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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Should the GP not have been able to do this?

206 replies

ohthatbloodycat · 09/07/2021 20:35

This strikes me as a bit ridiculous, but do correct me if you feel I'm in the wrong.
My 15 year old got her ears pierced as a birthday treat a week ago. I think the earring on one side had been fitted a bit too tightly; it had always been tender, but got sore last night. My plan had been to go to the piercing place in the morning to ask their advice.
This morning when my daughter woke up, the stud part at the front had completely embedded itself in her lobe. All you could see was the butterfly sticking out the back. Her ear became swollen and very painful, unsurprisingly enough. I should add that she cleaned them each day religiously, and the other ear was fine.
Because the skin had closed over it in the night, I wasn't able to pull it out myself. I phoned our GP surgery for some advice. The receptionist checked and then came back to say that the GP wouldn't do it, and the practice nurse was busy all day. I then had the faff of phoning 111 (on GP's advice) and they eventually sorted me out an appointment at the A&E hospital miles away. There was no time to take the bus (I don't have a car currently), so I spent £20 on a taxi there. And then the bus on the way home. My daughter wasn't numbed up, or anything like that. The nurse warned her that it would be painful, as he pulled the stud through the skin of her ear. And it was, but over quickly thankfully!
This seemed like a palaver for a simple procedure, that surely the GP could have carried out. Rather than leave the paediatric A&E department to sort it out, particularly as Covid cases have risen in my city. Confused
Even the NHS phone operator sounded surprised that they had refused to do it.
AIBU?

OP posts:
floatingboater · 09/07/2021 20:41

Sounds like you could've done it!

ohthatbloodycat · 09/07/2021 20:44

I'd rather stick to NHS advice, thanks, rather than make it worse and have it become infected. I'm cack-handed enough at the best of times!

OP posts:
girlmom21 · 09/07/2021 20:44

I'm glad the GP surgery didn't waste an appointment on something so simple. You could've gone to anyone who does piercings or any pharmacist if you weren't confident in doing it yourself.

ohthatbloodycat · 09/07/2021 20:48

I did go to the piercing place, prior to phoning the doc, and they said they wouldn't be able to touch the ear. Insurance maybe? So please don't make assumptions that are wrong.
So it's not ok to go to the GP, but fine to go to the hospital. Right.

OP posts:
Summersun2020 · 09/07/2021 20:48

YABVU. You should have taken her back to the piercer to sort. This is not a job for an already stretched Gp, or even for a and e!

ohthatbloodycat · 09/07/2021 20:49

I did, so please read the full thread. The piercer (a well known, national one) refused to sort it.

OP posts:
Summersun2020 · 09/07/2021 20:49

Must have been a dodgy piercer to refuse to see it-reputable piercers always provide after care and will always see piercings with problems. Do your research next time and go someone reputable.

30degreesandmeltinghere · 09/07/2021 20:50

My dd had to go to 3 hospitals before they could get her inflamed piercing out. Twice on a Saturday and then the Sunday.. Piercer was closed..

girlmom21 · 09/07/2021 20:50

@ohthatbloodycat

I did go to the piercing place, prior to phoning the doc, and they said they wouldn't be able to touch the ear. Insurance maybe? So please don't make assumptions that are wrong. So it's not ok to go to the GP, but fine to go to the hospital. Right.
Funny, because your OP said that it was your original plan because you thought it was too tight but when she woke up with it stuck you phoned your GP for advice.

You also said you didn't have time to wait for a bus so I somehow don't believe you went to the piercing place...

Summersun2020 · 09/07/2021 20:50

Claire accessories then?
Not a piercer, a teenager on minimum wage who has done 2 hours training and using a gun known to cause problems. Lesson learned I guess.

ohthatbloodycat · 09/07/2021 20:51

Wasn't a dodgy piercer and they did give aftercare advice/solution. They can't however remove an earring stuck inside the ear lobe, with the skin closed over, as it's not in their remit to do so. They told me I had to see the doctor.

OP posts:
Nicknacky · 09/07/2021 20:51

Was it Claire accessories?

LemonRoses · 09/07/2021 20:52

Yes, a home care by parent job.

OppsUpsSide · 09/07/2021 20:52

I agree with you OP

Lougle · 09/07/2021 20:53

I took my DD to A&E with the same issue. I had tried to release it but just couldn't get hold of it. The A&E nurse had acrylic nails and dug it out 🤢

ohthatbloodycat · 09/07/2021 20:53

It was Superdrug, with a fully grown adult. And yes, I absolutely did go. They were prompt to refund me.

OP posts:
SockQueen · 09/07/2021 20:53

Depends if the GP has a contract for minor ops, insurance, kit etc. Not all of them do, and if there's no-one available who's trained (removing dodgy earrings isn't on the GP syllabus, I'm pretty sure!) then what are they supposed to do?!

Summersun2020 · 09/07/2021 20:53

No, an experienced piercer absolutely can remove an embedded earring.
Claire accessories are notoriously shit.

nocoolnamesleft · 09/07/2021 20:54

Doesn't sound like a GP job. I gather they mostly aren't contracted to do minor injuries.

TheUndoingProject · 09/07/2021 20:54

The whole thing sounds like a massive waste of NHS time frankly. No wonder services are so stretched.

PurpleRainDancer · 09/07/2021 20:54

@ohthatbloodycat

I did, so please read the full thread. The piercer (a well known, national one) refused to sort it.
Does the shop begin with C? Same happened to my daughter last year, it was awful.
FindingMeno · 09/07/2021 20:54

I managed to deal with a similar situation but it is tricky. Was it that the gp wouldn't do it, or couldn't give an appointment?

Tiredmum100 · 09/07/2021 20:55

I wouldn't have expected a GP to sort that out. I would have thought it would be a job for minor injuries. My GP still isn't seeing anyone face to face!

ohthatbloodycat · 09/07/2021 20:56

Thanks for the latest, slightly less batshit responses. I don't mind being told I'm in the wrong, but to be accused of not trying the piercer first is beyond the pale really.

OP posts:
Niconacotaco · 09/07/2021 20:57

I am certain a pharmacist would not remove a stuck earring. Not sure about GP vs minor injuries though (and I live near a large paeds hospital so we always get sent there with problems instead of minor injuries)