To be cross with the Doctor i've just seen in A&E?

[celebmum]

Long Story but basically, 5month old baby being sick, very sick projectile/bile vomit and not just baby sick. Also dry nappies and very sleepy, been a few days but worse in last 48hrs.. called NHS direct helpline thingy, they were really nice and suggested we take baby to A&E to be checked over by a doctor, to ensure that he wasn't dehydrated or anything serious.
Did so and was seen by triage nurse fairly quickly who said that as he was a baby they would aim to get Doc to see him within the hour as she wanted him checked over too.. fair enough they were busy.
2.5hrs later they announced all the children in A&E waiting to be seen should go through to outpaitients to be seen by GP. We go through, are first to be seen but Doc just was not bothered at all and obviously just wanted to go home for his dinner! He asked no questions, hardly even looked at baby. Asked why we came to A&E, i explained what NHS Direct lady said and he said not to listen to them as they don't give good advice and just send everyone there and waste his time??
We didn't chose to spend our sunday afternoon in a&e, we didn't go for a laugh.. my baby has obviously not been well and all i wanted was for a trained professional to give him the once over. I am always respectful and quite in awe of doctors but this miserable old sod was useless!

sorry.. rant over!

So what has been diagnosed and has treatment been given? Sorry the GP was rude but I'd be even more infuriated if they didn't treat my baby.

So what did he do? Did you actually get treatment?

That's absolutely shocking. You should complain big time. It's his fucking job FGS.

So what did he say about your baby? Did he even give you advice/tell you about things you should look out for? How is your baby now?

In your shoes I would be so upset. Not to mention seriously worried.

YANBU. Its attitudes like that which could make people think twice about going next time, when as a number of medical people said to me this week, usually they would rather see 100 babies who didn't necessarily need to be there than not see the one who did.

You were definitely right to go and we not wasting his time. Hope DS is on the mend, x.

Well that is pretty crap. Did he give you any advice - and how is the baby now?

he gave no advice or treatment. Did not even so much as advise us to try get more fluids down him or anything?
Just said that he looked fine and that he wasn't concerned anything was amiss. Baby is 22wks and 19lb, and he said its not as if he's losing weight, stop worrying.

He's had a bath and gone to bed no fuss, he's been vomit free for the past couple of hrs, it really was excessive earlier today or i wouldn't have called NHS direct. I think if he's still not right in the morning i am going to take him to see our regular GP. Am conscious of looking like an overly concerned 1st time new mum tho..

Thanks for your replies x

Was baby awake and alert when he saw him?
Has he fed since you came back?

sounds like yanbu. DS has ended up at A & E for similar reasons, and whilst the doctor could tell virtually by one look at him he wasn't dehydrated, I would always get advice re:fluids/dioralyte etc.

Northernlurker - yes to both your questions.

He's not really a 'sleep in daytime' baby, but this weekend he's slept an extra 3-4hrs each day and last night 8pm till 8am.. (usually 8.30/9pm till 5.30am)so that and the dryer than usual nappies and the projectile vomiting concerned DP and me.

YANBU, he should have not spoken to you like that and he should have provided some reassurace/advice. I would put in a complaint in your shoes

Please don't worry about people thinking you're over-reacting. Babies can become very ill very quickly from dehydration. If you are worried at any point tonight go straight back to A&E. It is much better to be over cautious than allow your child to become dangerously ill.

Trust your instincts because they are usually right. I saved my dd's life by being prepared to argue with an A&E doctor and refusing to take her home.

Definitely take him to the GP in the morning unless you are sure he is fully recovered.

I'm glad your DS is better.

Don't worry about being 'an over anxious 1st time mum', your baby was being sick and you had every right to seek medical advice. My FIL is a (retired) GP and would always prefer a baby to see a doc rather than have the parents worry. When my DD was a few weeks old she cried all day which was unusal, and I phoned FIL for advice. He made me phone NHS 24 to get advice and they wanted to see her. She was fine, but I felt reassured and would have been furious if they'd treated me the way you were treated today.

Ok sounds like he's settling a bit but if you have even the slightest concern or he starts vomiting again I would go back to A&E without delay.
I agree you should complain - that doctor should be giving you that advice not a bunch of concerned mums on the net

YANBU he should have at least checked him over. I've taken DD in twice on occassions when I was not quite sure whether I should and even though the doctors said she just had a bug they both said I was right to bring her in if I wasnt sure especially as young children and babies can get ill so quickly.

On another occassion I thought I'd be wasting their time and held off all day but she was suddenly so violently sick and in such pain I took her in suspecting appendicitis. It wasn't but even the doctors weren't sure and kept her in for 2 days on a drip before they made their minds up for certain

yanbu

It sounds like my experience, only I was sent to A&E by GP as concerns over hydration after diarrhea/ feed refusal. No interest, no checks. He was 6 weeks old.

I had an even crapper visit to A&E a few days ago, posted in bottle feeding. Don't ever feel like taking ds anywhere ever again. IT's my first so I must be making a fuss! What's even more annoying is he's now 16 weeks and it's the same issue.

YANBU - babies get dehydrated quickly and need checking. DS1 had bad d&V at 17 weeks and we were told to make sure he had wet nappies, check the fontanelle isn't getting softer (hmmm, easier said than done), make sure he has tears when he cries and that fingers under nails remain pink - all of these are signs of dehydration. I would check for these and take him to the GPs in the morning.

Out of interest, it sounds so like my A&E....not East London?

