physical examination by GP, and I was sent to hospital immediately.

Original poster
SnugNightsss · 05/04/2025 16:04

I’m not sure it is obviously. I’ve contacted 111 and they said out of hours GP. Knowing our A&E even if I set off now she won’t be seen before the GP app at 7.20 anyway. They’re always so busy. My friends child with haemophilia wasn’t seen for over 5 hours last week.
She’s had stomach pain since midday & it’s getting worse. At times she is groaning with the pain, very unlike her. It’s round her belly button and towards the right as well. She’s also vomited once.
So maybe a Gastro bug?

OP posts:
Shakethedisease · 05/04/2025 16:03

Walk in centre would be better for getting bloods done. The OOH GP won't have an arrangement for sending them to be processed I wouldn't think. My local walk in sends theirs to the hospital. Or as pp have said A&E.

GottaWork · 05/04/2025 16:03

They likely won't be able to get bloods to a lab for testing at night.

Like others, if you really suspect appendicitis is there a reason you aren't going to A&E?

Nuttygarlic · 05/04/2025 16:02

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Pippa12 · 05/04/2025 16:02

If you are genuinely suspecting appendicitis it’s an A&E job. Is your OOH GP attached to a medical facility that can process bloods?

taxguru · 05/04/2025 16:01

Highly doubt the GP surgery will do a blood test there and then. You usually have to book a few days later. I'd second others saying it's more of an A&E matter!

Mountainfrog · 05/04/2025 16:00

Presume ooh gp would send you to hospital if bloods needed

Nuttygarlic · 05/04/2025 15:59

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