Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Flip

1 2 ··· 6 7 8 ··· 11 12

Original poster

To be furious at GP....

300 replies

Dopeyduck · 27/10/2020 07:45

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?

OP posts:

lepardprint · 27/10/2020 10:53

I'd be equally as cross OP
I don't think it's fair other posters saying you should have taken him to a&e sooner, mum guilt is in full swing as it is I'm sure! Once you got the ok from the go Friday, you would presume he would fight it off alone! Poor baby hope he's feeling much better, and that you're okay too xx

ConquestEmpireHungerPlague · 27/10/2020 10:56

To be honest, I think this is not so much a Covid problem as a plain old-fashioned poor doctoring problem. A small child with an ear infection in a lot of pain on a Friday is a clear indication for an antibiotic prescription imo. So what if the child didn't have a temperature then and there? Maybe he'd had Calpol recently. At the very least I would issue a standby prescription. That way, when his temp shot up, there'd have been no need to see another doctor. Deeply unhelpful in any circumstance for the first GP to have fobbed you off but in the Covid era a massive inconvenience to other professionals. You can perforate eardrums with untreated infection. I think this was really irresponsible.

marveloustimeruiningeverything · 27/10/2020 11:00

@ABitOdd

I work in primary care and I really don’t think this is true or possible! We’re been exceptionally busy throughout the pandemic.

I don’t believe GP aren’t offering any appointments at all fwiw a telephone appt is still an apt and still takes up a lot of time. People seem to assume that because their issue doesn’t warrant a face to face appointment then then means there aren’t doing any at all! I assure you they are for those they deem necessary.

As for not offering flu vaccinations this a a major part of the winter services and a source of income so I can’t believe they wouldn’t be doing this!

Sorry this isn’t aimed at the OP yanbu to complain! Lots of Dr’s would have done the same initially but I think some would have prescribed antibiotics just in case it got worse over the weekend but then it was OOH that failed you in that instance too as they could have prescribed them or offered a walk in spot at an urgent care centre.

It's true and par for the course in many GP surgeries.

Pull your head out of the sand and take a real good look around.

Clarinsmum · 27/10/2020 11:03

We had this prior to Covid. Told to take 6 year old child on the 4th day of over 40 fever to A&E After GP saw him and refused to do anything. It took over 7 hours to be seen by which time he had to have IV anti biotics and they never got to the bottom of the source of infection. This was 3 years ago. A family member is a GP and was no help either. I have very little trust in the NHS I’m afraid, having lived in other countries with better healthcare but as a PP says you can’t criticise it. I wouldn’t bother complaining, just move on. Hope your DS is better soon.

Original poster

Dopeyduck · 27/10/2020 11:07

I’m only on page 5 of comments and I haven’t had time to read them all. Real life needs me.

Can I just say that this post is not NHS or GP bashing - I’ve actually said in an earlier post that DS was critically ill in May - completely non covid related, and the NHS saved his life and the after care has been great.

However this particular situation is absolutely not on and my son is suffering as a result. He’s a baby, he’s 11 months old, he’s been screaming in pain for 5 days and hasnt slept or eaten either.

That’s not ok.

OP posts:

KarmaStar · 27/10/2020 11:09

Yanbu at all op.
Sadly,you are not alone.
When talking to many other parents of children with a life threatening illness in hospital,every parent said their GP had told them it was a virus or the parent was making an unnecessary fuss and to go home with calpol.every parent had gone to A&E and the child had been admitted.one GP had refused a blood test and told the mum the child was not to be brought back to the surgery for a week,and the hospital told her if she had waited a week her dc would be dead.
Parents know when their child is not right and I always urge to ignore any Dr who fobs you off and to go to A&E if you think something is really wrong.
I'm glad your ds has now begun the treatment he needs and gets better soon.

Sirzy · 27/10/2020 11:10

So a GP with severe asthma would certainly die if they contracted covid.

But it’s ok for a Gp practise to refuse to see a child with severe enough asthma and lung problems that they are still on the paused shielding list instead telling them to go to A and E?

There no no logic to the decisions that are being made by SOME GP practises at the moment.

I am more than happy for most things to be done by video appointments, I love them on the whole. But sometimes people need to be seen face to face and the alternative to seeing your GP face to face (with proper PPE and precautions) shouldn’t become A and E

Bettina500 · 27/10/2020 11:13

Yanbu. My DD had glue ear and repeated infections when she was small. She was treated disgustingly by most the professionals she saw including GP, nurse, out of hours, and ENT. We were wrongly told she had no infection more than once, she was refused antibiotics more than once. She ended up with repeatedly perforated ear drums and needing grommets, by which time her ear drums were damaged.

dottiedaisee · 27/10/2020 11:14

I have to say our own GP practice has been really efficient and helpful recently. It makes a huge difference regardless of what health issue you have, if the receptionist is friendly and helpful . My DS who is a Uni Student had to register back with our surgery as an emergency with MH issues and the kindness and empathy from the receptionist made me quite emotional and certainly made a very hard time for DS a bit more bearable. I really do feel for the GPS working in University towns because the students are really suffering with their MH ...it’s a disaster.

