To think my friends are too quick to visit A&E

[LouisaJF]

In recent weeks 3 friends have taken their babies to A&E with a sickness bug. All 3 were sent home being told to ride it out. Two of them must have their own personal spot in A&E they've been that many times.

I know I am fairly laid back but my DS has been through the usual range of illnesses and I have never felt the need to take him to hospital. Common sense kicks in and tells me what he really needs.

Don't get me wrong, if these children are seriously ill their parents shouldn't hesitate, but it just seems that an hour after one posts about it on FB another one is at. Stop wasting valuable resources and get on with it!

My ds had a cold at 5 weeks old. I didn't want to bother the a+e staff with just a cold. He started struggling to breath and within minutes he was turning blue. We rushed him to the local hospital, they called an ambulance which drove him to a specialist children's hospital ( driving crazily with lights and sirens on) ds was taken into resus and thankfully stabilised but oh my god it was scary.

Ds was in hospital for a week and thankfully made a fullrrecovery.

When he was in hospital ( on the high dependency unit) half the kids had a cold ( rs virus) and half the kids had a vomiting bug. All the children/babies were very poorly.

I'm probably extra careful and we have taken ds to a+e to be told he's ok it's just a cold go home. I would preferto go in to be sent home feeling a bit silly than have a blue baby whose eyes are wide open with fear because they can't breath again.

I've taken my two straight to the docs for nasty falls/head bumps to be on the safe side.... Docs more than happy to fit them in and give them a check.

Dc1 has had two a&e visits. Once after jabs when he stopped breathing and another occasion when he had high temp, vomiting and meningitis type rash.

Ds2 not been to a&e so far.

I'd always err on the side of caution with non speaking babies with temps who can't be consoled.

Better to be safe than sorry

Three incidents stood out immediately when I opened this thread.

We had a seven week old baby in the family, die from Bronchiolitis, dismissed by a GP.

A baby died outside a local doctors practice, as her Mum waited for an appointment slot.

A local 4 year old died if pneumonia, dismissed as a viral infection. I have had pneumonia and have found out that some strands cannot be heard and GP's under diagnose it, especially in the young.

I have spent a lot of time in adult A&E ( as a carer) and when you see the time wasting by fit and well adults, you could never criticise an over protective parent.

Do you know I do not care about ££££££ that it cost the NHS if my child is unwell, all that I need is to know my 2 amazing children are fine.

My deepest, darkest fear is that I will lose them. My children are my life. I adore being a mother nothing and I mean nothing will ever come close to the love i feel for them.

I will never hesitate in taking my children to a&e.

I get your point in some ways OP - I have a friend who's had her Dd up at A&E countless times - once, with a 'red finger'

However, it's so difficult when you're on your own with a baby who seems unwell, the doctors' surgery is shut, and your mind starts to panic as to what might be wrong. It's easy to say, 'oh, it's just common sense' - but it's so hard to make that judgement if your small child has a temperature / a rash / is coughing or vomiting etc.

Fifteen years ago, when Dd was 8 months old, I took her to A&E in the early hours of the morning. I'd been worried about making a big fuss about nothing, but as it turned out, I made the right call - she ended up rushed into an isolation ward with bronchial pneumonia for 4 days. The only other time I tipped up at A&E was with DS (18 months). He was very listless, had dark circles round his eyes, and recoiled from the light. I grew worried about meningitis, and knew if it was, he had to be seen quickly. I bundled him into the car in a panic, drove him the few miles to the hospital where he was seen by the triage nurse. By the time the doctor came, he was beginning to show signs of enjoying this night time adventure - and in no time was enjoying investigating the drawers, cupboards and bins around the treatment room. There was clearly nothing wrong with him at all. I was a bit embarrassed, but nobody was cross about it and reassured me it was better to get him checked out and be safe.

YABU....I can imagine the absolute roasting a parent would get on here if they said that they didn't want to bother A&E and just left their baby unwell until they could see a doctor the next morning, and then it turned out the child was seriously ill. I felt like I was never away from A&E with DS when he was a child but he had recurring chest infections. Better to be safe than sorry....

