To think there's no point taking DC out of school for a telephone outpatients appointment?

[thatsnotmymask]

DC (14) has had a few outpatients appointments recently, bouncing between various paediatric departments, because he has a partially diagnosed condition that needs more investigation. He's now been referred to yet another clinic, but we've been told it will be a telephone appointment. From past experience they will just ask about the condition history, then decide whether he needs to come in for tests. So I'm thinking I can cover this one myself without him needing to take time off school. AIBU?

No, my experience of telephone consultations is the same and the DC doesn't need to be there. If the appointment were close to the start or then end of the day I might keep DC off just in case they actually get to even speak on the consultation, but wouldn't if in the middle of the day.

At the age of 14 I would expect the patient to be there for a telephone consult, especially if it’s a new clinic. They may do things differently, and at that age I’d expect the patient to have some input, or at least be taking something out of, the appointment.

I would phone up and ask. I was told my son didn’t need to be there for his, but he’s only four so not a great talker!

I think it is more important that he is there than you are there. There may be things he can explain better than you can.

My teenager has had a few virtual outpatient appointments. Our local children's hospital specifically stated in the letter that they expect the child to be present.

Probably best to ask your son and the outpatients department.

He's 14. Why would you speak for him in his absence? Pleas give him ownership of his own condition, and the independence to speak to the doctor himself.

As someone who went through the medical system when I was in my early teens, I'd have been appalled and humiliated if my mother had done this.

@babygroups

Probably best to ask your son and the outpatients department.

I have. My son is bored of repeating the same thing to multiple doctors and doesn't want to miss school. The outpatients department hasn't yet replied to the voicemail or email and I have no faith that they will do so before the appointment.

At 14 I'd expect him to be talking to the doctor and a parent just there for support. Can you do it in the school carpark or parked outside?

My kids are 12 and 10 and doctors expect them to do most of the talking. I’d definitely want a 14 year old there.

My experience is the same as OP's. They don't want to talk to your child. They just want to get the information summarised as quickly as possible and to move on to the next step in their process. Have those replying had experience of multiple telephone conferences for the same issue? By the time you've done it a few times you know exactly what they might ask.

I had similar recently, my son is 13, didn't really want to do the telephone appt and I would rather he didn't miss school as had only just returned after self isolating.

I spoke to the secretary and she said that they expected the patient to be present and that if it wasn't for covid, they'd have to actually go to the appointment anyway.

I parked near school and did the appointment in the car so he missed a bit less lesson time.

I think if the child is very young they may be OK with just a parent, but not at 14.

I spoke to the secretary and she said that they expected the patient to be present and that if it wasn't for covid, they'd have to actually go to the appointment anyway.

It depends on the nature of the appointment. My experience is that the telephone consultation (for an ongoing condition where you've already disclosed all the information you can) is more about checking the facts they already have and deciding which "list" you go on next than actually performing any medical care. It's not an appointment that would happen if it wasn't for Covid, because you'd just jump straight to actually seeing a doctor, which is now a future step in the process.

My daughter has a problem with her foot. We've had multiple telephone conversations where I just reiterate the same information that they already have, they agree she actually needs to be seen, and she then gets pushed down the appointment line for a face to face consultation that then gets swapped into another telephone consultation when the date comes round as she is not judged priority to be seen. I mostly get the impression that they are hoping her injury will miraculously heal itself so they can take her off their list. There is no actual healthcare being done; I know as much about DD's foot as she does herself due to the number of appointments we've had, and it would be a complete waste of her time to take her out of school (they never even ask for her) plus she is now so disillusioned (don't blame her) by the whole process she can't see the point! I get the impression that OP's situation is more like mine, than some of the ones where you say the doctor is keen to talk to your DC.

YANBU I think these telephone consults are just another way to put you off actually having any healthcare. My father has cataracts, his f2f appointment was changed to a telephone appt. They just asked the same questions, they already have all the information. What is the point. Just do the operation!!!

Sounds like a waste of time if he's there or not

I would ask. DD14 has had two doctors' appointments during the lockdown and they didn't need to speak to her either time.

I wonder if these albeit pointless phone appointments are a way of them keeping in targets? That hides the real picture in a way

I’d expect a 14 year old to be taking the majority of responsibility for their own health, with a little guidance from parents as required.

Thanks for all your replies. I've just had a call from the outpatients department to confirm my son doesn't need to be there for the call. So that's sorted.

In normal circumstances I think it's considered best practice for doctors to talk to the young people directly, but in this case there wouldn't be much point and the dis-benefits of taking him out of school easily outweigh any benefits.

Ask!
I've had ones where there is no point my being there as they want the child to answer, and ones where there is no point the child being there as they want history.

I've learnt the hard way to make sure I'm around.
"Can you move the fingers on your left hand?"
Answer "no".
Came off the phone and said the doctor wanted us down at the surgery urgently. Dashed down to discover that question was the reason.
She has no left hand. Thanks dd. Thankfully the doctor thought it was funny.

@tortoiseshell1985

I wonder if these albeit pointless phone appointments are a way of them keeping in targets? That hides the real picture in a way

They absolutely are. DD hurt her foot in December and is still waiting for any actual NHS care, but I'm sure telephone consultations means she counts as being under treatment for statistical purposes.

To be more generous I assume the phone appointment at least enables them to determine if someone is an emergency (so needs to be seen asap) or better (so can come off list). Though in both those cases you'd hope that the patient had proactively done something (gone to A&E, advised was better).

My dd10 had a video appointment with a consultant a couple of weeks ago. The consultant spoke directly to my dd, asked her questions, answered my dds questions. I don't think I said more than 5 words.