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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU to want and Dr and not a Nurse when I ring for an appointment?

79 replies

M0naLisa · 08/04/2013 08:14

Rang the drs for my 18 week old.
The reception says 'is it anything a nurse can help with'
I say 'I dunno he was treated last week but he's got worse'
Reception: yes a nurse can deal with it.

What if she can't? What if he needs a dr?

Bloody ridiculous!!!

Can anyone tell me what is the difference between a dr and a nurse practitioner?

OP posts:
Lucyellensmum95 · 08/04/2013 08:44

MonaLisa - I know you are worried but just go along and see the NP, they are perfectly equipped to make an assesment. If he has got worse then she/he will probably get the opinion on the doctor anyway. How long has he been on the ABs? If you are not happy once you have seen the NP then ask to see the doctor there and then.

The reason, sadly, that you can't get an appointment with the dr is because they are probably all taken - we have this system of what i call the 8am lottery and often by the time i get through all appointments are taken - its wrong but what can you do?

Panzee · 08/04/2013 08:45

I reckon if you had been making an appointment for yourself you wouldn't have even got the nurse appointment. It's a way around a daft system that GPs have found themselves in.
My surgery don't use nurse practitioners like this but they will always find space for a sick child. Sounds like the receptionist has done her best.

Poor you and baby, hope he feels better soon.

Onetwothreeoops · 08/04/2013 08:47

It does seem strange that they have given you a nurse appointment. Could you ring back and double check that you have been advised correctly? Surely if a certain type of antibiotic isn't working then it would need a doctor to decide the next course of action.

Lovelygoldboots · 08/04/2013 08:48

Thats shit Monalisa. I think a NP should be able to sort this but if you are at all unhappy demand to see a doc. You can't afford to mess about with chest infections in babies.

mrsjay · 08/04/2013 08:48

the nurse will get the Dr to see him if she needs to I hope your baby is better soon sounds worrying ,

Original poster
M0naLisa · 08/04/2013 08:58

Yes second receptionist said she will contact a dr if its something she can't diagnose.

He's been on antibiotics for a week tomorrow. They haven't touched him and he's getting worse - cough wise. He's not feeding. He should be having 7pz every 3-4 hours. Il lucky if he has 4oz every 3 hours. Last night he had 5oz at 6:30 at 1am he had 2oz and then 6oz at 6am. He's hungry now but won't take his bottle Confused

OP posts:
ChunkyPickle · 08/04/2013 09:02

Go to A&E - I waited to take my DS to the doctor the next morning (He'd got much worse the evening before, but I'd assumed it was just a bad cold) and we ended up spending nearly a week in hospital with him on IV Antibiotics/oxygen mask/nebulizers etc. because it was so bad.

Your description is just how DS sounded - almost like he was trying to breath through a wet sponge.

Lovelygoldboots · 08/04/2013 09:05

Is he snotty? I remember my ds being like this because he couldnt breathe when he was feeding. Think I had nose drops for him. Try feeding him off a spoon.

XBenedict · 08/04/2013 09:05

YABU nurse practitioner should be able to deal with it but if she can't she (or he) will have access to a GP - in our practice immediately! Hope you little one gets better soon.

Bugsylugs · 08/04/2013 09:10

Our nurses do not see children that young. If you are concerned whilst there ask them to get the duty Dr to have a look

Original poster
M0naLisa · 08/04/2013 09:11

He is nasally. Sounds like an asthma sufferer. I have asthma so know it sounds Hmm

OP posts:
Sirzy · 08/04/2013 09:12

Look up the signs of bronchiolitis, everything you are describing sounds like that. If it is that it is normally at its worse between days 5 and 7 then pretty quickly starts getting better.

Hope he is ok

Original poster
M0naLisa · 08/04/2013 09:13

I can't go to A&E. the minor injuries unit here would send me to major A&E 34 miles away. I can't afford to get there :-( plus DH started a new job on Friday. Last thing we need is for him to get sacked. It's been 6mths since he last worked :-(. If drs send me to A&E then if have to ring my mum and see if stepdad to come through if he can or at least my auntie or someone who can drive to take me and have my other DS' until someone can get my boys. Hmm

OP posts:
Original poster
M0naLisa · 08/04/2013 09:14

He started Good Friday. Got him in the drs Tues. started antibiotics tues and now is worse :-( day 10 today.

OP posts:
ChunkyPickle · 08/04/2013 09:17

Ah, well, we went to the doctors and they sent us in an ambulance they decided it was so serious that he should be on nebulisers for the 15 minute journey rather than me packing him into his carseat and taking him myself. - so be prepared that it might happen!

Make sure they check his blood oxygen level (although they'll probably only have adult ones.. but they kinda work)

Original poster
M0naLisa · 08/04/2013 09:18

How do they check blood oxygen levels

OP posts:
Sirzy · 08/04/2013 09:19

i really think you need to get him to A and E however you can. He is a young baby who has had a bad chest for 10 days.

They check blood oxygen by putting a probe on his finger or toe (probably toe given his age) its painless but they need to stay very still to get an accurate reading.

mrsjay · 08/04/2013 09:20

what time is your appointment mona

Original poster
M0naLisa · 08/04/2013 09:21

10:10. Can I request a blood oxygen level test? And can they refuse to do one?

OP posts:
mrsjay · 08/04/2013 09:23

not long no the nurse will look at him I know he isn't very well but try and not get yourself worked up before you go in, Smile

ChunkyPickle · 08/04/2013 09:23

THey just stick a little clip on their finger - the doctor will probably have one sitting on their desk next to the blood pressure thingy (adult ones will read a little low compared to the real result, just to warn you) - then in the ambulance/in hospital they had sticky ones that actually fit a child....

BikeRunSki · 08/04/2013 09:27

YANBU

Our nurse practitioner has
1 - prescribed a cream for ds's infant eczema that we later found out aggravates eczema. (it did).
2 - Diagnosed DD's infected eczema as Chicken Pox (it wasn't, but we only realised after we'd stayed in for 4 days)
3 - Diagnosed DS's Chicken Pox as molluscum (so i sent him back to nursery, fortunately nursery diagnosed it properly).
4- Said that Bronchitis was "just a bit of a cough". 24 hrs later DS was at A&E.

I now have very little faith in her. Fortunately she no longer works at our surgery.

McNewPants2013 · 08/04/2013 09:27

I would be getting him to a&e, I know it is difficult but it sounds like antibiotic are not working and there isn't much a GP can do apart from maybe giving him a pump.

ChunkyPickle · 08/04/2013 09:30

It's half nine, your appointment is at 10:10 - so actually going to the clinic is the fastest thing you can do now, and as I found out - if it's serious then they don't mess about with little-ones, you'll be sent in an ambulance.

OddBoots · 08/04/2013 09:30

If you go to A&E often the first non-receptionist you see is a nurse who knows enough to decide how urgent your need is and who you need to see, in a lot of cases nurses in GPs are doing the same job and it's a job they are more than able to do. If you aren't happy with what the nurse has to say you can always still stay at the surgery and wait to see a doctor but I am sure the nurse will get your ds the treatment needed anyway.