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?

Absolutely @LBFseBrom but the problem is that they don’t - they advise Calpol and tell you to see your GP. At which point I realise why the furniture is all screwed down!

If it's not one episode that is escalating and is more of an issue with recurrent ear infections then a and e doesn't seem the place.

How many ear infections has she had?

My son suffered. Has her hearing been tested? And ENT referral would seem to be sensible if this issue keeps coming back

People are dying of heart attacks at totally scandalous rates because Emergency Departments are busy with people who should be getting seen by a GP (ambulances waiting to unload people into the ED can't do so, so ambulance has to wait for hours outside ED, meanwhile people are dying at home because no ambulances are available to go and retrieve/collect them).

Having been in your position OP many years ago, the GP saw the child, did examination, prescribed antibiotics within 1 hour space of time. GP has also previously referred said child to ENT multiple times. Never did the child go to the Emergency Department.

Hi OP. I've read through and agree that the original post perhaps didn't convey the issue very well. When a post has lots of replies, people don't always read through them all, which is perhaps why you've had so many replies with concerns for your child.

I agree that at the moment, it's hard to know which way to turn. The hospitals are too busy, they release Facebook videos with consultants begging you to use first line services first, like your GP. Then the post directly under that, is the video of your local GP begging you to see the pharmacist or use 111 as they are struggling under the pressure. So you go along to your pharmacist or possibly 111, who both immediately tell you to see your GP. But your GP hasn't got time, and the vicious cycle continues.
This isn't a criticism of any of the services I've mentioned, but there is a sort of helplessness at the moment when in a crisis.
Personally, I think it's clear to most parents when a child needs to go to A&E. and if it's not, I think the NHS website is very helpful and clear. However, at the moment, I agree, it's hard to know.
I'm not sure what your GP was meaning OP, but I would continue to seek medical care in the places you normally would x

So to confirm a doctor has advised that if your 16 month old's symptoms continue they need to be taken to A and E, the symptoms have continued and because it is inconvenient for you, you are not taking the child......madness and poor parenting

Polarbearstar I'm with you, GP service is currently shocking..

@Calmdown14 no, it isn’t. It’s completely the opposite, it is one ear infection.

[quote Polarbearstar]@ChloeHel that would make sense but no. She isn’t being referred to an ENT or paediatrics.

Also, while the infection seems to have lasted a lifetime, it’s actually only been a couple of weeks. We had an initial telephone appointment and then a face to face,however the condition worsened and high temp last night. So took to the GP today.[/quote]
As a PP mentioned ENT referrals are long winded and there is a waiting list. Sadly our NHS is overwhelmed.

Therefore, if you went to A&E, DD would be seen by the relevant department and after testing and proper diagnosis may be referred quicker to ENT than if the GP referred them. There is only so much a GP can do, especially in child illnesses. As I said, it’s pointless them constantly prescribing x,y,z - so I do understand the GP’s advice. It just maybe didn’t come across as clear and could have been worded differently.

Is anyone actually reading the OP?

She isn’t being told to take child to A and E now. She has been told that if her child is unwell with an ear infection, in future, and has a temperature or pain, then to take her to A and E.

This clearly doesn’t make sense and isn’t what A and E is for. My local hospital has 20 ambulances waiting outside at times, with patients waiting to be seen. They are not there for ear infections or to “ arrange hearing tests” and OP is perfectly reasonable to question this “advice”.

OP, can you ask to change to a different GP at your surgery?

If this is a long term issue you have had with your child and the gp is unable to treat it, constant antibiotics will not do your little child much good.

However attending a&e (which isn't just for broken bones fyi!!) could get your daughter the correct treatment by being transferred to or referred to the correct person, not to mention they have the facilities and specialists to carry out far more tests than your gp can do, your child is also so young, she needs to be seen by a paediatric doctor.

I do not like the attitude with regards to sitting in a hospital for hours, this is what we have to do for our children, its not meant to be enjoyable, its to get treatment for your poorly child, you child could face permanent damage if this is not treated!

But posting on mumsnet was more important than seeking the medical attention your child needs!

I think in your position OP, I would book a private online consultation with a mainstream private GP service e.g. Lloyds or Superdrug. Think they are £20-30? They can prescribe antibiotics. If I was sure my DC was not floppy or didn't have a rash or sensitivity to light - those would be straight-to-ED in my own transport situations.

It would be madness and poor parenting if that happened, yes. But it didn’t.

So people clearly think that you go to A and E and you are seen, if not promptly, within a reasonable time frame, you are referred to the appropriate person and your condition is treated. I have been to A and E with DD before and none of those things have happened. I’m not claiming they never do, but they haven’t.

What is poor parenting is taking her somewhere they won’t treat her, I think.

OP I completely understand what you are saying and clearly some posters are either genuinely misunderstanding or being deliberately obtuse for the sake of a row. I've seen so many threads go like this across all topics recently. @WinterIsHere96 has said what I would - insist on an ENT referral.

My DD is a lot older than yours (20!) but she was told to go to A&E by our GP after a 30 second tele-consult and at A&E and she was humiliated by the on call doctor shouting at her saying how dare she take up NHS time by coming into A&E instead of seeing the GP (course she was also young and shy and on her own so great candidate for being shouted at but that's another thread entirely).

Its very hard to see where GPs are coming from and understand what is happening, particularly as its not all GPs. My family have two different GP surgeries between us and we are having polar opposite experiences. One blames everything on COVID and nothing can be done etc., the other is operating fairly normally. I don't know what the answer is but you are right to ask the WTAF question.

No definitely none of the meningitis symptoms.

Thanks @fixyourfences am on hold now.

Seems odd to go to A&E I agree.
Your GP should refer to paediatrics if s/he is concerned.

Therefore, if you went to A&E, DD would be seen by the relevant department and after testing and proper diagnosis may be referred quicker to ENT than if the GP referred them.

Except the OP is very clear that she has done that before and it didnt work.
And tbh, where I live, I havent seen A&E ever referring patienst to department (unless the specilist is needed there and then or they patient is kept in hopsital). We are told to go back to see a GP to be referred to the specialsist. A very similar experience than the OP's.

@Polarbearstar - I am wondering how recently some of those posters have actually attended A & E, with the talk of accessing tests and correct departments and referrals…

I agree with @fixyourfences. I'd go private too.

Unfortunately, the NHS is so run down that it's not coping. And I wouldnt take the risk of my child getting deaf in one ear because I had waited too long iyswim

Yes, we just keep being told to go to our GP. It’s really frustrating. Thus far BUPA haven’t been any more inspiring.

OP is fluid/discharge coming from the ear? If so, insist on a swab being taken to establish what kind of infection you're working with.

It might have been better once @BananaPlants, I like to think so!

@MrsMingech yes, it’s horrible - like pus. That’s why I’m surprised they didn’t as you say take a swab etc.

Out of interest

Does the child’s father also not want to go up a&e?