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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think of all places the docs surgery should understand the infectious nature of Chick Pox?

56 replies

ThePrinceofCambridge · 23/07/2013 14:52

Told by doc to bring baby in yesterday, as I was booking appt with receptionist, I said - she probably does have chicken pox soo....

" Yes, so" she said very slowly, " and"

" Well she probably has chicken pox?"

" Yes and the doctor wants to see her I cant see the problem here, I am booking you an appointment"

" Sorry, yes of course, I am not making myself clear, what I mean is - where do I go, when I come in because she will be infectious"

" Oh I dont think there will be a problem, just come to reception"

" Ok, but perhaps ask one of your colleagues, and if there is a procedure to follow let me know, like waiting in my car or something".

Go into docs, reception FULL, hot and stuffy, baby in a pram, the elderly, I stand in the door way trying to get one of the ladies attention to let them know I am there. They think I am being pushy and do not want to wait my turn in the queue.

I approach one of them and say, " hello, this is the possible poxy child where do we go"

Again I was told very very curtly several times I would have to check in, I still had to check in.

Then, finally another lady said she would check me in, ( all this time I am mixing with these members of the public) and they put me in a different small waiting area where blood is taken. After 6 mins the doc calls me in.

Am I mad, isnt this basic stuff here?

There is a back door there I could have easily come to the back to let them know I was there and waited outside by the back -and unused by the public back door!

OP posts:
YouTheCat · 23/07/2013 14:54

You sound extremely sensible and the receptionist sounds like a really stupid cow.

Tee2072 · 23/07/2013 14:55

Make a complaint. You're right they should have a procedure and a place.

Original poster
ThePrinceofCambridge · 23/07/2013 14:56

who do I make a complaint too?

OP posts:
LadyBryan · 23/07/2013 14:57

Utterly silly of them.

When my daughter had chicken pox, they set up a couple of chairs in a meeting room for us to wait in.

Original poster
ThePrinceofCambridge · 23/07/2013 14:59

If I was pregnant, sat on that bench waiting for a blood test and see a poxy child next to me, I would be furious!

OP posts:
YouTheCat · 23/07/2013 14:59

Complain to the practice manager I think.

Saxie · 23/07/2013 15:00

My son got the spots yesterday. We went to the doctors and were given an appointment after all the other patients had left. It's a really great surgery.

MummyCoolski · 23/07/2013 15:16

We had this yesterday. Possible rubella in DS (1yo) and even though I was very clear on the phone about not wanting to infect the vulnerable, we sat for a quarter of an hour in the waiting room, at one point next to a Mum with a tiny baby. Mind you, the GP said it was probably rubella but that they wouldn't test, so they are obviously very blasé at my practice.

Mooycow · 23/07/2013 15:18

OH PLEASE chicken pox is not the bubonic plague, if the pox has already started to show then you are NOT infectious any more.
You do not need to even see the GP it is not a notifiable disease get a life

xylem8 · 23/07/2013 15:20

I get the impression it is not the pox she is going for?

Original poster
ThePrinceofCambridge · 23/07/2013 15:21

I am aghast.

This is peoples lives they are playing russian rouette with.,

My baby is due to be Baptised on Sunday, I rang the church to tell of our predicament the lady was quite stern with me, saying we do not want to infect the priest. I told her I would most certainly not be taking the baby anywhere etc, and she said her grandfather died of CP.

She said it was a family party, one DC had it, they all said - do not worry we have all had it, but turns out the gp had not actually had it and he died.

Why are they so blase about it?

OP posts:
Original poster
ThePrinceofCambridge · 23/07/2013 15:23

No Xylem, it was her breathing, her breathing was laboured and I was concerned about that with the possibility of the pox also affecting her chest. I called the doc, he the doctor, the medical professional that is, told me to bring the baby in.

Moo

Your very wrong, very wrong, I do not blame you, but I want to cry at how little people know about the pox. Its not your fault, if this is what docs surgeries are like what hope do we all have?

Moo, they are infectious until the last spot scabs over and is dry.

OP posts:
Tee2072 · 23/07/2013 15:25

Yes, the Practice Manager.

Mooycow · 23/07/2013 15:25

CP related complications are VERY rare ie Pneumonia Encephalitus etc
you could in theory die from a cold if it caused a complication,

Sirzy · 23/07/2013 15:27

OH PLEASE chicken pox is not the bubonic plague, if the pox has already started to show then you are NOT infectious any more.

YES THEY ARE INFECTIOUS.

Tee2072 · 23/07/2013 15:27

CP is extremely dangerous to the elderly, pregnant women and those with suppressed immune systems.

MummyCoolski · 23/07/2013 15:27

Mooycow, I think chickenpox is infectious until all the blisters are scabbed over. It is relatively mild in most children, but in the vulnerable can be very serious and can (rarely) cause severe complications in an otherwise healthy person.

PastaBeeandCheese · 23/07/2013 15:28

YANBU they should have a policy.

Original poster
ThePrinceofCambridge · 23/07/2013 15:30

If i didn't want to to complain to the surgery, is there like an area manager or something for the surgery I could alert to this>

OP posts:
Sirzy · 23/07/2013 15:30

Exactly Tee. Those who are most likely to be found in a GPs waiting room.

DS narrowly avoided being admitted to hospital with breathing difficulties when he had CP.

He was nearly killed by a cold when he was a baby but that doesn't mean I don't fully appreciate the need to ensure that chicken pox isn't spread to vulnerable people.

Cravey · 23/07/2013 15:34

Please please make a complaint. I have no immune system and chicken pox could kill me. I truly appreciate parents like you. The dizzy receptionist needs to be told what she did is wrong. Could have been worse though at my gp surgery the receptionist kindly put me in a small waiting room as the surgery was full of patients with flu. Lovely apart from the fact that she had also put three pox ridden children in there with me.

Cravey · 23/07/2013 15:36

Sirzy they are still infectious and believe me from my point of view it may as well be bubonic plague.

Original poster
ThePrinceofCambridge · 23/07/2013 15:37

It wasn't just the receptionist though, I asked her on the phone to check with colleges, no one got back to me, then when I went in, it was the people sat behind, the sort of admin staff as well, none of them knew.

Maybe someone can help me word a letter or something.

OP posts:
breatheslowly · 23/07/2013 15:38

I'm puzzled by some of the responses you have had. MN regularly has "can I take my DC with chicken pox to X" and posters generally respond "no, don't risk it, there might be a vulnerable person there". So you have asked, shouldn't the doctors' surgery have separated you from the other people who were waiting, some of whom were probably vulnerable and you have been jumped on.

I has to have my immunity tested during pregnancy after exposure to CP. I google it a bit. It can be serious. I think YANBU.

Cravey · 23/07/2013 15:38

Call the local health authority and they should be able to help. Again you are the type of parent I love, well done.

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