To call an ambulance for my baby?

[Kanfuzed123]

So my baby is 3 weeks and caught the horrid cold I had at delivery. Day 10 and 14 midwife and HV said he seems ok but watch out for retraction, as colds can become bronchilitis, if he starts retracting he needs to get to a and e asap. He looked worse today, couldn’t get to see GP so sent a video, GP said he seems ok but monitor. Tonight he started retracting more significantly and he’s been so sleepy, falling asleep in feeds. So I went to take him to hospital but my fucking car won’t start, and an error message has come up on the dashboard. Ubers keep cancelling and the only taxi firm answering have more than an hr wait.

I should call an ambulance right? I don’t want to over react and drain NHS but equally my little boy is struggling

@youvegottenminuteslynn

As *@Draggondragon* didn't answer, as someone with private healthcare am I misinformed when I say the below *@Tryagainplease? I'm sure it's not possible but *@Draggondragon** implied I hadn't read their posts properly and said 999 was the 'surest way to not get help' which sounds (obviously) ridiculous when as far as I am aware the following is true:

I asked whether a private ambulance can be called (not through the 999 service) and attend in time to save a life in a life or death situation? I genuinely didn't think they could do this, be called specifically and attend in a life or death emergency?

I can’t say for definite as I know that different policies cover for different things. My healthcare is provided through work and doesn’t include GP appointments (apart from virtual ones which are actually very effective, I find) or dental treatment.

However, I would suspect it is a load of bollocks! The number of people in the UK with that level of healthcare, if it did even exist, would be very low. They’d have to have emergent services on hand within a certain distance from each BUPA member for this to work. The logistics of it do not make sense.

@Tryagainplease oh sweety. I am not in the UK. That's the whole fucking point. If I were, apart from duty visits, I wouldn't be covered by global corporate insurance. Bless you though for trying.

Bless you though for trying.

Why are you being so incredibly rude and unpleasant? Is there a reason?

@youvegottenminuteslynn

Who the hell has ever in their life seen a private ambulance racing to an emergency?

I know, right?

I suppose private ambulances do so when they are used by the NHS at times the service is stretched, but dragon seemed to think they can be specifically summoned to emergencies within the same time (or sooner!) as can be done by calling 999. Which, let's be honest, absolutely isn't true. She said she would 'call Healix' and they do the rest but that would mean losing vital time in life and death cases.

"Hello Healix, how can I help?"
"I think my partner is having a heart attack"
"Can I check your policy number first?"

Which is why in a life or death emergency, it's important to call 999.

😂😂 this this and this

Lol this thread has a taken a turn

@MrsTerryPratchett

Bless you though for trying.

Why are you being so incredibly rude and unpleasant? Is there a reason?

It's odd isn't it? It's like they've walked into the wrong room, spoken to everyone like shit and then been perplexed as to why they aren't viewed as a remotely pleasant person or reliable source.

Fingers crossed your little one feels better soon OP, it's so scary when they're so little and can't yet articulate how they're feeling. You absolutely did the right thing

[quote Draggondragon]@Tryagainplease oh sweety. I am not in the UK. That's the whole fucking point. If I were, apart from duty visits, I wouldn't be covered by global corporate insurance. Bless you though for trying.[/quote]
No - you tried to say that your private healthcare would cover emergency ambulances and tried to call people fools for suggesting they don’t exist in the UK.

For the umpteenth time, private healthcare in the UK doesn’t include private ambulances fir emergencies!!!

Yes @Starcup you're right. I think @Draggondragon might just be a bit embarrassed they accused people of not reading their posts properly when in fact they suggested people should call private ambulances in emergencies (not a thing in life or death situations) and so they're lashing out because they've made themselves look silly. And oddly aggressive.

Some Private insurance cover levels include ambulance benefit but it’s PURELY to transport you between hospitals
Very very wealthy people who live in central London or who have concierge service type standard of living can indeed call a private gp who will rush yo their aid and whizz them off to King Edward the 7th, Harley St, princess grace the Portland etc.
But they’re expensive and generally used by the wealthy and overseas based rich
It is there but average people don’t have access to it
I’ve heard of insured people getting admitted straight to the private bit of an nhs hospital in an emergency but 99% of the time it’s via a and e OR an actual appointment with a consultant
V rarely a (self funded) private gp has had any involvement in emergencies

@youvegottenminuteslynn

Yes *@Starcup you're right. I think @Draggondragon* might just be a bit embarrassed they accused people of not reading their posts properly when in fact they suggested people should call private ambulances in emergencies (not a thing in life or death situations) and so they're lashing out because they've made themselves look silly. And oddly aggressive.

I completely agree.

@Draggondragon calm down, dear.

You know it's okay to admit when you're wrong.

