To think it's no wonder people go to A and E for stupid reasons

[Doctordid]

Saw a locum doctor last night through our non emergency extended hours trial. We cannot get an after school appointment for weeks and dd is in gcse years and at school out of Borough and gets home late so we thought we would try it.

It is meant to be a full service for those who work and no different to your normal GP. It was in the same Borough and town as my gp.

Dd has been showing some signs of diabetes which runs in the family. My Mum (who is a senior nurse) tested dd with their kit and it came up pretty high.

Anyway she in fairness examined dds heart, blood, pressure and pulse, dd couldn't provide a urine sample as she had already been to the loo (she has bladder issues and wets herself/is on medication so couldn't hold it.). Doctor wanted blood tests to rule out diabetes and anemia as she was showing signs of this and her heart rate was high but the doctor told me that she couldn't refer for blood tests which dd needed as she didn't know how to refer to paediatrics blood as she was from another Borough and to come back to my own gp to do the referral and she would put it in the notes which my GP definitely have.

Been into my own gp this morning and spoke to reception. Full notes are there.
Can they sort the referral? Nope they won't do it without seeing dd again, they won't see me in an appointment so I can explain given dd was examined yesterday and all results are there.
They don't have any appointments available after work/school for weeks.

So we are faced with
Her missing hours of school to see a gp for five minutes to get a blood test referral she has already been examined for or waiting until half term in 23 days and hoping that they might have an appointment then.

School are a pain about time off for appointments and snotty about it.

All I need is blood tests which one doctor has already authorised!
OP post edited by MNHQ at OP's request

I don't know Clandestino it was just a weird experience in general!

I'm not sure anyone in their right mind would go to A&E for a blood test would they? Forgive my ignorance but I don't see how that would be any quicker or more convenient than a doctors appointment? Ultimately it's one day out of school for the sake of her health, she'll have to let her teachers know and she can catch up on the work she missed over the weekend. It's a nuisance, of course, but it can't be helped.

Does your GP have a phone in session?

Our reception staff usually recommend speaking to a GP.

Did the receptionist say you needed to bring your daughter in without consulting with one of the GPS?

If so, give the Gp a call, they usually don’t waste time seeing patients unless they have to.

Sorry, just read your update.

Its the way the NHS is set up. It us designed to be inefficient. People go to A&E because there is no viable alternative. Why should you, your daughter and her school put themselves out and cause disruption because your GP cannot do their job? What about the school nursing service - can't they do blood tests?

All sorted now thank goodness and blood tests booked for before school so even better!

It will have to be a fasting blood test, so needs to be done first thing in the morning- I’d say at least one morning off school is inevitable. If you organise an appt for first thing in the morning, at least then you wouldn’t need to go back until the results are available. I’d say time of school is inevitable for this unfortunately

I get it's frustrating but it's your daughter, who has a possible chronic health condition that needs sorting out, but you're more worries about the inconvenience of half a day sorting it out? My DM travelled 3 hours and back on the train in the same day just to attend a consultants appointment with me that lasted approximately 30 minutes. I don't get parents who make such a huge song and dance about these things. It's your child these things are part and parcel of being a parent. Not everything is convenient, get over it

That's ridiculous. It's just a complete waste of your time and takes up an appt someone else could benefit more from.
Complain to the practice manager.

Lovelystar
My point wasn't that I couldn't be bothered taking her to an appointment. She has sen and other medical issues. There have been plenty of appointments and our local hospital is three buses away.

The point was that she would be missing school, I would be missing work (and the place I work are really funny about time off) and the NHS were paying for an appointment which was not needed as it would have been an exact duplicate as last night when all that was needed was to issue of a blood form which had already been authorised because the person last night didn't know our boroughs referral process as they were from another area.

Luckily my own Dr agreed with me that it would be silly to waste an appointment and just printed off the form for me!

DoctorDid, if they are testing for T1 Diabetes, I hope it is not a fasting blood test! Why? Because in the early days of Type 1 the pancreas gradually stops working but is actually at its best overnight when it will likely produce insulin meaning a blood test done first thing in the morning is likely to be absolutely normal. A blood test to check HbA1c level will give an indiaction of whether blood sugars have been raised over previous months. Another suggestion is to check blood glucose via a finger prick two hours after a carb heavy meal (ie dinner). A blood glucose level of 11.0 mmol or over is usually a diagnosis of Type 1. Bear in mind, a test a few hours later could be perfectly normal as the pancreas may still be working a little bit. I’m not sure when DD is having the blood tests but if she becomes unwell in the meantime, please do not hang around, go to OOH or A&E. Good luck!

99 they are doing a hba1 but it also is down for a fasting blood test too and the appointment is 7.30am.
Would you suggest not fasting?

If they want a fasting blood, that’s what they want but it isn’t recommended for diagnosing Type 1 -or not, for the reasons I outlined above. I’ve been trying to find something ‘offical’ ... give me a bit and I’ll link to something but have to pop out in a few mins.

Thank you. So even if they do the fasting glucose test as long as they do the HbA1c too we will be okay?

Yes I think so but tbh, if it was me, I’d be using your Mum’s meter two hours after dinner and keeping an eye.

Have a look at this ... page 4 in particular rms.kernowccg.nhs.uk/content/Referral%20and%20Ongoing%20Care%20for%20Children%20with%20suspected%20Diabetes.pdf

Hope this helps a little

Thanks that's massively appreciated

It’s only a bit of info up-front - I am an expert in my child’s diabetes but that’s it! You have to follow medical advice but don’t be afraid to query anything that you’re not happy about. Afterall, all of us on here are only a bunch of strangers on the internet, all with good intentions but not all with medical knowledge and none who know your child!

Hope all is well

Hope you get sorted! The pharmacy can do a bg test x