To have refused to take DD to A & E

[Polarbearstar]

‘Refused’ sounds more aggressive than it actually was, but DD has not really been quite right for a while now with a perforated ear drum, high temperatures, cold, streaming nose.

Doctor keeps saying to take to A and E and I am unclear what A and E can do that they can’t?

You’re ignoring medical advice for your poorly child. That’s neglectful. Get yourself off the internet and do as you’ve been advised.

@Mrsbunton that's an interesting perspective. I would direct you to our story above when the GP was insistent that ENT referral and grommets were pointless. I didn't listen and had the dc referred privately. They were grommets in weeks and their health, hearing and wellbeing improved exponentially. Should I have followed the advice of my GP? I think not!

I don't understand either. GP would normally call through to paediatrics surely so that you can bypass A&E that's what has always happened for us.

Sorry, did you say in one of your posts that your child ear was leaking? Maybe I misread that. But if her ear is leaking I would def. Take her to A and E. I hope she is feeling better soon.

Wish my GP would've sent me to a&e with my last ear infection.

Instead I was given the wrong treatment from them 4 times and ended up in hospital on a drip and antibiotic wick in absolute agony from an infection that had spread 🤢 wouldn't wish it on anyone

I also don't understand why with an ear infection you'd be advised to attend A&E in the future. If the GP is concerned she needs grommets- that can be done with a referral to ENT. Sitting in A&E with a recurrent ear infection, and a burst eardrum, which usually means the pressure and pain has been alleviated, makes no sense!

@Polarbearstar I think people are not understanding what you're asking. If you're not sure about the advice and why, make an appt to ask the GP as they should be able to articulate why they are suggesting you do this vs make a GP appointment as most people would for routine illness. My GP gave the same advice to me when DD was little. She had a lot of health issues and on top of this got severe ear and throat infections frequently always accompanied by a soaring stubborn temperature. The reason thee GP said A&E for us was because at that age it can quickly get out of hand so good to be seen by someone who can do the tests etc to rule out something more serious. Perforated ear drums can get very nasty, it's a precaution. Ask your GP to clarify.

The advice they're giving you is a not the same as you need to go directly to A&E to be assessed and admitted. I've had this too with DD, and the GP always called ahead + wrote a letter for me to hand to A&E reception which explained the concerns which was invariably sepsis as DD presented so very very unwell. I went directly to A&E with the letter each time.

It is probably because ofthe risk of mastoiditis, a serious life threatening bacterial ear infection which occurs usually after a few ear infections. A little girl where we lived nearly died from it, gp gave antibiotics for an ear infection but it was much more serious than that and the child ended up fighting for her life in itu.

The GP probably means out of hours, go to a and e.

There have been some extremely helpful replies.

The majority however, like the one above, are just beyond awful. I normally know some people on the internet can just be like that but I don’t think anyone can claim people ‘don’t know’ - they are clearly reading my posts (and deducing I am a piece of work who doesn’t deserve a child) so must surely know what the situation is.

We have a private GP appointment tomorrow. The NHS GP has, despite numerous posters telling me I misunderstood, made it abundantly clear they do not feel it is their role to treat an unwell child.

Sorry you got fobbed off by a+e last time. But I think you need to go back and basically tell them, calmly but persistently, that you're there on GP's orders, that the infection has been dragging on, that you are worried about her hearing, that you think it may be time for antibiotics....

Basically be the squeaking wheel until you get some oil, because a child's hearing is not something to be trifled with.

My daughter had glue ear with repeat infections for years and it really impinged on her social life. NHS docs kept saying it would clear up on its own, it didn't. Then we moved to a different country and within 3 weeks of being seen by ENT doc she had grommets. But by then she'd been hard of hearing, thus socially isolated, for years. I wish I'd advocated more for her.

When I was a carer one of our elderly residents had a perforated eardrum and it turned into meningitis.
I wouldn't be leaving a 16 month old I'd want it investigating properly

@ThreeLocusts another poster has already indicated that even if I did that, waiting lists would be an issue. I don’t mind being the squeaking wheel but so much easier and probably a lot faster and certainly more comfortable and convenient for all parties if we go down the private route.

Hooe your wee one gets well soon OP perforated ear drum is painful.

*hope

@JennyHogon

OP, I think it's just a case of accepting that the NHS is not fit for purpose, and A&E is now the default GP service because it's impossible to get an appointment with a GP. It's rubbish, but it's the way it is.

Yes, there could be some of this going on. It has been very difficult in the past two years for people to get GP appointments and many people round here have been told to 'go to A&E' when they clearly just want/need to see their doctor.

This is putting a massive strain on hospitals and our local one is now ALWAYS on Code Black (the worst status level).

If your child's problem is recurrent then the GP should be making a referral to the appropriate hospital dept not a referral to A&E.

@Polarbearstar have you asked your GP to see your child again - because of the perforated ear drum, high temperatures, cold, streaming nose - and they have told you to go to A&E instead?

@Blossom64265

You let it go to the point she had a perforated ear drum. That is the problem. She should have been seen and treated with antibiotics well before it got to that point.

That's not fair. My daughter had her eardrum perforated twice; both times she had a low fever and was a bit fussy. When they're that little they can't always pinpoint what hurts.

make sure you get a swab taken*