Birdsgottafly - I think that sums it up nicely

Croup is serious enough if your child is having trouble breathing....I've done that dash a couple of times and I. V laid back and pragmatic about such things....

I think NHS direct is now history - but I found once you spoke to them they told you to take them to A&E...and then you felt like you have to - even though you knew it was a waste of time!
I've had the health visitor phoning me cos DD2 had been twice in 6 weeks...first I should say DD2 was/is rarely sick/ill -but she picks her moments...(including the 3 episodes here she has probably only thrown up 6 times in her life!!!)
She had some vaccinations - started throwing up a few hours later...I think tummy bug - fine - but.... better check it is nothing to do with vaccines ...during conversation I said poor thing, its her 1st birthday she's had injections, now throwing up and she bumped her head on the door earlier too (she had crawled into it!!!!!!) - even though i said it was nothing - a wee bump - it was a head injury and vomiting must go to A&E...doctors tutted about NHS direct...
A few weeks later - found her with a salt cellar in her mouth (long story) not sure if she had eaten any or not ...didn't worry until 2 hours later she started throwing up - phoned NHS direct - could it be connected? got a bollocking for not taking it more seriously etc etc - Dr in A&E didn't even bother waking her up to examine her...
(Then at 3-4 I didn't take her sore arm seriously on holiday for a day or so - then found out she had dislocated her elbow - and same again when she did the other less than a week later (she had pulled elbow -thankfully only happened twice)
A month or so ago though - she was messing around with DP and she fell backwards and bashed her head on a door frame...had a massive bump ... a few hours later started throwing up (as I said she picks her moments!!!) - spoke to NHS direct and they were much better ...more laid back - said to keep an eye on her and not to worry unless she threw up again ...which she promptly did...and then again all over A&E as I felt guilty taking a tummy bug in - but they kept her on a ward for a few hours observation -so I felt justified in being concerned...
I should say I have dodgy health -and certain things I have to take seriously and get checked out ...was trying to get an appointment at OOH GP for me had to go via NHS direct ....ended up with them sending an ambulance - and then the ambulance didn't want to leave me - so took me to the hospital ...even though I knew it wasn't necessary - my poor children woke up to me gone... couldn't keep it a secret because DP had to bring them along (with some clothes) to get me ( I was in my PJs )....

I actually think the blame culture and worrying about being sued has a lot to answer for...

I work nights as an A&E receptionist...

I've never heard a grumble about a parent coming in with a poorly child. It's better to be safe than sorry!

"I fell over 3 days ago and my arm still hurts but I can move it" from a drunk person at 3am on the other hand!

I think YABU. I would prefer that anyone with a poorly child erred on the side of caution. Children can get so unwell, so quickly, and I'd prefer that 100 parents brought in a slightly ill child who turned out to be fine, over just one parent thinking that they were over-reacting and not bringing in a child who really needs medical attention. Having said that, I do have a friend who called an ambulance because his daughter caught her finger in a door. That, I think, is somewhat ridiculous, but I imagine that the parents who do this are very much in the minority. Most are just concerned for their children.

I called an ambulance for my DD this afternoon. She is 8 months, her temp was still 40.2 40 minutes after calpol, she was inconsolable and crying in a strange way. I was on my own with her and DP had my car. I called 111 and they said a GP would call within the hour. I panicked and called 999 and they took us in. Discharged us several hours later. I feel foolish now that i panicked but i was terrified. She is my second and i would say i am fairly level headed, but maybe not. Every single HCP that i came into contact with today said always get it checked out if you are worried especially with babies and children. YABU.

