DS2 (aged 3) has pneumonia.
Last week, we saw
Day 1: A locum GP (prescribed salbutamol and neurofen/ paracetamol.)
Day 2: Regular GP - dismissed as neurotic mother, DS had temp of 40 and was listless and not talking. Prescribed amoxycillin, but said he thought it was viral.
Day 2: 1.5 hrs later - same GP, temp then 41.3 and not keeping anything down. Referred to casualty.
Day 2: Casualty nurse and doctor. DS given steroids and paracetamol/ neurofen, I was told to ride it out and that it was croup. Told not to give antibiotics as it was viral.
Day 3: as instructed, rode it out with 2 hourly paracetamol/neurofen. Temp did not go below 38.8 with this treatment.
Day 4: By 6pm was very scared, temp still at 40, floppy and minimally responsive DS. Spoke to GP, told to go to casualty.
Day 4, 8pm: A&E doc basically dismissed it as croup, was going to discharge, then responded to me being worried at him by saying he would run it past paediatrics.
10pm: Chest X-ray, paed came down, spent 20 mins examining him and was extremely worried, admitted for IV fluids and antibiotics.
We were in hospital for 3 nights, discharged today. He's still quite ill, still has crackles in his lungs. Consultant has said that the pneumonia had a good hold on him, that he had been infected for a while, but that often in young children there is an atypical presentation, which DS has.
I know it's bronchitis season, I know GPs are innundated with frightened parents and croupy/ viral kids - but DS was very obviously very very poorly, and stayed that way for quite some time despite treatment.
It just seems to make no sense to me to not have a paediatrician see kids in casualty - it certainly saved no money in this particular case.
AIBU to want to at least ask for an explanation, if not complain?