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?

GP too busy no doubt

@BananaPlants, my post includes much those you mention, 3 times in the past month for my under 10 and a good handful of time the arse end of last year. In London area. Avoiding one hospital because they are atrocious and another that is super helpful.

i believe the GP was saying, if you cannot get a GP appointment, go to A & E.

@Polarbearstar

No definitely none of the meningitis symptoms.

Wrong. How can you be so dogmatic when you aren’t a doctor?

** Complications of middle ear infections are fairly rare, but can be serious if they do occur.

Most complications are the result of the infection spreading to another part of the ear or head, including:

the bones behind the ear (mastoiditis)
the inner ear (labyrinthitis)
the protective membranes surrounding the brain and spinal cord (meningitis)

Just take her to a and e. Excruciating pain.

[quote BananaPlants]@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…[/quote]
3 weeks ago. Yes it’s a lengthy wait but I got seen to by the right doctors and then referred to the correct department. I am also a HCP so aware of everything going on with the NHS. I am simply answering OP’s question and to try and give some insight as to why a GP may refer :)

Surely the step after GP options have been exhausted is a referral to a specialist, not A&E?! It's not an accident or an emergency. My GP wouldn't see my dd when she had an allergic reaction (skin reaction, she seemed fine in herself). My instincts were that she was fine but could do with some treatment. Made us go to A&E, where after many hours, we saw the hospital GP who prescribed Piriton. So a complete waste of time. Problem is once the GP says you have to go A&E I don't think they will let you come back to the surgery so you have no choice but to go to hospital. It feels like GPs are constantly trying to avoid seeing patients.

[quote Polarbearstar]@MrsMingech yes, it’s horrible - like pus. That’s why I’m surprised they didn’t as you say take a swab etc.[/quote]
So you need to insist on a swab.
See the NICE guidelines here and go back to the GP.

You need to do this to avoid mastoiditis. I've been in theatre with a few kids with this and it's really unpleasant.

A simple swab will mean you know whether it's viral or bacterial and what antibiotic can kill it.

The GP meant you shouldn't have waited overnight with an ill child with a temp and a discharge from their ear. If that happens again out of hours then go to A&E. Don't wait to get a GP's appointment the next day.

My daughter had five ear infections one winter, and we were referred to ENT by the GP after the fifth. At that point we were into spring and she luckily had stopped getting them. Once we got to our ENT appointment, they took a look (at which point there wasn’t much to see) and told me she was prone to ear infections, they didn’t do grommets much anymore, and to bring her back if she had another ear infection. Luckily she hasn’t had another since.

So I’m not sure what to advise OP but my sympathy because ear infections are horrible.

A few years ago when DDs were little, I remember phoning the GP at about 4pm when the childminder reported DD1 had a bad earache, and the GP saw her at 5pm. How things change.

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.

@Cherryblossoms85

I think my favourite part of how the heallthcare system currently works is the constant refrain of "There are no appointments with the GP today or for the foreseeable future. If you're concerned about an urgent issue, please go to Urgent Care". It's indeed baffling - what's the point of GPs at all? Just dishing out a bit of HRT and that's it?

We're getting appointments ok. They start off with a telephone appt unless it's obvious that it's something that needs to be looked at in person, in which case a F2F appt is made.

The only time I haven't been able to get an appt reasonably promptly was recently, and that was because the GP who's dealing with a specific thing is on holiday when I'm not, and vice versa.

@AnnesBrokenSlate

The GP meant you shouldn't have waited overnight with an ill child with a temp and a discharge from their ear. If that happens again out of hours then go to A&E. Don't wait to get a GP's appointment the next day.

Exactly this …

@Blossom64265 - That is nonsense !

As others have said A&E can do things there and then if deemed necessary. They will have access to ENT specialists, tests (and equipmentl that GPs don't have. They can also administer drugs that GPs can't eg IV antibiotics.

And there's a clue in the name General Practitioner in that they are not specialists in every area. They know enough to deal with common problems and more importantly are trained to recognise when someone needs more care than they themselves can provide

I had a letter from my GP surgery following attending there to have my daughter's hand dressed. I'd called 111 as I wasn't sure it needed A&E. So 111 asked me to call my GP surgery and book an appointment with the practice nurse. Which we did, the hand was dressed but the nurse was clearly annoyed we hadn't gone to A&E. The letter told us, quite clearly, we needed to be using A&E for the dressing change and they would be advising SS of the situation. SS called, I told them I'd called 111 and they'd advised GP and that was it. Surgery never apologised for the implication of that.
I don't think the NHS knows it's own bloody policies, lord knows how anyone else is supposed to track it.

A few years ago when DDs were little, I remember phoning the GP at about 4pm when the childminder reported DD1 had a bad earache, and the GP saw her at 5pm. How things change.

We had this exact scenario two weeks ago - DC had bad stomach pain, rang gp at 4pm, they saw us at 4.30pm. We're in London. So it still happens, in some places at least.

@ MervynGothic yeah you’re another one missing the point. Take your and shove it up your arse. (I assume that’s acceptable given it’s AIBU).

When I had pneumonia the GP prescribed and sent me for a chest x-ray with the instruction to go to A&E if there wasn't significant improvement within 24 hours.

Seems pretty standard to me.

Another mind boggling post as to why a mother wouldn’t put the best interests of her child first.

13:30Blossom6426
A LOT of children will have an ear infection that goes unnoticed until the eardrum perforates. As an adult I've had an ear infection that I hadn't acknowledged as anything other than a dull ache until the eardrum burst. Implying the OP was somehow negligent in "allowing" an ear infection is ludicrous

I can only go off what the GP said to me. If you ask and they answer twice and people still insist no, what they mean is … then that needs to be a lot, lot clearer. It really was not what was said, or meant.

@Blossom64265 that really is unfair. We had a GP appointment as soon as the ear clearly had an infection.

Because as the OP says A&E isn't always the best interests of anyone. Sitting around for hours in a frentic environment Vs being at home, comfortable.

Ruptured ear drum is horribly painful (personal experience) a&e can do things GPS can't, like xrays ct scans and intravenous drips of antibiotics, painkillers or just fluids if needed. Intravenous antibiotics are more effective than tablets or liquids. They have all the departments there to investigate possible causes too. Go early in the day and there's a good chance you will make more progress. Its still going to be quicker than waiting for a GP referral. I really can't believe you're neglecting her needs like this