My ds spent a week in intensive care in a specialist children's hospital due to croup. I'm very thankful for that a&e trip they said it saved his life

My DS has a heart condition, our local OOH has told me not to waste my time going to see them as they will always refer us straight away to hospital as they feel that as a GP they are a generalist rather than a specials in my sons condition. We also don't take him to our local hospital - we go straight to the children's hospital in our city.
About six weeks ago I took him to A&E, he was diagnosed with hypoglycaemia (as a side effect from the medication he takes), I knew he wasn't right but didn't realise how ill he was. We had the very scary experience where all of a sudden we had about 6/7 nurses and doctors run to his bed and do things to him. We were told that they were very pleased I had taken him in as he was probably only a few minutes away from falling into a hypoglycaemic coma.
And we've been back to A&E since then as well. Although, I'm probably the annoying parent for other parents there now, as because of his history he gets taken straight through from triage, so no waiting.
So I would say that unless you truly know the background information, yabu.

When DS was 8 weeks old I ummed and ahhed about taking him to a and e with a "cold" - thankfully something told me to take him because if I hadn't taken him then he quite likely would have died he was so ill with Bronchiolitis.

He has since had numerous a and e trips, and admissions with asthma and croup. I can only assume those who think croup shouldn't be treated in a and e have never had the horrible experience of seeing a child really struggle with it. The first time DS had it I called on a paramedic friend for advice - the first thing he did was call 999 to get him treated as quick as possible.

Adikia, your friend was right to go and get foot seen, foot has tiny bones she could well have broken

If I am worried about DD I tend to call NHS 24 (Scotland) who then decide what to do. Have just taken DD if she had injuries/severe allergic reactions though.

YABU. I work in A&E and we always tell parents we would rather see well children and alleviate parental concerns, than to not see a child because the parents don't want to bother us and then that child get seriously ill.
If u started this thread and changed 'baby' to 'adult' I would say YANBU, as that happens all the time!

YABVU! Babies can go down hill so quickly. Something that just seems like a sickness bug or a cough can turn into something deadly.

Have you seen the Justice for Lucy page on FB? Poor Lucy deteriorated so quickly. It's heartbreaking. I am also cheekily adding this so maybe do of you can join their thunderclap campaign. The inquest has recently ended and Lucy's family are feeling so low. Many of the site members are really trying to spread the word about this campaign.

I remember when DS was a few weeks old and developed a nasty cold

We rang the OOH GP who told us to take him to A&E which panicked us

When we got there we couldn't wake him up

I was so scared

We then saw a lovely GP who said

"Your baby is merely sleeping. Try to enjoy this, it will not happen often. He has a cold. He is fine"

It is scary with a tiny baby, especially your first.

That said, I do know what you mean about people who rush to A&E for the slightest thing. Adult cold, suspected broken toe, papercut etc :)

With babies, A&E would always rather see them than take the risk - they can go downhill so rapidly.

I was swithering about taking my daughter in, so my mum came down & insisted I took her - my mum saved her life (along with the wonderful medical staff). They can get so much worse so quickly (and better really quickly too).

I would never judge a parent for taking a child to A&E, you come across as a bit sheltered OP.

Better to be safe than sorry!
What's it to you anyway op if they spend half their lives up at a&e, it's not your time they are wasting and if you are fed up of reading their status updates on 'fuckbook' then block them.

I have 3 ds's 18, 16 and 7. Ds1 has been to A&E with a broken arm approximately 15 years ago and if it had not been for ds3 that would have been our only dealing with them.

Ds3 has previously had bilateral pneunothorax (two collapsed lungs) and had a chest drain as a baby. He was close to death and saved by an amazing Dr in the middle of the night. He is now completely well.

He has been to A&E following a fall from a height at nursery. Blue lighted with croup after I phoned NHS 24 and they sent an ambulance and on several occasions with croup or a virus when I have taken him myself because I have panicked been worried. On these occasions he has only once been given steroids and I could probably have managed myself at home but I have no regrets. We have no out of hours walk in clinics only A&E or NHS 24.

I am a HCP but, having seen two children, sent home from school 'poorly', both dead before the end of the day and the little babygrow in a bag in the store cupboard for months because no one had the heart to throw it out but equally could hardly phone the parents to come and get it, I am probably less able to judge the situation than many of my friends.

Jinty - what had been wrong with the children who were sent home poorly from school that they died so quickly? That is horrifying, their poor parents