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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

About this GP

15 replies

Crunchymum · 11/09/2017 11:42

Just want some perspective really.

Took DC (2.8) to GP as she cut inside of her mouth last night. Running with a tubular thing in her mouth and banged into wall. Bit of blood and very shocked toddler but was ok. In a bit of discomfort today though so I thought best to get it checked?

GP of course asked what happene, I explained and after a few questions (what kind of You? What exactly happened? What did she run into? Who was there?) She said my explanation was plausible Shock

She looked in little ones mouth little one was upset by this point and crying and then asked me to lift her jumper and vest up. I whipped them both completely off and GP huffed and said "lifting them was fine, now its going to take ages to get her dressed again" (it didn't. It took me 15 seconds)

I did ask GP if all was ok and if she had concerns to which she mentioned another accident from 6 months ago [same DC hurt her leg at softplay and we were at the Drs within the hour as she couldn't weight bare!] GP then again said my explanation of yesterday's accident was plausible.

Now I completely understand that random, unrelated accidents can be a red flag but this GP was so accusatory?? All she has to say was "with DC previous accident I want to give her the once over".

I said if she had concerns she could happily refer us to whomever she felt nessacary. She said if I wanted to I could go to my HV?? Why???

AIBU to think the GP didn't handle this situation well?

OP posts:
Original poster
Crunchymum · 11/09/2017 11:43

And I'm not belittling her having something dangerous in her mouth. That was completely down to me. I had seen her with it and literally the second before she had her bang I was telling her to give it to me.

OP posts:
AntiHop · 11/09/2017 11:49

I think you're over thinking this. The gp had to check. Unfortunately, due to the pressure they're under, GPs don't always have time for tact.

Ttbb · 11/09/2017 12:21

This GP seems a bit lacking on the patient contact side of things. The polite thing to do is to say, I'm very sorry but because LO has had an accident I need to check her over just to make sure, it's standard procedure I'm afraid. As opposed to making judgments about the plausibility of your statements. If it happens again you might just want to explain it to him/her.

KurriKurri · 11/09/2017 12:24

i don;t think tact takes any more time than lack of it. GP could have done what she needed to without saying 'your explanation is plausible' - she only needed to think that not say it. She wasted more time complaining about OP taking her DD's top off than it would have taken for OP to pop her top off and on again.

Of course they have to be alert to accidents being suspicious, but there are ways of being alert and thorough (You can just say 'I'll just check her tummy' or whatever) without making perfectly innocent people feel bad.

Toddlers have accidents and I would have thought (although I don't know for certain) the majority are exactly that - accidents. I don;t think naything the OP did should have aroused suspicion - she took her child to the doctor to get her checked, which is surely the sign of a good parent.

Hope your wee girl is fine today OP.

HeartburnCentral · 11/09/2017 12:36

GPs, along with other professionals are duty bound to report any suspicions of abuse and safe guarding issues. Seeing as this is your dc's second accident in a short period the GP was just checking if there were concerns. I presume she gave your HV as another source if you have concerns. My friend works in ED said they have a policy to fill in papetwork and alert SS if a child attends x amount of times within a specific period. I presume the GP was annoyed about undressing the child because there were other people waiting to be seen.

MatildaTheCat · 11/09/2017 12:37

She needs to improve her people skills. In fact I would be inclined to mention it. Getting the wording right in this situation is important and she is risking causing serious offence or anxiety. This could lead to parents being reluctant to take their child to be checked after innocent accidents.

Can you email the practice and word it as an observation rather than a complaint?

Original poster
Crunchymum · 11/09/2017 13:08

Heartburn oh gosh should I be expecting SS to turn up then???

This is accident 3 since June 2016. Well the 3rd accident I've had to seek medical help for. DC has 3 accidents a day sometimes.... She is a bit of a daredevil..

OP posts:
Littledrummergirl · 11/09/2017 13:12

Why are you going to your GP for an accident like that? A&E or minor injuries would have been more appropriate. Ywbu for going there meaning someone unwell couldn't.

Your GP wnbu.

BeatriceBeaudelaire · 11/09/2017 13:32

A bit weird that you'd take her for a cut mouth when you knew how it happened and she was acting fine ... doc probably questioned if it were true as it seems an odd situation to take her to the GP for ... plus wouldn't you rather they safeguarded than ignored potential issues?

crunchermuncher · 11/09/2017 13:37

A&E?! A toddler cut her mouth yesterday and has a bit of discomfort today (not surprising if she cut it yesterday) and you're suggesting A&E? How is that a better use of resources? words fail me. Not really sure why it needed a GP appointment either tbh.

KurriKurri · 11/09/2017 13:38

A bit weird that you'd take her for a cut mouth when you knew how it happened and she was acting fine

In a bit of discomfort today though so I thought best to get it checked?

OP has explained why she took her child to the doctor.

GP is fine for this - a and e would have been way OTT and a total waste of everyone's time, she wasn;t stopping someone unwell from going tot he doctor, her child had hurt her mouth - she's as entitled to see a doctor as the next person. Not everywhere in the country has a minor injuries unit - where I live, there's no question this would have been a GP job.

DesignedForLife · 11/09/2017 14:47

The GP either was having a bad day or needs to work on her people skills. She might have been frustrated but she should have been more tactful. At the end of the day no big deal surely?

HeartburnCentral · 11/09/2017 16:25

Don't worry too much about SS turning up. The GP would probably have said if she had to flag any concerns which is why she said "an explanation of yesterday's accident was plausible". She accepted your explanation. Some parents aren't so honest which would raise concerns. Fwiw you did the right thing bringing dc to the GP incase she needed stitches if the object had punctured the gum. Hope she is feeling better today.

Original poster
Crunchymum · 11/09/2017 16:41

Beatrice I wasn't expecting that response?

DD seemed ok after the accident, and although it scared the crap out of her (and me) there was nothing that warranted a trip to A&E. Today she was a bit sore, off her food and I wanted to make sure she didn't need any further treatment?

Our GP surgery is also the local walk-in / minor injuries place. I managed to get an appointment otherwise could have gone as a walk-in.

Surely It was better to "waste" a 10 minute GP appointment than to go to A&E?

OP posts:
missyB1 · 11/09/2017 16:46

You definitely went to the right place, A&E would have been inappropriate.
I suspect it was a grumpy GP.

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