@Kanfuzed123

Lol this thread has a taken a turn

It has rather! Keep us posted about the baby!

I hope you can get baby seen at the GP op. Its really awful when they're ill but you are doing a great job don't ever feel guilty about getting your ill child seen to. I took my baby to a&e for what turned out to be a routine virus - he was floppy, cold, difficult to rouse and had a blueish rash on his body. 111 wanted to send an ambulance but i drove him up there - if i hadn't been able to get him there too right i would have agreed to the ambulance. The doctors said they'd rather see a hundred babies with a cold than miss the one they definitely should have seen.

Hope your little one is recovering well. What a scary time
My baby had bronchiolitis when he was about 3 weeks as well and I was really scared but again some Dr's made me feel like I was overreacting. The staff at paediatric unit did not and told me it was right to get him seen.

I think all gp practices need a dr with paediatric experience really.

Just to update:

Baby is much better, slept better. Just in case anyone is curious these are some of the things we did. We’d have a steaming hot shower with some baby olabus oil in and hold him in the shower room so the steam could loosen his chest. Had the cool mist humidifier on full whack. Had some Rags with vapour rub on on the radiators, saline nose drops and a nose Frida and holding him upright for as much as we could in the day.
Thanks for all the concern it means a lot!

Just to weigh in on the whole public v private healthcare thing with my anecdotes, appreciate it’s been said upthread.
@Draggondragon the nhs is the only health infrastructure we have for emergencies. My (late) father had the Bugatti of health insurances through bupa, I’m talking oncologists at the Cromwell road hospital and Harley street and this past summer when his health took a huge turn for the worse they wouldn’t touch him because it was an emergency. He was reliant on the nhs and died because of it. There is no option to call a private ambulance or getting admitted as an inpatient in case of an emergency on a private basis, you just can’t. If you could and pay even if it was £1000 just for the ride and to be admitted- we would have for my dad but you can’t. I don’t buy this logic that says you can’t criticise the nhs years of our government have rendered it, well frankly dangerous, and they’ve done a tremendous job at changing the narrative around their political decisions to privatise and criminally underfund it and blaming something else and then every winter it’s ‘protect the nhs’ …how about fund it? They’ve blamed the public for not using it properly, immigrants and now covid (yes covid has caused a strain but the foundations for these problems were laid long before the pandemic). Rant over. I do in part agree with your first comment dragon, we shouldn’t put up with it, we need to demand the government do better and stop voting for them whilst there is still even an nhs.

@youvegottenminuteslynn

Yes *@Starcup you're right. I think @Draggondragon* might just be a bit embarrassed they accused people of not reading their posts properly when in fact they suggested people should call private ambulances in emergencies (not a thing in life or death situations) and so they're lashing out because they've made themselves look silly. And oddly aggressive.

I agree with you. Really strange reply to my post - overly condescending but you could sense the aggression in it. What an odd person!

OP, I am really glad your little one is feeling better.
You sound like a wonderful mum

@Kanfuzed123

So glad to hear your DS is doing better today...that cough is horrible to hear, isn't it? My DD age 38 had that as a wee one and I can still remember the sound...it's good that he's able to cough with all your care to help keep his lungs clear...he's so teeny tiny, poor little thing.

Thought I’d update again, baby seems better, his breathing isn’t as rattly but he’s still congested and retracting a bit BUT the GP won’t see him which is fucking ridiculous. There’s no need for him to go to a and e which is what OOO always say for a baby. Only GP in our catchment area too as We’ve called others before and they won’t take us.

Ffs, I’m cross

I’m not sure there is no need OP. A&E could reassure you. You and baby must be exhausted

That's ridiculous from your GP. Hope little one is doing better this morning.

@Kanfuzed123

Thought I’d update again, baby seems better, his breathing isn’t as rattly but he’s still congested and retracting a bit BUT the GP won’t see him which is fucking ridiculous. There’s no need for him to go to a and e which is what OOO always say for a baby. Only GP in our catchment area too as We’ve called others before and they won’t take us. Ffs, I’m cross

I am sorry about your GP albeit unsurprised When things are a bit easier please do complain x

@Kanfuzed123 I am very pleased your baby didn't need treatment in A and E. I am interested to know though - why you still feel the GP was wrong? Of course you could have been reassured but ultimately , baby didn't need any medical intervention?

And ultimately the ambulance was used for transport

This doesn't mean GP shouldn't have seen your baby. I think they should have a very low threshold for infants

And absolutely you should have called an ambulance in your situation because as far as you are concerned your baby was having difficult breathing

I was just stating some facts - GP wasn't wrong and ambulance was used for transport

By the way did you actually speak to your GP? Or did reception say GP won't see baby? Don't know what GP wouldn't see a baby with breathing difficulties if the mother insists on being seen