Scarlet Fever? No out of hours appointments

[crisscrosscringle]

Posting for traffic. Sorry, I know that is unreasonable. DD is five and has a sore throat, high temperature and a very spotty tongue. There have been cases of SF at school.

Waited on phone to 111 for an hour to be referred to out of hours service. Out of our service called back to say they have no appointments and that someone will call after 8am. DD is uncomfortable but very drowsy - she is currently sleeping.

All the advice says swift access to antibiotics is key to avoiding complications. I'm not normally one to get overly anxious or get scared by the media but I'm really worried another 12 hours before anyone even calls us is dangerous.

WIBU to just take her to A&E?

I would have waited and called the GP in the morning personally. Prompt medical attention didn't mean it needs to be immediate, or that is an emergency, and I'd have thought it would be more comfortable at home (as well as not adding to A&E becoming overwhelmed).

I was in a similar position this weekend and spent 7/8 hours at A&E today. In case helpful for others, the Dr said that a spotty tongue can just be a sign of dehydration. In my daughter's case she didn't have scarlet fever but did have another infection that needed antibiotics, so it was still good that we went. Just mentioning because I was worried that a spotty tongue (but no rash) could have been scarlet fever. Perhaps it could be, but the Dr thought it unlikely.

Try not to panic, Scarlet Fever is very common. Has your child's temperature dropped with Calpol? If so you can probably wait until morning and go home and get some rest if there 40 families ahead of you. Like the other poster said, god knows what you will catch there. Take them to the GP first thing tomorrow and get the prescription then. For the sake of 8/9 hours it seems crazy to wait up all night, it might even take that long anyway! But at least this way you are getting enough rest to be able to look after your poorly child x

I really hope you're seen soon and that it becomes easier to access treatment if such cases will rocket

@TheOnlyLivingBoyInNewCross yes bumping some of the adult appointments to deal with the strep A spike would be great right about now. Our even a nurse from peads on OT to give out scripts would be good. If it was my son I wouldn't be taking no appointments I would be turning up at the door with him making a fuss

Americans can get strep swabs and antibiotics at pharmacies.

You can in the UK too!
Many pharmacies are offering this service currently.

Should of stayed home and got gp appointment in the morning atleast that way dd could get a good sleep, news needs to stop reporting about this everyone is in state of panic. Hope you don't wait to long to be seen.

@Brotherlove which pharmacy Is offering this? I keep seeing it on social media but yet know one seems to be using this service.

You shouldn't be in A&E waiting for hours when you could just head into GP tomorrow to get a prescription.

@Brotherlove you can’t get antibiotics from a pharmacist without a prescription. This has been reported inaccurately in the media. They can test for strep A, but the results take days.
We waited over 24 hours for a 111 callback.
No liquid antibiotics to be had anywhere locally.

sorry you find yourself in this situation

I would have done the same

hope your get seen before too long

I think all of you advising OP not to be in A&E right now should be very careful with what you are saying. You haven't seen the child in person to assess them, I assume regardless the majority of you don't have medical training even if you were with the child. Your advise could be dangerous, only the OP can assess her child's response/behaviour and seek the medical help she feels is best.

How do you know that’s possible? Seeing a GP is the least accessible and predictable medical service at the moment.

sbuhb.nhs.wales/urgent-care-out-of-hours/need-urgent-care/sore-throat-test-and-treat-service/

This is one example in Wales.

The antibiotics are becoming a problem - patients on long term antibiotics now cannot get their regular medicine easily.
Suppliers are struggling with liquid, tablets are fine ATM (where I am, obvs location depending).

There needs to be some online emergency GP appointments set up to deal with the hysteria the media has created around this. Since when did a high temp and a spotty tongue with no other symptoms warrant a trip to A&E?

My DS currently has Scarlet Fever and before he got antibiotics, had a fever of 40.1 plus the strawberry tongue and a hugely sore throat where he was refusing all food. Calpol and Nurofen weren't bringing the temperature down. No way in hell would I have waited until morning for a phone call that may or may not come through.

A&E all the way. Please ignore the "your child isn't dead so A&E isn't for them" brigade. This can be a very complicated illness and your child deserves medical care.

please follow your instinct and go to A&E 💐

111 would off told her to go to a&e or booked an ambulance not booked her in for a gp appointment.

@Baublesandtinsel it's not your place to decide who goes to A&E, just stop

@Summerfun54321
Op has said child is extremely difficult to rouse
How can you possibly know if she would be ok to wait till tomorrow. If they are at the hospital and she goes down hill they will be in right place to get help

We’re absolutely overwhelmed with patients in a&e at the minute so please take something to do with you for the wait as it will be long and some snacks. I see you’re already there OP, I hope your little one is ok.

She's just incredibly sleepy and doesn't want to eat but I wish I'd bought games and snacks for me!

Re:waiting for a GP appointment- they are like hens teeth so I wouldn't have got one- I might have got an emergency appointment at the local walk in centre but we still would have had to sit and wait for hours.

There's only about 20 families here now so that's something...

@wlwkei I haven't decided anything!! I said 111 would off suggested it if they thought she needed seeing tonight!
P.s scarlet fever and strep can clear up on there own so no need to rush out an panic thinking you need antibiotics straight away a day or 2 is fine providing child is ok in themselves!

Hope she's ok OP

She said the child is difficult to rouse.

A&E is the right place for that. Give over with sanctimonious claptrap. The OP might have to wait to be seen, but it takes 5 mins of a nurses time to triage. If child needs treatment they are in the right place. If child doesn’t need treatment they’ll be assessed and sent home.