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AIBU?

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AIBU to be annoyed after an unnecessary late-night A&E trip?

53 replies

Avie29 · 02/07/2026 11:22

Hi all just a quick one, so 6 days ago i rang the Dr as my 2yo was constipated, she hadn’t gone for 5 days atleast and kept trying but nothing 🤷🏻‍♀️ and was prescribed cosmocol 1 sachet a day by dr which she drank really well, 4 days full amount, she didn’t have any yesterday as she was being sick, yesterday evening i was rubbing her tummy and noticed a hard lump (this was day 10 of no poop) so i rang 111 and got a call back from out of hours dr (10pm) and was told to take her to a&e that evening, so we packed a few things and drove 40 mins to a&e and arrived about 11pm, we then waited around until gone 3am only to be told “ oh just up her dose of the cosmocol each day up to 8 sachets until she goes” AIBU to be so bloody annoyed that either dr i spoke to before going to a&e could have told me that!? And saved us waiting around for 4 hours! And not getting home till just gone 4am!

OP posts:
Musicaltheatremum · 02/07/2026 11:28

I suppose the only question is did someone examine her and make that decision? Because if they did then that's an extra level of information to make a decision that the Dr on the phone didn't have. Sometimes you need to see the patient to make sure that you are making the right clinical decision.
I think most acute presentations in medicine should be seen face to face but then I'm at the end of my career and sadly it's an old fashioned idea.....that is until something goes wrong and the courts ask you if you put yourself in the best position to make whatever clinical decision you made. Many cases that settle out of court do so because not examining is indefensible.

Hope your little one is ok .

Velumental · 02/07/2026 11:28

It sounds like she has a bowel obstruction, go to your GP today, I suspect they'll send you back to hospital she's not pooped in 10 days and is now vomiting. That's a medical emergency

Velumental · 02/07/2026 11:27

A and e haven't dealt with that appropriately if she hasn't pooped in 10 days and I'd go back if I were you