Dr Surgery and reception one (again!) sorry.

[heliumballoons]

Started this thread yesterday.

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/am_i_being_unreasonable/1210088-More-WWYD-re-medical-attention

Had fantastic advice from MNers and realised what they said sounded true for DS.

So.... Ring in to tell work I won't be in and then start ringing surgery at 7.59am. Still on emergency link so call and call repeatedly but get the engaged tone. So whilst still calling put on some clothes keep calling and drive to sugery (300 meters away!!)

Get there and receptionist on the phone so wait, she finishes call and answers another so press call bell. No acknowledgemnet of me and answers 3rd call - so I ring bell again.

I have heard her giving appointments to all 3 callers. (2 of which called after I arrived). She tells me there is no appointments.

So I said "with all due respect you have just given appointments to 2 people after I arrived, my DS is only 6yo and needs to see a DR"

she said "is it an emergency"

So I told her it was.

He has an emergency appointment at 11.40am.

WIBU to be so blatantly pushy?

Nope! Well, maybe a little bit pushy, but he sounds poorly and he needs to see the Doc, and I'd have been hacked off standing and listening to 2 appointments being given away while I was ignored, then told there were none left. Hope he feels better soon :)

No not really, as long as you were polite, my cousin was a receptionist and monday mornings were hell with so many people needing urgent appts, she got so much grumpy moody shit from people she lasted a year and found another job.

Have you tried NHS Direct and a&e yesturday?

You did right. Everyone says it is an emergency these days, otherwise you would be waiting a fortnight to see the doctor. I have never yet gone in to see the doc and been told "its not an emergency so go away" :)

Rand NHS direct at 8pmish - DS had just gone to bed. Got told call back was 3-4 hours. He was asleep so I said not to worry and I'd call back if he woke again/ or had another accident.

Not a&e. Considered OOH but he wasn't in pain and the soiling was later in the day and after that he seemed clear. I was a little perplexed hence why I sought advice here. I felt uncomfortable with what was happening - knew it wasn't right iyswim? I got great advice and now know what I want to do and how to move forward. (hope GP agrees!)

I was polite - just gently forceful.

No ynbu. Agree with squeaky, the system they have created forces people to say it's an emergency.

In any case though I think you should see a doctor quickly with a child if you are worried. You're his mum and concerned therefore you need to be seen today. Hope he's feeling better soon btw and you feel reassured.

Thanks everyone.

I guess as a parent if your child is ill - and I don't mean the usual cold/ virus ill it is an emergency. To me if I need a doctor 2 weeks is only acceptable for long term conditions - if its just a check up itswim?

It wouldn't have been so bad if I hadn't heard her give away appointments to 2 phone callers who called after I had arrived in reception.

Our surgery has different ideas of emergency to me, so if they ask I always say 'yes it is' and always get an appointment... obviously if it WAS a 'real' emergency I wouldn't be faffing around trying to get an appointment.

YWNBU - sometimes you have to be (politely) forceful.

I hate and loathe these bloody appointment systems. Our is the same - you ring dead on 8am and get told you are 6th in the queue. Then when you do get through you are given an appt for 2 weeks hence. I always say it is an emergency now if it is for DD. They then get all threatening and say "We will have to tell the doctor you have said it is an emergency". Fine!

Hope your DS is ok.

Yes I always get confused about what they mean by emergency - to me an emergency = 999! I translate a GP emergency as something that can't wait 2 weeks - so an illness.

Even last week when DS cracked his chin open and needed stitches I didn't class it as an emergency - it was a minor injury that needed treatment. Obviously if it was major blood loss then I would call it an emergency.