So you don't feel alone...here's my experience in A&E last week. It's shocking the service they have. Re-posted:

Well night from hell here. Been in A&E for three hours to be seen for three min.

The rash really changed today, much darker and spread over most his body including his head. Also his bits looked swollen. I decided enough was enough and as GP closed took him to A&E. Refusing feeds again, not slept more than half hour blocks as uncomfortable and coughing and choking himself awake all night.

Awful experience and one I won't repeat. I got the feeling from the word go that they they thought it wasn't serious enough to warrant him being there. Ignored a lot and no help. Left for the first hour to stand by a desk holding ds until I thought my arm would fall off. Then seen by a nurse (in the store cupboard!), quick glance said not menigitisis and bits not swollen (well they are). Then told to wait outside in general waiting area. Left there for over two hours, popped in twice to see if they had a rough idea of waiting times as I'd at least walk him around. Treated like an annoyance. Husband got wound up and argued with nurse after we'd been waiting 3 hours, who told us it was something he could go to GP for (he has, plus they not open and rash had doubled in an hour) basically saying that why we had waited so long as they 'had sick children to see. I would have just gone home if I knew they had this attitude towards him. Literally EVERYONE was seen before us until waiting room empty, from 10 years olds with sprains to grazed chins and people arriving much later. If they didn't want to see us fine, it was the three hours with no info or interest that did it. 3 hours in a waiting room with a sleep-deprived 14 week old with sore skin is NOT fun.

I said we'd just leave, partly to keep the peace and partly as they clearly were no going to be interested anyway. Then suddenly said he'd be seen.

Just as I expected, said it was a viral rash and he was fine. No interest in milk issues. Asked them if it was viral should he be kept away from others (logical?) and they said it was 'my call' as it might not be viral!!! Over and out in a few minutes. Considering his weight gain history I was surprised they didn't even weigh him.

Really upset and depressed by the whole experience. Been 4 hours of misery for us all.

glad he's a little better now - don't let him sleep that long tonight - I'd wake him for a liquid drink, then settle him again if he can take it without vomiting. And see GP anyway in the morning. Let us know how you get on.

FWIW I understand the whole they'll think i'm being pfb feeling. DS now 6 and took him to GP over something that waschronic but mild and I thought I was being OTT as mild but came out of GP office with worse diagnosis and from pharmacy with carrier bag full of stuff!! (skin allergies so don't panic its the same) just reiterating that sometimes 'MUM KNOWS BEST'

That sounds appalling, I would second the advice above - get some diarolyte from the chemist, tonight if you have any late night chemists near you. When my ds had d+v recently the doctor said that you cannot give them too much of it.

celebmum - definitely think the doc was out of order. hope you baby is doing better now...

strawberrycake - when ds1 was a few months old, he was v poorly, including had a rash that didn't go when you pressed a glass on it. Took him to dr's who said to go straight to A&E, where they eventually saw him - albeit not made to wait as long as you.

Dr was very nice but didn't think it was meningitis, told us it was probably viral and to take him home.

didn't really like to but you don't feel like arguing with dr.

next week in the paper there was a story about the same hospital - had sent a child home in very similar circumstances but child had had meningitis and subsequently died a few hours later

i felt terrible, kept wondering what if it had been my child that had happened to (and this was a big london teaching hospital with big a&e) so have found that it has given me the courage and resolve to ask for a second opinion or to double check (or check a first time if they don't do something...). Yes it's difficult when the doctor is the one in position of power in the consultation, but if you think chances are you will never see this person again, it is easier to talk to them.

I have also found that if I take in a list of written questions that I want answers to and go through it, I get taken more seriously and don't have to be as directly confrontational IYSWIM. Might also have helped celebmum as you can go throw a list of points like 'exactly how much fluid do I need to get in as a minimum over the next 6/12/24 hours' (oh he hasn't drunk that much in the last 24 hours so what do we do next) and 'if not drinking milk then can I give diarolyte' and 'what are the signs of dehyration' etc

Even if you know the answers - or some of the answers, it's really good to make them stop and give you the info (and so that you can write it down as it is easy to think you have taken it all in and then to have forgotten when you get woken up for the 5th time in the night and are feeling lousy and child is screaming (or even worse, has stopped!) and there is a record of what they have said at the consultation.

God that is so shit celebmum, I think if a parent is sufficiently worried to present their child to A&E it is usually worth investigating.

I have 3 dc's and put a lot of stock into parental instinct. I know when my children are ill and when they are ILL.

We got sent to A&E not long ago with my ds2 who was 2 weeks old. Luckily they were great, as soon as we arrived we were in a cubicle and it was pee tests and lumbar punctures agogog.

We were then left to fend for ourselves for the next 48 hours, with very intermittent visits.

If you feel your baby is fine/recovering then do as you would, but listen to your instincts, go back and get a second opinion/challenge if you must. Being a pita is worth a healthy child.

I took my very ill 2 year old to hospital, temp reaching 40 etc. They said swine flu but she wasn't ill in that way. She kept pointing to her tummy.

After 4 days I finally saw a general surgeon, not the stupid head of peadiatrics who NOT ONCE EXAMINED my daughter.

She said 'get her to theatre now'. Thank God. Within 20 minutes, my baby girl had an exploratory op.

My poor darling had a burst appendix. Yes, very unusual for a 2 year old, but as she wasn't exhibiting any flu symptoms, I couldn't understand why we were put in isolation.

I can't tell this story very well without wanting to weep. You have to keep on if you believe they are talking shit. I did.