To be furious at GP....

[Dopeyduck]

Saw GP on Friday as DS was screaming inconsolably. Confirmed ear infection in both ears. As no temp no antibiotics were given. Pain relief and call back in a couple of days if no better.

Saturday DS developed a temp. By the middle of Saturday night it was 39.9 after paracetamol and ibuprofen, so I called 111 and spoke to out of hours GP.

She refused to see him as he had a temp - re covid, even though it’s an ear infection. Wouldn’t give antibiotics without seeing him and said ‘he’s probably just burning it off.’

Sunday DS is really poorly but temp is only 38.8. Called out of hours to be told they still won’t see him but he’s getting better.

Monday DS is worse still so I contact GP. They also won’t see him and tell me to keep at home or take to A&E if I’m very worried.

At 2am Tuesday morning I did take him up to A&E. temp 39.9 still. A&E were great and he was seen quickly by a lovely doctor. Doc took one look in his ears and said he’s got a very severe infection in both and he needs antibiotics immediately. He was appalled that nobody had prescribed antibiotics when he worsened and that they didn’t see him.

I now have a very very poorly baby who has suffered for 5 days because in my opinion the GP failed to give him adequate care because they’re more concerned about covid than sick kids.

I do understand covid is very serious situation but a temp is a symptom of many things. Covid or not sick children shouldn’t be ignored.

AIBU to complain?

Yes that is ridiculous, glad you followed your instincts and had him seen in the end. Here they have a 'covid symptoms' clinic which is between 2 towns and serves residents of both, so if you need a GP but have symptoms that cross over with Covid, you can have a same day face to face appointment if over the phone isn't sufficient, and they staff have full PPE, and the areas are segregated so you don't come into contact with others etc. Realise fortunate to have this, and it seems people have worked really bloody hard to put it in place, fair play to them. They also do home visits if transport is an issue. Not sure how they have managed it as usually very over stretched, but it's been great when we have needed to use it. Sorry for the additional stress you have been through.

Whilst I agree that the GP in mention has not acted correctly, I am sorry for any GP who is reading this GP bashing thread. How demoralising for you. Some of us out there recognise that you are working very hard through very difficult situations.
I agree with this. It seems out-of-hours messed up not the GP. The DC didn't have a temp on Fri and the GP advised OP to take her DC to A&E on Monday if they were concerned.
Our GPs and A&E have been amazing throughout lockdown and Covid. I'm very grateful to them.

I had a 3yo on IV antibiotics a few years ago because OOH wouldn’t give antibiotics for tonsillitis. He ended up with a large abscess in his neck which they were considering draining surgically. Our own GP was very good and started ABX immediately the next morning, but it was too little, too late. Sometimes GPs get it very very wrong (especially with OOH I find). DS did make a full recovery, but we lost a week of our lives at the hospital, and he took a long time to recover fully.

Yes that's not right.
Ds had the same last week. Called 111 and they told him to come to a and e, I mentioned 're covid and they weren't concerned at all. London

And this also set up a pattern of deep seated infections that meant 6-weekly antibiotics for the next 18 months and an eventual tonsillectomy.

Findahouse21
‘My GP has told me tgat they won't give antibiotics for ear infections anymore as it only reduces the length of infection by 1-2 days. Easy to say, but I'd like my child to be pain free quicker thanks ‘

So your happy that millions will die from antibiotic resistant superbugs because you don’t want your child to have to take paracetamol for an earache for 24 hours longer? Great. Always good to know people consider the bigger picture...

@TheCrowsHaveEyes

Whilst I agree that the GP in mention has not acted correctly, I am sorry for any GP who is reading this GP bashing thread. How demoralising for you. Some of us out there recognise that you are working very hard through very difficult situations. I agree with this. It seems out-of-hours messed up not the GP. The DC didn't have a temp on Fri and the GP advised OP to take her DC to A&E on Monday if they were concerned. Our GPs and A&E have been amazing throughout lockdown and Covid. I'm very grateful to them.

The issue is not every GP surgery has been amazing. Just like many other services. Some have been ok,some amazing,some gave subpar care,if any at all.

It shouldn't be a postcode lottery,especially when it comes to health services.

You having amazing service doesn't help OP,or the other posters that have been neglected or left to get on with it,sometimes getting worse.

We should all receive amazing service, not just go "ahh it's ok, poster on mumsnet got amazing service so I'll just sit here with my leg hanging off".

My df was a GP and he point blank refused to subscribe to an out of hours service when they first started bringing them in. He said they took away the point of general practice - that you know your patients. I think he was right, tbh. If you move away from general practice being all about building long-term relationships, including out of hours and at weekends, you might as well move to a more continental approach of giving patients more direct access to specialists, rather than having to go through the GP first.

