I've been on the phone to 111 for...

[HerRoyalCarbyLess]

24 hours.
Except for one hour around 2am where I napped.

My daughter started with a cough and temperature yesterday. She's 6.

But before this she came out in a rash.
It covers her stomach and back. And now it is spreading up her neck and onto her arms.
She came out in this after starting new creams from the dermatologist, so I stopped the creams but it is still spreading.
I'm unsure if this is a reaction to the creams, a viral rash or something completely different such as scarlet fever.

I phoned the GP and asked for a phone call appointment. They refused advising me.to phone 111 (who I was on the phone to on the other line already) 🤦

What am I meant to do? If she has scarlet fever or something she needs antibiotics, but at the same time I don't want to infect anyone with anything that could potentially be serious.

OP, I mean this in the most polite way, get off Mumsnet and get yourself and your child to a medically qualified professional.

Finally agreed to a phone call appointment!
I've got to wait by the phone now. Just got told he'll phone shortly. So fuck knows when that will be.

I'm in Essex OP SIL take you to A&E if you near me.

Phone GP surgery and speak to the practice manager.

Explain the situation. Then say the rash could indicate meningitis and she needs to be seen urgently. If you can't get there due to isolation then doctor needs to visit you.

I had tonsilitis which presented like this and had spread and become a form of meningitis. I too got told I wasn't allowed to be seen as it was just tonsilitis and I'd not been ill long enough and bumped between surgery and 111 both referring me to each other for three days. In the end I rang and could barely speak and croaked help to the practice manager who put me in with my GP and threatened to deregister me for wasting so much time.

When my GP saw me they were furious. I was given antibiotics for over six weeks and put on bed rest and told to go back in 48 hours or they'd come see me as I refused to go into hospital. I've rarely seen a medic so angry as they were with the practice. I never go in, except regular appointments as I've a severe phobia, so if I phone they'd been told to make sure I'm seen. The entire time I was waiting for a taxi outside they let rip, everyone in the practice heard, even next door did I was so

The system was broken before with lives at risk. Now it's horrific. Very few realise exactly how many actually work for 111 - in Wales it's a very small number and it's run by the ambulance trust so you're prioritised with those calls to, for the whole of Wales.

Seriously. You need the practice manager. Now.

So, I’m not trying to diagnose or dismiss your concerns, just trying to reassure you. My DD had flu symptoms a couple of weeks ago, tiny intermittent cough, temperature high but not a fever, one minute eating well and in good spirits then crashed out, lethargic etc.

I wasn’t worried except she had this bumpy, blotchy rash on her front and back (limbs mainly clear.). No seen that before!

Our GP chose to see us (all was discussed on phone in case attending surgery was bad idea). He wanted to confirm it was just a normal response to virus and assured me it was perfectly normal, would run it’s course and didn’t need any special treatment.

It was alarming and took a while to fully clear but nothing to worry about.

Hope you get proper medical advice soon, but try not to worry, I’d avoid ibuprofen if possible, keep warm, hydrated and hope she feels better soon.

Her dad is at work, and wouldn't help anyway. He's an arse.
As for get off Mumsnet, I'm not posting here while doing nothing. I was posting asking what more I could do.
I want to follow government guidelines, but at the same time I'm 99.9% certain my child does not have Coronavirus.
I've been on the phone to 111 and the GP on two separate phones all this time.

That took so sodding long to post you got through !!

Tell the dr what I posted.

well you’ll need to start making arrangements to get her to wherever they ask you to go. there will be no provision for medical transport right now, and quite rightly. it’s your responsibility

Phone friends or a neighbour to look after the other children and take your daughter to a&e. People will help you if you ask.

You do not need to be dealing with your ex at this time.
Just don't even think about it.

Sorry just saw your update. Hope he calls soon.

Have you done the glass test for meningitis? Maybe get a picture if you GP will accept a text image.

I would try a pharmacy. You’ll have more chance of finding someone who can give you advice over the phone. A pharmacist in Boots once saved my life by sending me to hospital. I feel so sorry for you. This is such an awful time. I hope your little girl is better soon. I know nothing about scarlet fever but my friend’s daughter just had it and I know it’s common.

I've messaged my uncle to see if he can help. Awaiting a reply.
I hate asking as this now means months of "oh I always help you love"
"I'm always here" (yet he never contacts us and if I contact him be refuses to come and see us, or let us go to him because he's fallen out with my dad, even though I'm NC with my dad)
But if I ask for help he sometimes helps.
I'll also message everyone else I know with cars. But bloody hell. This is ridiculous.

I know this poster (I can't help sadly) and I'm aware of ex issues others here are not. That sorry excuse for a human being is of no use to anyone and certainly not this poster.

As OP is in isolation they must go to her, she cannot go to them without breaking isolation that they advised her to do. NHS and government can't have it both ways, they need to realise the practical implications of isolation for the vulnerable (and yes I know of the pressures - here you can wait hours for an ambulance best of times and there's no free hospital transport under any circumstances anymore). OP cannot split her children up with also breaking isolation. So no she can't get her neighbours to watch her kids as they'd need to then isolate then as well.

If you're in Leicester I'll take you to A&E

Whereabouts in the UK are you?

@justwondering101 - helpful

Seriously @justwondering101 ?

Well if there wasn't a global pandemic OP would have been able to get a GP appointment or get through to 111.

You must understand that not everyone has a spare £10- 20 available for taxis

Or are you completely oblivious to the fact that not everyone has disposable income?

Just wondering - I have reported your nasty & unhelpful post.

Royal sending you un MN hugs & hope all is well.

@lalalandisnofun Probably harsh I agree, i’m just seeing it all the time “oh we can’t afford this, can’t afford that” we are all struggling but if my child needed urgent medical assistance I’d be seeing this is a wake up call

Do you have any relatives or friends you can call on for help? Either to give you a lift to A&E or to lend you money for a taxi? She needs to be seen ASAP. 111 are incredibly overrun atm and GP’s aren’t wanting to see anyone either.

justwondering if you did an advanced search then you'd know this poster recently begun claiming universal credit due to serious medical issues and is awaiting an assesssment which now won't happen for months as they've been suspended.

She is not alone in this.

In the real world many, many people are in the OPs position.

You cannot plan if you will or will not get sick.
Or if the government will decide to close down your workplace leaving you out of work with no income as our PM decided to do yesterday.

If you are in a position to save money then I suggest you do so and whilst your at it have a bit of compassion for those who are in the impossible situation of being incapable of doing so and living in fear of having no money.

Christ @justwondering101is that really necessary?

Some people live hand to mouth and don't have anything to save.

So much for "be kind".

justwondering101
Well I'd be able to see someone locally if not for the current situation
And as for how could I allow myself to get in this position?
My children's father walked out on us when I'm seriously physically and mentally unwell, I've had to claim UC and still continue to pay for everything.
I didn't choose to have no money no one chooses to have no money. And no it isn't a "wake up call" because when you are literally spending every penny you get just to keep afloat, there's nothing left for emergencies. that's just how.things are in the current climate. This government has fucked everyone over.