Turns out I was absolutely not unreasonable.

[Dopeyduck]

I posted earlier this week about being furious with GPs not seeing my DS or taking anything seriously because he had a temperature and they didn’t want to see him due to covid.

I don’t know how to paste a link her ... but same user name.

My DS is now in hospital extremely unwell and is having IV antibiotics whilst we await multiple tests. I’m furious, the hospital are furious. He is now on day 7 of having a fever and we still don’t know why he’s not getting better.

I feel shit and I’m so worried about why he’s not getting better.

Self medicating with antibiotics as I've given up trying to get treated. 3 days and I'm feeling much better.

I’m so sorry OP.

I know a lot of my colleagues at the hospital I work in are very frustrated how some GP practices are operating. It’s careless and negligent.

I hope your DS is very much better by the end of the week

Glad you are going home OP.

I think the way GP's are hiding behind covid and not doing their jobs properly, is disgusting.

Glad you're going home OP.

Oh and as for a cause - yes bloods showed that ‘infection markers’ were very high. His blood cultures showed a bacterial infection. They do know exactly what. Essentially his ear infection got really bad and then he also picked up infection in his throat and chest. Although most infection is viral this does show that they still need to be alert to that 20% that aren’t as leaving bacterial infections untreated in small babies is dangerous.

His IV antibiotics have essentially killed that quickly.

They’ve now taken his cannula out and are hoping that 3 days of very targeted and strong oral antibiotics will ensure nothing returns rather than more IV as his final bloods came back quicker than expected (before discharge) and showed a vast improvement.

I’ve send my ‘letter’ via email to GP surgery complaints in the first instance. Have been reassured by the hospital they’ll follow up as well. Apparently this is not an isolated incident although of course they can’t give any details. They hinted there have been problems from same surgery / partnership.

I’m so happy to have my baby boy back home. His Daddy is thrilled to see him properly and I can’t wait to get some sleep (hopefully).

I’m going to do my best to make sure that no poorly baby is disregarded as less important than COVID again. I think that’s going to be particularly important as we enter a new lock down.

So glad he's going to be ok Op and well done for fighting for other children.

I read your last thread too.

What a shit show.

I'm sorry you've been through all of that and so unnecessarily!

I'm glad you've written a letter & the hospital too and that they're following it up. Action needs to be taken before a child isnt 'caught' by the hospital in time.

I'm hugely relieved DS is in the mend & home. I hope he's back to normal really quickly & that you get some sleep tonight.

Hooray your home xxx thank God everythings getting better xx massive hugs from Wales xxx

so glad he is going home after getting help. thank you for fighting for other babies,

Hope your little one is continuing to improve now you are home. Must feel so good for all of you to be comfortable and back in your own beds, etc.
What an ordeal you have all been through. Horrendous experience and you must have felt so helpless and at a loss when GP / OOH acted as they did. Thank goodness the hospital seem to have sorted things but honestly how awful it got to that point.
Sending big hugs and a massive handhold. Well done mummy and make sure you take time to recover from this too as you must be physically and mentally exhausted xxx

There is one Dr at our surgery that would have done exactly this. He decides the child is fine and dismisses everything as viral before you walk through the door. I refuse to see him now.
Op so glad your ds is on the mend!

Glad to hear that your little one is back home. If you feel able it would be really helpful to let us know how your complaint goes.

I’m so relieved for you, I’ve been thinking about this since I read your story! The biggest cuddles to your little boy. Definitely do make a complaint, also to 111/ out of hours service who acted very badly in this situation. I do worry how many children will suffer with similar things happening over the winter..

Glad he is better OP. This is outrageous that unwell little children are not being seen to like this. Who knows if he had seen a GP earlier he wouldn't have ended up in hospital?

Glad he's better! Hope you both get some much needed rest.

So sorry that your poor boy was failed by the GP. Glad he's feeling better now.

Ps. You're absolutely right to complain, this needs to be taken very seriously by the gp. There's a mum who campaigns and raises awareness of sepsis. Her son was failed by their gp in a similar way and tragically developed sepsis and died.

For those that have wanted update regarding complaint. Had a phone call from GP surgery today to ‘ check how DS was’ and discuss, I cut them off quickly and said I’d like a response in writing from them and did not was to discuss over the phone. Just said DS continues to recover at home.

They’ve said ‘well if you want a response in writing you’ll have to wait for one to be prepared’ I just said that’s fine and reminded them their own complaints procedure states they’ve got 7 working days.

The hospital have referred me / the situation to PALS who can support with the complaint. They called this morning and I’ve sent them some details and the letter I sent to the GP. They’d already received a copy of the hospital correspondence.

In my digging it turns out the OOH care is arranged by / the responsibility of the GP surgery. 111 simply send a referral to whoever it is on duty for them to call me. I think I’m satisfied that 111 service acted appropriately. They referred me for a priority call back from primary care within the hour which I do consider to be reasonable / appropriate.