@Findahouse21

My GP has told me tgat they won't give antibiotics for ear infections anymore as it only reduces the length of infection by 1-2 days. Easy to say, but I'd like my child to be pain free quicker thanks

The care the OP's child was given was very bad BUT as someone who WAS given anti b on a regular basis as a child for ear infections, I fully support the general rule of not giving anti b in normal ear infection cases, even if it does clear up a day or two quicker.

As an adult, I've had a couple minor issues that should have cleared quickly with a course of anti b. Trouble is, they don't work any more. With life long consequences.

No need to see but could have had some treatment a lot earlier. Hope he gets better.

They are are a disgrace and we’re neglectful of your child. I had an ear infection for the first time 2 years, it was agony and lm a grown woman. I would make a formal complaint to the surgery and the GMC. Covid is not an excuse for laziness and neglect. I hope he feels better soon

We’re = were.

Definitely complain. If you don’t other children may suffer.

@TheTrollFairy, my only symptom of Covid was a headache, and I know a few other people who have only had a headache.

I get really tired of some NHS staff saying that they haven't experienced it in their area, therefore it cannot be true.

We are so lucky to have universal health care which is free at the point of use, but one of it's worst features is the absolute refusal in some quarters, to accept any kind of negative feedback. You only have to look at how NHS whistleblowers are dealt with, to understand why it isn't interested in hearing from the public.

Complain

We had the same thing many years before Covid. My ds ended up with burst eardrums and antibiotics after a late night visit to a and e. It must be the memo about antibiotic resistance, but that’s not helpful when it’s your baby who is poorly and clearly can’t shake it.

@TooBored - on the other hand, I know a couple of children who have permanently damaged hearing because they have had burst eardrums on multiple occasions as a result of untreated ear infections (in those cases, because of parental neglect) and ultimately needed surgery. Anyone who follows a policy of limiting antibiotic use has to be willing to back this up with more regular check ups of the situation so as to avoid long term damage and setting a child up for recurrent infections.

@Tappering - what on earth makes you think it’s because we have universal free healthcare that people do not like negative feedback?! Try getting a doctor in the US to happily admit to negligence, why don’t you?!

I don't agree this is GP bashing thread. People are recounting their experiences and there are positive ones on here too.

I really don't get the constant moaning about 'bashing' threads whether it's teachers or NHS staff or police. I'm a civil servant and if people recount bad experiences with my colleagues then fine - they're not talking about me because I'm not like that.

But being in the public sector ( and previously working for a GP practice) I can tell you that there are lazy, stupid and quite frankly awful people who work there. So please do complain - it helps those of us that try our best to get rid of the buggers!

Definitely complain - their behaviour and inaction is really shocking.

Glad A&E stepped up and hope your son is better very soon.

Hope he feels better soon. I would also complain.

I have heard that Colloidal Silver drops are very good for earaches (just 2 drops for children, no more) but I would still see the GP.

DS2 is a nurse in A&E. He does some shifts in children’s A&E and has said they’re seeing more and more incidents of illnesses which should have been dealt with by GPs. He’s, also, a severe asthmatic but hasn’t had one day off since Covid started, and has worked in both the dirty and clean areas.

My GP has been utterly shit since March. I contacted him due to the pain I’m in with a long term condition I have, and am on the waiting list for treatment for. I was in tears and am unable to walk, he said “what do you want me to do about it?” I’ve hurt my shoulder, no one has looked at it, I can’t even push a door but they’ve diagnosed it over the phone and I’m having physio over the phone. It’s ridiculous.

In contrast DS1 and DH are both armed forces, they ring the medical centre and they either get a phone call or a face to face appointment. DH has seen the doctor and physio, he broke a tooth this morning and has a dental appointment at 1pm this afternoon.

It’s not GP bashing, NHS bashing or any other bashing, it’s just people sharing experiences of things that are happening right now and it seems to me that something has gone wrong somewhere.

It's not bashing to say my GP is shit, or in this instance my surgery was shit, or to want to complain about it.

If OP came and said all GP's are shit,sitting on their arses ,hiding behind the curtains and gossiping and drinking coffee all day then that would be different.

However she said she's angry with HER GP,in this particular instance. That's ok. Her child didn't receive proper care.

My surgery is overall good, one GP is totally crap and I refuse to see her if at all possible(sadly she's the one that does contraception so I have to see her every now and then. She's just as crap and unprofessional),two more are ok, one is fucking brilliant and I absolutely love her.

Complain!!!