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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To be crying after speaking to doctors because my poor sick ds won't stop crying

53 replies

JennaJ · 17/10/2007 13:48

Ok, so Im sat here on mumsnet and my poor ds (3) is finally dozing. Hes been sick since Friday, hes not sleeping eating. Coughing, Has a bleeding nose, mouth is covered in spots and has sores all over his face and his eyes are leaking gunk! I took him to the docs on Monday and she said it was a virus and to 'get over it' on his own. Its now Wednesday and this morning he seemed a little better when he got up. But since about 11am he has been inconsoleable just crying and crying. So I rang the docs again and explained. She said 'why didn't you call this morning when we had loads of spaces' and I said well he didn't seem so bad this morning but hes taken a turn for the worst this afternoon and she tutted and said that they don't normally handle emergencies in the afternoon and she didn't know if she could fit me in.

I know that you are supposed to phone for emergencies in the morning...but he wasn't an emergency this morning!! I don't expect them to drop everything to see us..but it was obvious from my voice that I was stressed and upset and she would have been able to hear ds crying in the background.
She has said to call back at 3.30 and see if the duty doctor will MAYBE see him..but she just made me feel so stupid and small and now Im sat here crying my eyes out for my poor ds. Hes so small and so poorly and I can't do anything for him..and the doctors think Im being a stupid pathetic mother and wasting there time!!

Sorry for rant
Just feel so bad for my poor little boy and so totally helpless and useless!

jen

OP posts:

TheMadScaryHouse · 17/10/2007 17:37

Jenna

Did you get DS to see the doctor? I hope he is feeling better.

Original poster

JennaJ · 18/10/2007 07:44

Thanks Mnetters for all your support and for giving me the courage to insist he was seen!

We went down at the end of surgery and just waited until the end and then the doc saw us. She wasn't sure whether to send ds to casualty or not as he was so unwell...luckily she decided in the end on some strong antibiotics she thought his virus had progressed to a bacterial infection of some kind that his body wasn't managing to fight, hence all the sores etc.

He seems a little better this morning so hopefully he should be able to kick it off now.

Thanks everyone
Jenna

OP posts:

Kewcumber · 18/10/2007 10:14

hurrah - a victory for common sense!

marge2 · 18/10/2007 12:39

Well done Jenna!!

shergar · 18/10/2007 12:52

Glad he's on the mend, Jenna.

Everyone who hates doctor's receptionists, click here - this is so funny!

ConnorTraceptive · 18/10/2007 14:35

Just as a little future tip.

when my doctors receptionist refused to get me an emergency appointment despite being pregnant and suffering severe hyperemesis which i'd already been hospitalised for once already. I phoned NHS direct and the nurse was lovely and said from my symptoms it was necessary for me to be seen by a doctor that day and to phone back the surgery and tell them that nhs direct had told me that I MUST be seen. The nurse said if I had any problems getting an appointment to call back and she would deal with it.

Rang the surgery back and hey presto got an appointment.

HysterSister · 18/10/2007 15:14

Bet it's moved to his ears and given him earache, poor little chap.

By the way, it's spelt receptionshit

mumclaire · 18/10/2007 17:18

Ahh - but you see connor - the flaw with your tip is actually getting through to NHS direct and getting them to ring you back - have had to wait 3 hours at times
I agree some drs receptionist do need some customer service training - I hate the way mine always speak/patronise to me like I'm a naughty 8 year old.
Have to say though my surgery seems to work well - it splits its emergency appointments - you ring at 8am for morning ones and then 2pm for afternoon ones.
Glad everything worked out ok and LO is feeling better - hope he gets better really quick. I would still try to speak to practice manager about your experience and express your 'disappoint' in the service you received.

stepfordwife · 18/10/2007 17:33

good for you, jenna
i hope ds is feeling better

fortyplus · 18/10/2007 23:35

Well done jenna! Lucky we're all so bossy we made you go!

kindersurprise · 19/10/2007 00:10

Glad to hear that your ds is a bit better Jenna. Have been lurking and following this.

Thanks for the link to the hospital receptionist story. Sent it to my Mum, who is a retired hospital receptionist. Lets hope she is in a good mood tomorrow.

Can I just add that Mum was a lovely receptionist who used to get presents from the patients.

sKerryMum · 19/10/2007 00:15

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

nappyaddict · 19/10/2007 01:01

when i've had that attitude with receptionists i have said fine i will come down to the surgery and wait until the gp is free to see me. that normally gets me an appointment

nappyaddict · 19/10/2007 01:13

also tell them you've spoke to nhs direct and they said you need to see the gp. it doesn't matter if you actually haven't

susiecutiebananas · 19/10/2007 01:21

my god, it makes my blood boil! receptionists are NOT allowed ever to ask what the problem is... it is none of their bloody, business.

UNLESS, they tell you there are no appointments, but hat there is a nurse led clinic and to see if your problem falls into a catagory that can be helped by them... even then, they are only supposed to inform you of what the nurse can do... then you decide if its appropriate.

It makes me fume! dont ever under any circumstances tell them what is wrong with you! if they say, are you sure its an emergency, just say well, i NEED to be seen by a dr TODAY and if emergency appointments are all you have, then yes it is.

nappyaddict · 19/10/2007 01:25

waves at susie

sKerryMum · 19/10/2007 10:45

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

rebelmum1 · 19/10/2007 10:51

It's shocking isn't it. They wont do call outs at my surgery now. Which means dragging a sick child about who might just need some antibiotics and be far better to be kept tucked up at home. They wont even accept you at my local A&E without calling a national helpline first and booking in. I arrived once, rushed in as I thought my dd's life was in danger to be told off and lectured about calling in advance ?! I just cried until I was seen which was quite quick and without following procedure!

rebelmum1 · 19/10/2007 10:54

My doctor refused to come out and I drove my sick child with pneumonia in the car to the A&E and my cam belt went and I was left stranded with no heating in winter - I ended up calling the police who insisted on calling a national helpline and said they would priortise us! A local taxi firm saved the day in the end. Imho commensense has been replaced by procedure.

rebelmum1 · 19/10/2007 10:55

To make matters worse my cat had peed on my passenger seat and I had MIL in the back who looked like she was sucking on a lemon!

dirtmonkey · 19/10/2007 11:08

My father married one - second marriage, stupid man. She does like to think that she can diagnose what is wrong with family members - I make symptoms up just to see what she will say .

Jenna, I do hope your DS is on the mend. Having a sick LO is so stressful, we feel as mums we should be able to make everything better but sometimes we can't and its awful.

rebelmum1 · 19/10/2007 11:14

Gosh do you manage to get through and speak to your dad on the phone if she answers

foxinsocks · 19/10/2007 11:25

I hope he gets better soon.

I cried my eyes out this morning because ds was so ill too (and I couldn't get him an appointment yesterday ).

I'm sure it's the combination of worry, sleep deprivation and guilt that you can't do your best for them. It's horrid - I do sympathise and hope he is on the mend before you know it.

kindersurprise · 19/10/2007 12:19

I hope all your lo are better soon, how horrible not to be able to get an appointment. It seems to depend on the surgery thought, doesn't it.

One time when we were at my parents, my DD had a raging temperature and was not well at all. My Mum phoned the surgery, the doc popped an hour later, gave us a prescription, sang Happy Birthday to DD (poor soul, ill on her birthday). He was great, he even phoned in the evening to see how she was.

dirtmonkey · 19/10/2007 12:28

lol @ rebel.

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