To be dubious about a 'triage nurse' appt?

[SexDrugsAndSausageRoll]

DS age 5 (and the others but not as bad) has had a cough for 4 weeks, it's got to the point where the last 3 nights he hasn't slept as it's worse at night. Done the talk to the pharmacist/ glycerol/ honey water and the usual but it's left him wrecked with no sleep. He used to have this a few years back and only an inhaler would clear it

So GP has to be an emergency appt, as it's well over a week for a normal appt, nearly 2 weeks. I'd wait a few days but 2 weeks isn't fair on him...

They've introduced a new nurse triage. AIBU this is going to be hellish with three kids 5 and under who are all unwell to some level (baby has a horrific vax fever too and the frustrated non-verbal 3 yr old is in a foul mood with her cold) where we wait for ages to see someone then either get fobbed off or wait ages for a GP again whilst all they lose it in the waiting room?

Has anyone had a positive experience of this new system?

She said it would take a few days to sort out if her.... and I NEED sleep tonight, not mad coughing again all night.

My DS managed to take his inhaler without a mask when he was 5 (the attachment broke and we were desperate). Have you tried him without the mask?

It the heating on and a wet towel over the radiator change it as soon as it dries and give him portion before bed.

We have this with. DD. So I feel for you. It's been going on forever, her head hits the pillow and the coughing starts, often followed by vomiting due to the cough.

The NP was a lot more clued up than the doctor and as a mother a lot more sympathetic to me having no bloody sleep too.

You can fake a mask with a paper cup - cut a small hole in the bottom for the inhaler. It's a lot better than nothing, though not ideal.

What inhaler and what mask?

Get the pharmacy to deliver it to you, most do daily deliveries.

Thanks it's sorted, I will collect it from the pharmacy after the school run as it's been sent to them electronically. I just wanted to have it sorted before three if I had to walk back to the GP, its half hour each way

Twinkle-thank you but I've honestly tried every trick from priton, to towels, to windows, to heat... I have 5 kids and believe me I REALLY hate trekking to the GP!

Sidge - They have to spot that it is something unusual, and not wrongly diagnose it as something minor, when the symptoms do not really fit.

I had to see a triage nurse last week, I saw her and she went to get the GP whilst there, he came straight into see me, prescribed antibiotics and I left. all over in 10 minutes

ARGH

So far:

• nurse prescribes (11am)

-go to pharmacy, wrong inhaler which doesn't fit spacer (11.30) -3 phonecalls, speak to nurse who faxes through new prescription to pharmacy (2pm finally get to talk) -go to pharmacy, new prescription has correct inhaler but not spacer (3.20pm) -ring surgery and explain was told didn't need to keep original, now have to go there to get a prescription for the inhaler.

It's now 4.15pm, I have 3 sick and screaming kids (yes even the five yr old has lost it) and a big walk round again to GP and pharmacy (nurse has now gone).

And I would be laid back if not for the fucking eye-rolling from the pharmacy girl. First eye rolling when I said no I didn't want just the inhaler then 'oh we thought you'd need a chamber dispensed'. Well if you noticed the error WHY didn't you either ring me or the GP to help correct it rather than wait to see me drag three screaming kids in for the second time that day?

I'm pretty fucked off now and on balance ready to leave him to cough again.