To be really annoyed with GP in light of strep A concerns?

[PeppermintChoc]

My sons pre-school has had several instances of Scarlett fever. He came down with a rash, white things and temp, complained of a sore throat. I would usually just have thought it’s viral but after calling pre-school they said don’t forget about SF and encouraged me to see the GP. They’ve had some really poorly children and staff.

Rang GP and he didn’t want to see him. Had a phone appt. He actually said “don’t worry about Scarlett fever it’s really rare” I said he’d been in contact with it and that didn’t change his mind.

My son was fine, fortunately, but reading about all these really poorly children and can’t help but worry that if one of mine does come down with something it’s luck of the draw as to whether they’ll see them. Conversely on another occasion he had tonsillitis and the only reason the GP (diff GP) picked it up was because he examined him. GP was surprised he wasn’t more poorly as his tonsils were awful and covered in pus.

I’m terrified at the state of our NHS. I am always reluctant to call “just in case” but I wish we could - really we should be able to be seen just to put our minds at rest. I’d rather pay £50-100 and feel happier my children aren’t seriously unwell than wait until they get really poorly just to justify going.

@PeppermintChoc you’re totally right. Everyone deserves decent healthcare, no one seems to be listening who have created this situation. The government clearly don’t care. I’m not sure what the solution is but it’s gotten so bad some
of our staff have to wear body cams now because there simply isn’t enough staff to deal with volumes trying to access services. 25-30 every hours for several hours means a quick slow down and quite honestly there are a number using it because of a lack of common sense or complete refusal to self care. It’s an awful situation for patients and staff alike. Most staff will do all they can but I fear that the current situation is going to lead to errors and death. It’s frightening.

Your child was fine though. They know what they're doing. You're reacting from panic. But your kid is fine.

And you can pay for BUPA and then have private appointments. My partner does this and has had surgery etc very cheaply.

If you want private go private!

Absolutely. I really feel for the staff who keep ploughing on doing their absolute best and am so grateful to them.

Its utterly terrifying.

From the responses it seems likely DS did has SF, albeit a mild form. He’s ok and of course I’m pleased, just don’t think the response was appropriate.

@PeppermintChoc im glad that he’s ok x

I agree OP, your child should definitely have been seen or prescribed antibiotics over the phone as a precaution.

DS1 had covid at the start of November, followed a tummy bug. He started over a week ago with symptoms of an ear infection. He has had them before, I know the signs. Called twice to be told it was viral/covid and he didn't need to be seen despite telling them he was presenting exactly as he has always done with ear infections and it had been going on for a long time.

In the end I did a Push Dr appointment as knew 111 would be overwhelmed over the weekend. Got the antibiotics and 24 hours later he's pretty much back to his normal self.

I completely understand the drive to reduce antibiotic use but that needs to go alongside seeing people so a proper assessment can be undertaken and listening to parents who know their DC better than anyone else.

The GP's are overwhelmed so I know why it's happening but it doesn't make it ok.

I'd expect if you had said to the doctor that you want to bring them in for a face to face examination, they would have arranged this with you. They certainly should anyway, in theory they are really supposed to give patients choice about how they are seen and give face to face appointments where they are requested.

They should have offered to you anyway given the age of your child. My DH works in GP, they do telephone triage first, he doesn't always recommend all children come in for face to face, as it's depending on symptoms. He will tell a parent/carer whether he thinks the child would benefit or not by coming in to the practice for examination, but he always always offers that he will see them face to face if the parent wishes regardless of his opinion on the need. Some parents take him up on it and others don't and where he doesn't feel its necessary they may have to wait a day or two to be seen as well depending on capacity as obviously he has to prioritise patients who need to be seen that day. But ultimately he is sympathetic actually that parents do worry about their children and it's not unreasonable to want to get your kid checked out by a professional when they're ill. Under 5s especially he will basically always bring in same day for examination as they can deteriorate quickly.

What all of them? Every child? Do you have a spare few GPs in your back pocket. Perhaps we should stop seeing everyone else then?

Funnily enough GPs are not psychic. We cannot see the future. The body is a funny old thing. Not one is the same and disease and illness progress in time. So what appeared viral one day may be sepsis 24hrs later. That doesn't mean sepsis was missed the first time it means it progressed over 24hrs. I would never ever advice a bright young person to be a doctor never mind a GP.

Absolute nonsense. Prophylactic abiotics are not adviced for strep A contacts who are not symptomatic. In fact the PH guidelines doesn't recommend them for all.

If you'd happily pay £50-100 for a GP appointment then do it. Go private

OP I think the GP was wrong to not at least examine your child…

Ever since covid GP services have been shite… I don’t think it’s acceptable for GPs to make diagnosis’s over the phone and to dismiss patient concerns without even seeing their patients… It’s just beyond bad, and step A should be taken seriously, it’s not the common cold 🤨 and people can become really unwell with this quickly. You are not being unreasonable OP.

How many patients a day do you think GP can/should safely see? We are very happy ro reduce to a safe number. I'm not sure where the rest will go though?

To be fair, lots of worried parents will be taking their kids to the GP. With only so many hours in the day, they probably have to prioritise which ones sound most like a possible strep A.

Quite surprised they were that dismissive over scarlet fever. My daughter picked it up at school and matched all the symptoms and gp saw her immediately no problem (this was several years ago admittedly).They have to report it to public health England too. Given the fact he'd been in contact with it too seems a no brainer to me.

In an ideal world I’m sure it’s fewer than we do. But our healthcare system is far from ideal. That’s not having at go at individual GP’s but it’s a fact isn’t it?

That does sound very dismissive and not a good response

We told our GP's receptionist on the phone last week that our son had scarlet fever and even with a referral from 111 they said they had no appointments and couldn't see us. He ended up at the hospital and is thankfully doing much better now. DH has since arranged private medical insurance for us all.

I think that’s wise. Does it cover Scarlet Fever do you know? I need to check ours

I’m glad your Ds is ok

How on earth are GP's supposed to see all the children who parents have a concern with? It's simply impossible as things stand. Like me trying to buy a million pound house on a 100k budget.

Should GP's only do face to face? Work longer hours? Be on call nights? Only see children? How will you convince a demoralised, over-worked, under paid and under appreciated GP that's a good idea?

You’re right. Substandard care, suffering and death are inevitable consequences of our failing healthcare system and should be accepted as such.

Its not impossible - other countries manage it. It’s impossible with the system we have.

GPs had no problems seeing their patients in person before covid 🤨 … Surely if their symptoms are serious enough they should be prioritised like showing all the symptoms of scarlet fever …

Do 111 refer to GP for Scarlet Fever?

Not sure I’d hang around long if the symptoms were there and if it was blocked just go to A&E

Our GPs do see people in person.

@MoreSleepPleasee I agree with your approach. I would far rather I was proved anxious rather than proved correct too late.