GP won’t see sick toddler in case Covid

[SupaTeddy]

My 3yo has some sort of flu bug and is vomiting clear liquid, runny nose and cough, he hasn’t eaten since Wed and is drinking very little. The bug started on Sat but eating and drinking didn’t stop till Wed. Multiple LFT tests are negative. I have the same bug.

GP said they will telephone today but won’t see him unless he has a negative PCR. That could take another day or two to get a result and I’m worried.

AIBU to think they should see a sick child regardless when he’s vomiting and not eating? What should I do if they won’t see him?

Your GP will see him - just once he's had a covid test - which is your responsibility to organise - and should have been done on Wednesday.

Book a PCR but take them to A&E if they get any worse in the meantime. You shouldn't mess about when little kids are sick. .. they go downhill very quickly.

OP - YABVU - I cannot believe you have not already ordered and done a covid test given your little one has symptoms for covid
We don’t have Covid symptoms. Just flu symptoms. No fever or loss of smell, and only an occasional cough. Plus multiple negative LFTs.

LFT’s are not reliable.
Book a PCR test and self isolate until you get the results.
Flu symptoms might be covid as well.

You are VERY unreasonable

@SupaTeddy You do have covid symptoms - a cough is a symptom for which to get a PCR test.

How can you not understand this??

AND LFTs are not to be used when you are unwell... it very clearly states that on the packaging and instructions.

Symptoms include:
Fever or chills
Cough
Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
Fatigue
Muscle or body aches
Headache
New loss of taste or smell
Sore throat
Congestion or runny nose
Nausea or vomiting
Diarrhea

Your GP is not being unreasonable- you need a PCR test. If it comes back negative and they still refuse to see you, that is more unreasonable.

Every time my toddler gets sick I now order a PCR test. It might seem overkill but it avoids this exact problem!

We went to A&E last Saturday when symptoms started. They didn’t suggest a PCR. So given that the hospital doctor didn’t say to get a PCR I didn’t think it was necessary. They also never suggested it could be Covid, they just said it was “a virus”. I didn’t start to worry until he stopped eating on Wed.

Hospital doctors don’t only see Covid patients or non covid patients. They treat and review Covid patients and then go do their outpatient clinics and no one says it is an unacceptable risk.

@Balonzette

I feel like British GPs are behaving as ridiculously right now as soldiers who refuse to go to war because they might get shot. It's disgraceful. They're literally risking lives (and also costing lives) with stuff like this.

What a dreadful thing to say.

the GP is not the only health service provider. You can phone 111 or 999 if an emergency.

I would report the gp to the GMC for putting your child at risk of dehydration following no treatment.

3 year olds do not need something stuck up their nose to confirm if they are unwell.

He needs to be treating the symptoms.
I'm so sorry he's putting you in such a terrible situation.

111 is an advice line until ur gp is closed. Phone your surgery back. Speak to the practice manager. Demand a face 2 face with practice nurse.

If it's still a no. Go to a&e as your child may need to have fluids put up thanks to their delay.

@SupaTeddy

OP - YABVU - I cannot believe you have not already ordered and done a covid test given your little one has symptoms for covid We don’t have Covid symptoms. Just flu symptoms. No fever or loss of smell, and only an occasional cough. Plus multiple negative LFTs.

Flu symptoms are covid symptoms. They may not always be the main 3 that triggers need for self isolation, but a cough definitely should.

Do not do an LFT on a toddler.

Regardless, I'm sorry he's unwell. Call 111 and they can triage him to a facility best set up for the risk.

What is your reason for not wanting to do a PCR?

It isn't due to a lack of symptoms - there's a cough so there are symptoms

It isn't due to the actual test itself as you've done LFTs which are the same process of swab up nose then into vial.

So what else is stopping you from getting it done?

Lack of fluids can kill you. Make sure he has regular water all day (or sometimes they need to go in and be put on a drip if all else fails)

@B1rthis

I would report the gp to the GMC for putting your child at risk of dehydration following no treatment.

3 year olds do not need something stuck up their nose to confirm if they are unwell.

He needs to be treating the symptoms.
I'm so sorry he's putting you in such a terrible situation.

111 is an advice line until ur gp is closed. Phone your surgery back. Speak to the practice manager. Demand a face 2 face with practice nurse.

If it's still a no. Go to a&e as your child may need to have fluids put up thanks to their delay.

What utter nonsense.

The GP is not refusing to treat the kid. They have offered a telephone consultation and have rightly, given the child is displaying C19 symptoms, requested a neg pcr test before an inperson consultation to protect both the staff and other patients. It's not their fault OP has messed around for days not getting a test.

What is your reason for not wanting to do a PCR?
Because we were at A&E on Saturday and the doctor never said it might be Covid or suggested a PCR. He said it was probably a flu bug.

I think they should see him whether he has covid or not. They are doctors. They are vaccinated now and should do their jobs. If they won't see sick people they are in the wrong line of work.

Book a PCR now. No one cares if you think he does or doesn’t have covid, they just want that test result.

@SupaTeddy

What is your reason for not wanting to do a PCR? Because we were at A&E on Saturday and the doctor never said it might be Covid or suggested a PCR. He said it was probably a flu bug.

The easiest thing to do is to book a PCR. If he gets worse in the meantime, go back to a&e. The process is no different to an LFT, so if you’re happy to do multiple LFT’s you might as well just do a PCR?

Then you’ll have loads more options for him getting seen. Holding off on a PCR causes a barrier to treatment.

@SupaTeddy

What is your reason for not wanting to do a PCR? Because we were at A&E on Saturday and the doctor never said it might be Covid or suggested a PCR. He said it was probably a flu bug.

But it's now 6 days on from that assessment, your toddler is still Ill and the medical practitioner who needs to assess them has pointed out that the symptoms he is showing align with the symptoms many toddlers are displaying when they have Covid.

Doing a PCR test will provide an answer within 24 hrs as to whether this is Covid or isn't and will allow you access to more medical services.

So why would you not just do the PCR?

It probably is just a flu bug, but the gp can't risk other people's health because you don't want to do a pcr, despite having one of the eligible symptoms. If he only stopped eating on Weds I would keep topping up with high sugar fluids - flat lemonade etc. Maybe visit the pharmacist to see if they can recommend anything if you like. However, I doubt there is much the doc could do in person that he can't over the phone at this stage. I hope he starts to feel better soon.

@SupaTeddy your child does have Covid symtoms they don’t need to be coughing continuously. Also has it never occurred to you that the nhs has never updated the Covid symptom list, Delta symptoms especially in children are not exactly the same as the strain from 2020. Also LF test are not diagnostic.Your naivety is really concerning. Hope your little one feels better soon.

FFS OP - get a PCR done.
It's Friday now so 6 days later since hospital and now a GP suggested Covid. Just do it for your child's sake.

We're 18 months in and people are still this stupid, how?!