To take our 12mo DS to A&E?

[Parkingmoan1]

We've already decided he's going so DH is getting ready to take him now but I would appreciate some feedback / WWYD? Also - does this sound familiar to any of you with your DC?

DS is 12mo and has had diarrhoea for the past 4 days. He isn't sleeping properly dispite being absolutely exhausted, I suspect something is hurting him which is stopping him from getting off to / staying asleep.

His temperature was last recorded as 37.7.

He isn't eating or drinking as well as he normally does which is a concern for dehydration. He's such a food baby usually and loves his milk. It appears (atleast to me) that swallowing liquid / food might be causing him some pain so I've asked DH to raise the possibility of tonsillitis. He is salivating much more than usual. I've had to put him back in bibs which we haven't used for months.

I might be way off but it's worth being queried right?

He's crying. Alot. He's usually such a happy boy but he's unrecognisable at the minute. Inconsolable.

So do you think we're doing the right thing taking him to A&E or do I sound like an anxious mum and it doesn't sound that serious to you? I couldn't get him in the doctors today hence the jump to A&E.

I'm going to feel like a massive idiot after all of this worry they come back and say something trivial like teething...

Same here. We were also told to park in the parking bays right outside (ooh is at our local hospital). It was less than 30 mins from arriving to leaving with a prescription (ear infection).

Absolutely. I’d say your OH being so concerned is a sign you/he have done the right thing.

I’d step away from this thread OP, the replies are unnecessary. Hope your little one is ok - please let us know.

I think YABU personally. If he was exhibiting signs of moderate dehydration that was not resolving with home remedies then I’d of agreed with you, but a runny bum and grizzly baby isn’t a sign to go to A&E imo. I hope he’s okay though.

Hi OP

I'm sorry for all the harsh comments you are recieving. If your instincts tell you to go to A&E, then coming from a mum of an 18m who has had too many trips myself for good reasons while people around me have used the 'teething' excuse, then go! You know your baby and if they don't seem right then always seek medical advice in anyway you can. Just as a heads up, my son had all the symptoms you described and had hand, foot and mouth. Does your baby have any rashes?

Where do you live cotton? I think, I'd like to move there!!

Our GP's clinic only gives out appointments if you call at exactly 8am. Even for babies. If anyone falls ill during the day after 8am they don't get an appointment.

When my kids were babies and young toddlers 111 pretty much sent me to A n E every time. My DD sometimes got an appointment to see an ooh GP however now the ooh service only seems to offer appointments with the nurse. The few times I've had an appointment with the nurse with ds they've always sent me to a n e (without an appointment. They don't seem to do that here). Not because they thought it's serious but just to be on the safe side to get it checked out.

I wonder if it's a nasty bug. There is norovirus going around at my daughter's nursery :( hope your DS is feeling better soon

You know your baby best, listen to your gut instinct !

This shit is NOT SO DANGEROUS. If 111 have been called and established that its an A&E issue then of course. But can you imagine if everyone went straight to A&E if their child had these symptoms?

@TheFairyCaravan actually if you are turned down for an appointment with your GP, if you call 111 whilst your surgery is still open they won't get you an appointment, they just say to call back out of hours and then they'll get you an appointment.
I do however agree that 111 would have been more appropriate here but if parental concerns are strong for dehydration then the staff there will be happy to check an unwell baby for any immediate risk to health and discharge home with advice if there is none.

@Nursemumma92 That's not correct - I couldn't get a GP appointment last week and was seen by a 111 doctor at home during the day whilst my GP was still open.

Our GP will always see children same day even if it means after the surgeries have ended, but it isn't like that everywhere.

@Parkingmoan1 I would have done exactly what you have done except I wouldn’t have waited so long but you know your hold best. As for those saying wait that’s awful - earache and/of tonsillitis pain can be awful and this is a small child that doesn’t understand what’s happening. Where we live the A&E team would much prefer people to go in rather than wait. Hope he’s o.k. xx

Sorry child not hold!

Well you must be lucky where you live- I have contacted 111 many a time as a parent, both in and out of hours to avoid an A + E trip and every time it was in hours I was told to call back after my GP had closed and then they would book appointment.
At our GP unless you contact them at 8am and wait an hour on hold in the queue then you don't get an appointment, sick baby or not.

@Nursemumma92 not true at all. I’ve been declined an emergency appointment with my GP twice (two different GPs, in two different areas because we’ve moved house) but both times the doctor from 111 have phoned through to them and got me an appointment.

I don't know, the fact that your son isn't eating or drinking and has diarrhoea isn't a great sign, I know I'm in the minority here but aren't they warning signs in very young children?

It is rubbish about your GP too, I'm another one who's GP will always see young children same day.

Don't worry OP, they won't mind as dehydration is so risky. We had this with DD, she had some sort of bug, lots of vomiting in her case, very little fluid intake over several hours, she suddenly started to look really floppy and ill. Took her to A+E and they said we had done the right thing, even though it was probably viral and they would just administer fluids and observe her.

Little monkey took the last chance bottle they offered while the drip was being set up and downed it. So no need for drip and we went home with a 48hr pass so that we could bring her back no questions asked if she didn't continue to recover.

DH called, he's booked in. The screen says the wait to see a doctor is 1h 20m which is alot quicker than expected.

If I was to call 111 now I can't see them saying anything other than to just stay put in A&E now that he's booked in. PP's are right in that 111 would likely send a potentially dehydrated / ill baby straight to A&E anyway.

Going forward I will use 111 first in the future.

I agree with this totally.

@Parkingmoan1 I hope your baby boy gets better soon. Sending virtual hugs. 💐

FWIW I think you and your Dh are doing the right thing.

I've called 111 for my children during the day after getting absolutely nowhere with the GP surgery. They weren't interested other than to tell me I had to contact the gp.

Explained that they wouldn't help (no appointments) . Advice was to call as soon as gp shuts and then they could look at sorting an OOH appointment...

Hope your baby is OK x

I hope your baby feels better soon. Always better to be on the safe side and trust your gut.

Yes follow your instincts. I would go under these circumstances too. He’s still little and potentially very dehydrated. 111 would almost certainly send you to A&E anyway with a baby. Do you have pics of the dodgy nappies to show them?

Should have rang 111 OP as they can and will (have done so with us) get you to see an emergency doctor who would travel to your house within the same night. Saves having to wait in A&E.

But they are there now and hopefully will be seen soon. Hope little one is ok and it is something simple.

OP, I don't think you've been unreasonable at all. Have them check his throat and ensure he hasn't swallowed something that's got stuck.
Good luck, hope your little one is okay.

*CottonSock · Today 20:26

A GP will generally see an unwell baby if you tell them you need a same day or emergency appointment.*

Err yeah that's bullshit. I called mine at 8.01am last Monday morning after my 2 year old had been getting progressively more unwell over the weekend and was number 48 in the queue! Their lines open at 8am, what was the likelihood of me getting an appointment that day or even the next?! If my child hadn't improved by day 4, I'd be straight to A&E.

@Nursemumma92 we have had the same experience more than once.