Original poster

Dopeyduck · 27/10/2020 11:15

I have just had to call up yet again because his ear drum has now perforated and is bleeding.
I’ve made a complaint and they funnily enough they are now seeing him at in a short while.
His temp is still 39 despite all medications regularly and he’s now vomiting because he’s in a state. I have a feeling this will be a hospital admission and onto IV now to to be honest.
GP has prepared me to bring an overnight bag as she fully expects to have to refer him straight to the children’s ward.

An ear infection shouldn’t land a baby as a hospital inpatient.

OP posts:

IceSkater · 27/10/2020 11:19

Definitely complain!!! GP's often just don't give a crap and just try to get you out the door as fast as they can. Terrible.

Oct18mummy · 27/10/2020 11:20

Poor thing. I would have demanded antibiotics on first visit clearly he needed them. Hope he is better now.

Mumtumwobble · 27/10/2020 11:20

This is terrible service. Covid or not people get ill with other things and need to be looked after. GPs can see people yours just chose not to. My mum currently has Covid and the GP was worried about her oxygen levels so made her come down to the surgery to be seen. Mum had to stay in her car, GP came out to the car in full PPE to check on my mum. I would make a complaint I think.

Sirzy · 27/10/2020 11:21

Poor thing. In the short term at least the burst should relive the pain for him (of course it shouldn’t have been allowed to get anywhere near that point)

Make sure you pack some snacks and drinks for you in the bag

ComeOnBabyHauntMyBubble · 27/10/2020 11:25

@Dopeyduck

I have just had to call up yet again because his ear drum has now perforated and is bleeding. I’ve made a complaint and they funnily enough they are now seeing him at in a short while. His temp is still 39 despite all medications regularly and he’s now vomiting because he’s in a state. I have a feeling this will be a hospital admission and onto IV now to to be honest. GP has prepared me to bring an overnight bag as she fully expects to have to refer him straight to the children’s ward.

An ear infection shouldn’t land a baby as a hospital inpatient.

Poor poor baby and poor you. Hang in there and look after yourself too. Make sure you have phone charger,snacks,drinks etc.

Once he's better do take this further.

dottiedaisee · 27/10/2020 11:25

Oh bless you OP . I really hope your baby is on the mend soon . Try not to use up negative energy now about the GP ...that can be sorted out at a later date ...concentrate on you and your poor baby for now . Definitely get some tasty snacks to keep you going 💐X

MintyMabel · 27/10/2020 11:28

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

Anti-biotic resistance is a real problem. Pain can usually be managed in other ways.

peasoup8 · 27/10/2020 11:32

All doctors have a duty of care to their patients regardless of a pandemic.

Is duty of care still even a thing anymore amongst GPs? Because it doesn’t feel like it.

CottonSock · 27/10/2020 11:33

My daughter was vomiting on top of a bad infection a year ago. She was admitted for iv. Afterwards if transpired that the vomiting was unconnected as other dd got it. But they were cautious.

ComeOnBabyHauntMyBubble · 27/10/2020 11:34

@MintyMabel

Anti-biotic resistance is a real problem. Pain can usually be managed in other ways.

And when the pain is managed but the infection isn't due to lack of antibiotics? What then?

CottonSock · 27/10/2020 11:35

And as above, the perforation usually was the start of things getting better for Dd. Alarming to see, but the pressure is gone and air can get to it to dry it out.

Mintychoc1 · 27/10/2020 11:39

[quote fuckfuckingcovid19]@Mintychoc1 you're a gp and you said someone with severe asthma would certainly die if he got covid? That's just not true is it? The death rate isn't anywhere near 100% even for those with very serious underlying health conditions. [/quote]
There was a typo - should be “almost” certainly. He has a rare form, is on experimental drugs , attends hospital weekly - not your run-of-the-mill asthmatic.

CottonSock · 27/10/2020 11:40

Sorry, one more thing. In the above scenario the iv was needed despite two different courses of oral. Which were ineffective for various reasons. Our consultant has advised that the antibiotics were not helping. So I know you are feeling upset, but it may not have made a difference. Not dismissing your anger, but just reported the experience I've had from seeing top specialists at our children's hospital. Ours was a 3 year ordeal until grommets.

Mintychoc1 · 27/10/2020 11:43

@Sirzy

So a GP with severe asthma would certainly die if they contracted covid.

But it’s ok for a Gp practise to refuse to see a child with severe enough asthma and lung problems that they are still on the paused shielding list instead telling them to go to A and E?

There no no logic to the decisions that are being made by SOME GP practises at the moment.

See my other post. It’s not just asthma.

Mintychoc1 · 27/10/2020 11:44

@peasoup8

All doctors have a duty of care to their patients regardless of a pandemic.

Is duty of care still even a thing anymore amongst GPs? Because it doesn’t feel like it.

Thanks for that. 14 hours without a break yesterday felt to me like I was being pretty dutiful. But hey, I’m sure you know better.

Flip

1 2 ··· 6 7 8 ··· 11 12