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.

Well thankfully I did trust my instinct because the GP sent us straight to a&e and she’s now on antibiotics. We’ve seen three doctors today and they all said when babies/children deteriorate, it happens really, really fast and that I did exactly the right thing.

FWIW The registrars and triage nurse I saw were all deeply unimpressed with GPS sending children to a&e in the strength of a telephone appointment.

"FWIW The registrars and triage nurse I saw were all deeply unimpressed with GPS sending children to a&e in the strength of a telephone appointment"

This is exactly what DH was told by the A&E doctor who examined our DC this afternoon - he wasn't impressed with the GP fobbing us off without even seeing him in person at the practice.

They already are. I did an agency shift in a district general hospital today. And the A&E was swamped with kids with parents anxious about strep A. Not one of them needed admission.

The media really needs to stop whipping people up into a panic.

I feel particularly sorry for A&E, they are the last port of call. They don’t have anywhere to fob people off to. So when GP’s won’t see people/haven’t got any appts past 8.03am/don’t examine someone and therefore misdiagnose people pile up at A&E.

I suspect if the primary care was better A&E would be much less strained.

Basic question - how do they diagnose it is it just symptoms or a swab? Other

apple.news/A8leCdK7XRoC7MONAPttADQ

A swab would confirm but it’s just symptoms.

Don't know why everyone's jumping down your throat, if your child wasn't okay they'd be saying it's disgusting that they weren't seen.
I get you that the dismissive culture of the NHS in some areas makes you scared to bother them and we shouldn't feel that way. They are so precious to us and we can only get medical assurance from medical people.
Glad their ok ❤️

If your GP refused to see a child who had classic scarlet fever symptoms and had been in contact with scarlet fever classmates then the GP was negligent, plain and simple. Scarlet fever is a notifiable disease: the GP was legally obliged to report this case to the authorities. The child should also have been given antibiotics. Complain to the GO’s practice.

Appalling care. No wonder children are dying from Strep A which is easily treatable if they’re given antibiotics early enough. 😥

This ^

Def complain. Hopefully they'll change their practice.

GPs can't be sued if the negligence doesn't result in harm. Unfortunately they don't tend to be bothered by near misses.

Sorry, might have missed this. When you had the phone appointment with the GP did you say you would like your child to be seen face to face and did the GP decline?