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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

About the doctors and my 4yr old dd

45 replies

pinkiepie1 · 18/08/2017 08:16

DD has had a high temperature for the past 2 days, then started vomiting and was sleepy. No rash or anything as I checked. Calpol worked for 2hrs then temp would come back.

I rang 111 and they gave me a call back at 2 this morning, as her temperature had gone down slightly and she was asleep to leave her until the morning and get her in to see GP. The nurse who I spoke to also put a note in her file saying she needs to be seen in 24hrs by a gp.

I rang the doctors at 8 and I explained everything and about the note saying she needed to be seen, but all I got was someone will call you back.

Is this the norm now? I just don't know. i went to argue but she cut me off saying, thanks, bye, before I could say anything else.

OP posts:
BoredOnMatLeave · 18/08/2017 08:18

Iv'e experienced this but at my GP you have to have a call back from Dr before they give you an appt. She shouldn't have cut you off but I wouldn't worry as the Dr/Nurse that calls you back will see the note. The receptionist has nothing to do with that.

luckylucky24 · 18/08/2017 08:19

Call back and demand an appointment! Very rude to cut you off.

Nuttynoo · 18/08/2017 08:19

Our local A&E sees all kids who have a high fever & been vomiting for more than 24 hours if it's combined with drowsiness etc. Go there if you're worried- GPs/111 are pretty useless in the face of a real emergency.

Original poster
pinkiepie1 · 18/08/2017 08:21

Thanks for replying. I hadn't had this before that's all and was just confused as to who was ringing me back.
My dd doesn't get poorly often but when she does she likes to scare me.

OP posts:
TheFairyCaravan · 18/08/2017 08:24

The doctor is going to call you back. That's how lots of surgeries do it now so that the people who really do need to be seen get seen.

I can't see the problem, tbh.

Ameliablue · 18/08/2017 08:27

Yes for urgent appointments it's normal for doctor to phone back.

coriliavijvaad · 18/08/2017 08:30

I think this is OK. My practice has what is known as a "triage doctor" who phones up the people who need attention and decides whether they need an appointment or a home visit etc - so that it's not the receptionist making such decisions.

BertrandRussell · 18/08/2017 08:30

"Call back and demand an appointment! Very rude to cut you off"

Don't do that-you'll just add to the volume of calls! They said someone will call you back- that's fine.

LoniceraJaponica · 18/08/2017 08:34

In the meantime try and get a urine sample. DD used to present like this at that age every time she had a urine infection.

I hope she gets seen today.

Original poster
pinkiepie1 · 18/08/2017 08:39

Thanks actually forgot about a water sample.think I might even have a bottle floating around. I'll have a look now she's gone back to sleep.

The nurse who rang me back did say that vomiting in small children is a sign of a UTI, which I didn't know.

OP posts:
Mintychoc1 · 18/08/2017 08:42

I expect the GP will arrange to see you when he/she calls. Give your daughter nurofen in the meantime, it's way better at bringing temperatures down than calpol.

EarlGreyT · 18/08/2017 08:45

Call back and demand an appointment! Very rude to cut you off.

Because demanding an appointment wouldn't be at all rude?!

In some surgeries you can not have an appointment without someone calling you back to triage it and the receptionists cannot book anything other than the telephone calls.

HighwayDragon1 · 18/08/2017 08:53

This is how appointments work in our surgery. You ring when you're not feeling well, a doctor will call you back the same day and will either advise over the phone or book you in (usually same day)

HandsOffTheJaffaCake · 18/08/2017 08:58

It is in effect a "triage doctor" who will decide if the patient needs to be seen or advice can be given over the phone. This ensures that appointments are given to those who need it most if they are overrun.

I agree with the comments above - you certainly should not phone back and demand an appointment.

jimijack · 18/08/2017 09:02

Hi.
When you call 111, depending on your description of symptoms, the skilled and knowledgeable questioning of the nurse or paramedic practitioner that you speak to they will calculate the urgency of the situation.
So they will ADVISE according to the information given a timescale to SEEK medical attention.
This actually means nothing to your GP surgery.

A vomiting individual is better triaged over the phone so that they do not spread any contagious illness to vulnerable people in the waiting room.

Of course situations change. Hopefully for the better, if your child simply has a tummy bug, then no gp appointment is necessary. A phone conversation will be all that is required. If it got worse, you would know, you just would know something is not right and you would be seeking urgent advice.

Yes, perfectly normal.

Believeitornot · 18/08/2017 09:04

I've had this before and it was very helpful for the GP to call back because they can better assess the issue than the receptionist. GP rang back and arranged for me to bring Dd in that morning.
You don't really want to bring a vomiting child into a surgery unless you have to because it could be contagious.

IfYouGoDownToTheWoodsToday · 18/08/2017 09:09

It is very normal. The fact a Dr is phoning you, someone who is extremely busy, shows how seriously thy are taking this.

LarkDescending · 18/08/2017 09:11

This is what happens at my surgery - the receptionist makes a note of the gist of the problem and asks the duty GP to call you back, which happens quickly if it is something urgent. I've has to use it twice in the last couple of months and the GP has then phoned to say either "come straight in and I will see you" or "go straight to A & E and I will tell them you're coming".

It's worked fine here.

Flowersinyourhair · 18/08/2017 09:17

It works like that here too but I'm always left a bit Hmm at the overstaffing... you ring a receptionist but they can't give you an appointment so a doctor then rings you back. Sort of mitigates the need for a receptionist really doesn't it??

Notso · 18/08/2017 09:17

I find the call back system way better. It's meant we've been seen when we need it also have been able to speak to GP and get prescription without having to go to the surgery.

Laiste · 18/08/2017 09:23

flowers if there were no receptionists who do you think would answer the phones while the docs are seeing/ringing people?

Also in my DDs surgery the receptionists are there long before and after the doctors days start and finish.

BertrandRussell · 18/08/2017 09:25

"you ring a receptionist but they can't give you an appointment so a doctor then rings you back. Sort of mitigates the need for a receptionist really doesn't it??"

Really? Who do you think should answer the phone?

Original poster
pinkiepie1 · 18/08/2017 09:28

I agree with the not taking a vomiting child anywhere. Hate it when parents send their kids to school when they've been sick, (worked in a nursery and one time I think every member in the room caught it.Think I've only felt that bad twice in my life)

It was my dd actual GP who rang me. (he is lovely) from what I told him its a water and throat infection as the temperature would have gone if it was viral by now, and the vomiting without diarrhoea is another sign of infection.
So to drop a sample in and he has left me a prescription to pick up with antibiotics. And the usual advice lots of fluid and rest, any worse ring back, emergency ring 999. Hoping that the antibiotics and ibuprofen will make her be her again. (its so quiet. I hate it!)

Thanks everyone for all your replies.

OP posts:
Increasinglymiddleaged · 18/08/2017 09:29

Really? Who do you think should answer the phone?

Well there is an argument that says for appointment requests it could be done by machine. Then receptionists deal with other queries.

SunnySkiesSleepsintheMorning · 18/08/2017 09:30

I'm not sure what the problem is...? They are phoning you back and it's only the beginning of the day, so is not like they said they won't see her. It may be that they can give advice over the phone without you bringing an ill child to a surgery. Also, as someone else said, a vomiting child is not always appropriate to be taken to a surgery if there are no other major concerns as they need to minimise risk to others.

I wish her better though, it's horrible when they're poorly.

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