To be crying because of nhs 111

[user1482134515]

I know I am probably bu. And would love to hear that I'm just being a drama llama.

My 4mo has a UTI. Received a text from gp with diagnosis at 6pm yesterday evening to say that would need ABs quickly and that script was at reception. We couldn't make it there before closing and we are travelling to other side of country tomorrow for a funeral (staying for a week).

Text also said to call 111 if advice needed. I called last night to see about getting another prescription that i could pick up today. Spoke to OOH GP who faxed new prescription to local pharmacy - of course they haven't received this!

Spent all of this morning being passed from pillar to post by 111. Upshot is I've now been waiting 3 hours to hear back from OOH.

I'm panicking because although this is only a UTI, kidney problems are very common in my family and I'm very worried about the delay in getting these ABs.

Please tell me to calm the fuck down

[CharlotteWebb]

Aww hope you’re both doing ok

[Becca19962014]

We don't have 111 where I am, we have nhsdirect and, GP and social services out of hours number - they've combined services so you rely on the person assessing your call to triage you to the right department. It's a nice theory. Not so good in practice as if GP OOH want to refer to social services OOH a new file must be opened...

[Becca19962014]

Our OOH put it in the post after faxing to the pharmacy and it's recorded as having been sent on the system.

I was told there had been a "technology breakdown" when it happened to me - having worked in that hospitals IT dept I knew better and eventually they admitted that "sometimes" some don't go through the fax and are just posted. In my case I waited hours, got my meds and the pharmacy had several prescriptions turn up!

You can't just go to our OOH you must wait for call back from a nurse and a dr and be given an appointment.

My apologies to the pharmacist on here, I was going by my local pharmacy who are able to be put straight through when they phone OOH.

[GoatYoga]

@AuntyJackiesBrothersSistersBoy - she said the pharmacy hadn't received the prescription. Again what do you actually want the pharmacy to do? I can wait 2-3 hours for a call back from OOHs at the weekend. The quickest thing to do would probably be to go to the OOHs and collect the script.

[flumpybear]

My DD has kidney reflux which we found out after uti at 10 months - you may find yourself referred

Hope you get the script sorted , personally wouldn't leave it another night

[YetAnotherThing]

If not sorted imminently Go to a children’s A&E. A 4 month old will be seen quickly and it will be quick/ straight forward if he’s well. They’ll understand it’s been an organisational shit show and would rather see him now then when he’s septic. Then in cold light of day write and complain about lack of integrated community care

[SleepWarrior]

Is there a walk in clinic somewhere on the way, or at your destination that you could go to?

[LimitIsUp]

A&E! You have given primary care a fair go and they've not helped sufficiently. People attend A&E for much less. A UTI in a 4mo needs attention

[CuriousQuestions]

@catpooproblems

If they're going there for a week and cross country then I'd say yes

@user1482134515

111 are ime quite useless and seem to be googling things - I've had excruciating tooth pain and they sent me round and round in circles and directed me to a number which wasn't staffed at the time to book an appointment

Re: pharmacy going in is best cause of action - I left my local one after they took 4 days to get my prescription from the GP who was next door and their in-house pharmacy - I've an appt. On Tuesday to sort out why only half my prescriptions have been going to the new one so I've been getting half my medication.

What led me to leave was GP reception saying it was with pharmacy and pharmacy saying it was with the GP

[user1482134515]

It's my grandad's funeral. I really want to be there for my gran and dad. But obviously if i need to I will have to miss it

[AuntyJackiesBrothersSistersBoy]

Sorry Goat, I’m not trying to disrespect all pharmacists it’s just that I thought the OP said the OOH had forwarded the script to the pharmacy. If they did then the pharmacy needs to sort ASAP. If not, the OOH are responsible.

Catpoo that’s a good point. About the funeral.

[user1482134515]

Thanks I've just broken down in front of the lady at pharmacy. Apparently she can only go through the normal routes I.e. 111 and won't be prioritised but she has been really sympathetic and clearly wants to help. Has taken my details so fingers crossed she gets somewhere with them.

[BoreOfWhabylon]

Ah love, Becca is right. It's because the 111 service is contracted out to a variety of bodies and their systems don't all communicate with each other.

I know quite a bit about the service, although I don't work forbthem My advice is to ring 111 again, say you have a complaint and ask to speak to a supervisor. Follow up with a written complaint.

NHS England wants people to make more use of the 111 service to reduce demand on A&E. This is admirable and what the service is for but not when the systems are not joined up. They need to know when it's not working.

[GoatYoga]

Apologies that was aimed at @AuntyJackiesBrothersSistersBoy

[GoatYoga]

@catpooproblems Go to the pharmacy and insist they sort themselves out!

How is this the fault of the pharmacy? I spend many a happy hour most weekends being bounced around the OOHs. Sick to death of being blamed for things out of my control.

If the OOHs GP has written a script - is there any way you can go and collect it?

[catpooproblems]

Do you really need to attend this funeral? Get the child to a&e and make a formal complaint about the shitshow that you’ve witnessed

[AuntyJackiesBrothersSistersBoy]

Yanbu. An infant with a uti can deteriorate very quickly. No wonder you’re upset. Go to the pharmacy and insist they sort themselves out!

[Spotify]

You are NBU, It's probably an emotional time for you as well. (hugs)

[user1482134515]

Thanks lifeisabeach. I hate that I might have to resort going to A&E because I can't get hold of a prescription (that I've been prescribed by 2 different doctors!) But will definitely do this if symptoms worsen.

[user1482134515]

Oops tag failure Becca

[user1482134515]

Thanks mantelpiece there's no walk in as such locally but a 'hub'. I called 111 earlier to try and get an appt but apparently only way to be seen is to 1st speak with OOH GP.

Thanks 'Becca' will try that now.

[Lifeisabeach09]

You likely know all this but until you get the abx, manage the discomfort and any high temperature with kid's paracetamol and ibuprofen. Encourage as much fluids as possible (whichever form you give) to help flush out.
If you still don't have the abx, and baby is symptomatic (high temp/more unsettled/refusing to feed), take her to children's A&E wherever it is you are going.

[Becca19962014]

jamie they all use different IT security protocols and, to further complicate things in some areas out of hours (and some GP surgeries now) are run as a private companies. Hence needing to fax.

[mantlepiece]

I Would call 111 and request an appointment at walk in. You will then have a prescription given to you. You have a 4 month old baby’s, they can’t deterioRate very quickly.