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Original poster

How quickly would you expect to get triaged at a&e with a dehydrated toddler?

89 replies

Arewehumanorbones · 20/03/2019 15:44

Actually wanted a GP appointment but they sent us to a&e without even seeing him. Not had a wet nappy in nearly 24 hours and been sick for several days now.
We are probably just wasting everyone's time. So how long would you expect to wait to be seen to be sent home?

OP posts:
Asdf12345 · 20/03/2019 15:46

Depends how busy the department is and how unwell the child is.

My sweepstake entry is for 90 minutes to triage, then home tomorrow at half past two in the afternoon.

Place your bets everyone.

MarvinMarvinson · 20/03/2019 15:47

Why do you think you're wasting anyone's time?! No wet nappy in 24 hours is very worrying. Triage is always quick at our hospital for little ones.

Original poster
Arewehumanorbones · 20/03/2019 15:49

Well been waiting an hour so far. I know I shouldn't complain but I wish the gp had just seen us or the pharmacist. All we probably need is some rehydration sachets but the pharmacist insisted we see the gp, who insisted a&e and now we wait!

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PinkDaffodil2 · 20/03/2019 15:52

Would have probably been a waste of a GP appointment as you’re certainly sending straight to ED if not passed urine for that long. Triage nurse should check observations pretty quickly with that story and maybe start a fluid challenge, how long you wait depends on age, how poorly and how busy the department is

Kaykay06 · 20/03/2019 15:53

Why didn’t you have the sachets already?
You don’t really need them as ive not known many kids who will take them

We give sugary juice 5ml/5min
Small amounts to see how they cope, also helps with blood sugar in small kids
If your child is rousable and you’re happy with them until they can be triaged then wait and give small sips of diluting juice whilst you Wait, if you’re concerned re conscious level or colour change etc go and ask for someone to see your child ASAP!! A&e will normally give a sick bowl just in case too,

JellycatElfie · 20/03/2019 15:54

Is the child drinking?
Have they passed NO urine in almost 24 hours?
I would go and ask when you’ll be triaged myself...

PinkDaffodil2 · 20/03/2019 15:58

By the point it’s been this long without any urine a child should be checked out somewhere with proper facilities, just continuing with rehydration salts at home doesn’t seem to be working from what you say. Any GP or pharmacist would send you to A&E at this point. May need a drip if not keeping down enough fluids.

Original poster
Arewehumanorbones · 20/03/2019 16:00

Child has had some diluted juice but not keeping much down. I've just checked his nappy - very slightly damp. He's had it on since this morning. Morning nappy was dry, as was yesterday afternoon nappy.
He's crying and just wants to go home

OP posts:
listsandbudgets · 20/03/2019 16:02

Had to take DD with similar symptoms once when she was 2. She was sick 3 times in the 2 hours we sat waiting but everything suddenly changed when she projectile vomited with huge force and most of it hit a very unfortunate but nontheless very kind and understanding passing nurse bang in the chest.

Poor little girl was on a drip 10 minutes later (I think everyone was pleased to have her out of the waiting room)

hazeyjane · 20/03/2019 16:09

The rehydration sachets work much better than juice. When we had to use them with dd1 we just syringed tiny bits at a time every few minutes.

Ds was admitted with dehydration, and we were triaged pretty quickly, but he was floppy, unable to cry, not urinating at all and we were unable to get any liquid at all in to him.

Sirzy · 20/03/2019 16:13

Unfortunately if they are busy they are busy, it sounds like he is alert which is a key thing. If he gets worse talk to the receptionist otherwise hopefully you get seen soon

Smileymoon · 20/03/2019 16:16

Have you tried an out of hours go? Could you try them in an hour's time as it would be quicker.

ItMustBeBedtimeSurely · 20/03/2019 16:18

You absolutely need to be seen if he hasn't passed urine in 24 hours. Gp did the right thing, although they could have explained it better.

mommybear1 · 20/03/2019 16:29

Hi this happened to us at Christmas although we took ourselves to a+e due to no wet nappies for 24 hours and a very high temperature. At a+e they did a fluid flush to start with - a syringe with water like the calpol ones and we had to try to get DS to drink it in 10 mins. We were seen within 2 hours and extremely grateful for the dr advice as DS then came out in a horrendous rash - dry nappies were due to him coming down with a viral infection.

RoomForMore · 20/03/2019 16:30

We definitely waited over an hour. I reckon closer to 2.

Original poster
Arewehumanorbones · 20/03/2019 16:37

Just been triaged so about 1 hour 45 minutes.
Apparently need to wait to see someone

OP posts:
AhhhHereItGoes · 20/03/2019 16:42

Hope you're not waiting too long.

sunshineandshowers21 · 20/03/2019 16:48

i’ve had to take my baby girl to a+e a couple of times at our gp’s request but he’s always given us a letter that we give to the a+e desk that allows us to go straight through to be seen. could be worth asking if your gp does this if you ever have to go to a+e again.

FudgeBrownie2019 · 20/03/2019 16:51

It's horrible to have to wait to be triaged with children, but they're at least going to get the absolute best treatment because the GP can't do much for 24 hours without passing urine other than send you to A&E.

Flowers for you both and I hope you're home safely soon.

Original poster
Arewehumanorbones · 20/03/2019 16:55

There must be 20 waiting to be seen in just the paediatric waiting room. A doctor is finally starting to work through seeing people so I guess they've been busy in adult a&e.

OP posts:
horsinaround · 20/03/2019 21:54

Hope you've now been seen and all is getting better. Just to re-emphasise dehydration can be serious. We ended up being admitted on Boxing Day with our two year old in very similar circumstances

AudTheDeepMinded · 20/03/2019 22:01

We took DS1 in when he was about 18 months. He'd been vomiting for around 3 days and we'd seen a GP 3 times, who dismissed our concerns. Triage nurse at A and E saw him in about ten mins and within 40 mins he was on an NG tube and drip in the children's ward. Our local hospital is brilliant! He was discharged 4 days later.

AmIBU123 · 20/03/2019 22:11

How is he OP?

Original poster
Arewehumanorbones · 20/03/2019 22:30

Sorry not to get back - once home I got caught up in nit and lice dramas!
So yes, after about 3 hours we were seen. Mild dehydration and obviously miserable but they thought we would be better off at home. Strict instructions to return if no improvement or any worsening.
Off to try to get some sleep now!

OP posts:
AhhhHereItGoes · 21/03/2019 08:49

We had same issue with DD1 when she was 18 months. It was more awkward as we were staying with my GPS at the time.

They said if she didn't increase her liquid intake she would need to be on a drip. Very scary, but luckily she improved.

Hope LO is doing better this morning.