Doctor refused to see 3yo with suspected scarlet fever

[Phyllisdoriss]

My 3yo presented scarlet fever symptoms Sunday morning. Classic temperature, sandpaper rash, strawberry tongue so almost certain scarlet fever.
Phoned 111 at 10.30, get through around 12. Was told a clinician would call back within 2 hrs but very busy so could be longer.
Get a call around 3.45. Not the clinician but someone checking in. Clinician phoned around 7pm, really lovely lady who said she would make a referral to GP and that they will be ‘duty bound’ to see DC next day (today). DC was comfortable and settled down to sleep so she didn’t want to send us anywhere through the night, could end up being really late. We have a baby too.
This morning I phone GP first thing to book appointment. They acknowledged the referral from 111 and tell me a doctor will be in touch.

3.35pm my GP surgery phone to offer an appointment at a surgery 30mins (on a good day) away for 4pm. I said that would be impossible, so they offered 4.30 and that is the latest they can do. I accept the appointment but think it’ll be a tall order to get 2 toddlers, one quite unwell, in the car and there for 4.30 through two busy towns at rush hour but I was going to try my hardest. We got to the desk at 4.36 a flustered mess (I’m never late and hate being late)

They refused to see DC as we had ‘missed’ the appointment. I said they were duty bound to see her which they said they would but we could be waiting a while. As I’d had to rush everyone out of the door I’d not packed and snacks/toys so the thought of a long wait was not ideal but no choice.

At around 6pm a lady comes to tell us that they would not see her today. I said you’re duty bound to see DC today and she rudely responded with “you missed your appointment” and other remarks like “other patents managed to get here on time”. Yes but have other patients traveled as far, with such short notice, alone with two very young children?
Poor DC was even trying to show them crying saying “but look, I’ve got a nasty rash”.
AIBU to think this is truly appalling.

And how precisely was she supposed to more heaven and earth to get there?

Get a police escort?

@OldEnoughToHaveReadBunty

Occupation is definitely irrelevant. Everyone works hard. I don't really see how responding to a poster involves making insulting about teachers but anyway...

If the OP had posted that she had taken her child to A&E against 111 advice instead of waiting for a GPs appointment the next day she would have been berated

Now of course she is being berated for doing exactly that

Can't do right for wrong

There have been some very nice GPs pop up on this thread and some absolute horrors.

@PurpleWisteria1 I'm a teacher. My DH is a GP.

I work bloody hard. My DH works much harder. Long long long hours, much more than teachers. It's one of the few jobs I can really say that about.

most parents would have moved heaven and earth to make that appointment.

Most parents are humans with normal cars who have to observe speed limits and sit in traffic jams like the rest of the world.

OP, why didn't you just fly over the top of them all? 🙄

Ffs. Some really stupid comments on this thread.

Agreed

You had 55 minutes notice and said you were 6 minutes late so that’s 61 minutes from door to door. If it took you 40 minutes to get there, what did you do with the other 21 minutes?

Can’t afford to run the chopper anymore since the cost of living crisis. It’s a bugger to park too

@Soontobe60

Changed a nappy? Packed up a bag for baby? Went to the toilet? Got kids into the car?

I had to beg my doctor for my son’s antibiotics- it was clear he had scarlet fever. How dare he! How dare a doctor refuse to see OP’s child with scarlet fever. It’s unforgivable.

The system is totally broken and not fit for purpose. Those who have voted YABU- you’ll see one day when you’re desperate for medical care and the nhs slams the door in your face. It’s far worse when it’s your child it’s happening to.

Hope that doesn’t make you late for any appointments.

YANBU they were fully aware how far you were travelling. It's not like you'd been dossing about. And it's only 6 minutes. What kind of sadistic arsehole leaves a poorly child waiting 1.5hr to refuse to prescribe antibiotics. Horrible. Is there anywhere you can complain to? My doctor would never ever do that.

And even if you were late because you're a lazy parent that doesn't give a shit about your ill child. Is that your child's fault? No. So refusing to treat your child for your lateness is completely pointless and just cruel. Like taking privileges away from kids at school because their parent didn't complete the reading journal.

Because, trust me, Teachers are the only professionals who will complain simply because "I'm a TEACHER!".

When asked to call at standard times for appointments etc.

I said on another thread recently that it feels as though the drive to reduce antibiotic use (which is absolutely right) combined with a completely non functional primary care system is making things so much worse.

It is beyond frustrating to be almost certain your child needs antibiotics but not to actually be able to get to see someone who can give you the blimmin things!

Only prescribing them when absolutely necessary works fine if you can get an appointment (and follow up appointments if necessary) but not if you can't. Clearly, at present, you can't. Something has to give.

Those arguing over how OP was late for the appointment are spectacularly missing the point.

a child who is late for an appointment is not at fault. At all. Ever.

Equally- no patient should be left at risk for being late to an appointment when they could easily be seen. Simple prescription written.

See if only you had been sensible and gone to A&E (against 111 advice) they would have had a nice helipad for you to land on...

Meanwhile this:

www.spectator.co.uk/article/it-s-time-to-lift-the-medical-student-cap/

If we keep voting for people who make these kinds of decisions, we'll continue to struggle to have medical attention when we need it. It's an absolute scandal. But our newspapers are more bothered about Prince Harry and Meghan Markle than highlighting the scandal of the decimation of our public services. Shame on them. But I'm sure the publishers and editors of our media will continue to hob nob with our esteemed leaders and the cycle will continue.

Soontobe60, another one that hasn't read the thread, the OP isn't a mind reader, how was she supposed to know they would send her that far? 'Entitled', to want some antibiotics from the GP for your 3 year old child in 2022, I mean OP you don't know how lucky you are to live in this first world country with exemplary public services!

Nappy change, 3yo had a wee. Got the kids coats hats shoes on and in to the car. Googled the surgery and route in to satnav. Found a parking space. Kids out of car, coats, hats on etc. walked with baby and sick child from Parked car to reception desk. Probably other things too but you get the picture 🙄

'Entitled', to want some antibiotics from the GP for your 3 year old child in 2022,

fucking shocking. No words.

@Phyllisdoriss

21 mins to do nappy change, toilet, coats etc and get 2 kids in the car, then walk from car to surgery is bloody good going imo!! Would have likely taken me longer.

Op how is your dc?

Did you get any antibiotics in the end, are they ok?

De-iced the car, found a parking space, got poorly (and no doubt in-cooperating) toddler into car, got baby into car, managed to carry both poorly toddler and baby into waiting room from the car, looked up postcode, got it into the sat nav...

Six minutes late. I have yet to be seen on time for a single appointment at my (very good!) surgery, despite always arriving at least 5 minutes early. At my last surgery I was once kept waiting 45 minutes! No one even apologised. I very much doubt OP’s surgery always runs bang on time either, but I doubt they’d take kindly to patients storming out because the doctor was running a few minutes late. A little understanding is appropriate on both sides of the desk and 6 minutes is not even the full length of the appointment.