Is anyone else really scared about this?

[whatsthepointinthis]

I know there's been a few threads about this - sorry. Just sitting with my sleeping toddler in my arms and listening to her chesty breathing (she's full of a cold like many others are), and thinking god what what I do If she needed urgent medical help at any point? I'm just feeling so scared in case anything bad happened as it seems like it would be impossible to get it help for her if I needed it with how things are currently.

I have anxiety and I may be overthinking this. So am I?? Or are others scared about similar things too? 😞

If it's worse case scenario she will be seen and prioritised

PS I should add, mum has DNR in place so heart attack etc isn't our worry, but
i appreciate it will be a concern for a lot of people.

We were better staffed yesterday morning despite the nurses strike than usual!

You keep a stock of calpol and Nurofen in the house, so you can help keep her temperature down. Some blackberry rehydration salts. Some Olbas Oil or Vicks to help her breathe. A medical thermometer.

You'd monitor her closely.

And you'd make sure there was fuel in the car or a helpful neighbour/friend at hand, and that you hadn't had a drink so you were fit to drive if the need arose.

I understand OP. My DC has health issues and we've had to call an ambulance a number of times.

They will prioritise (ime especially for children with breathing issues) but it might be worth you having a plan, if this will help with your anxiety.

When my DC was frequently ill, I had a grab bag of essentials near the door (medications, change of clothes, snacks chargers etc) so if we needed to go to hospital quickly we could just grab that & know we'd not forgotten anything. I had the numbers of reliable taxi companies in my phone (especially those I could pay by card in case I had no cash) so I'd have other options in case help was delayed.

I know it's worrying, but hopefully you'll never need to use them.

Well the Government agreeing to work with the NHS and their professional bodies on a proper workforce plan to address staffing needs would be a start wouldn’t it? Addressing training needs and numbers, Oh and legally binding staffing ratios might tempt nurses to stay. Unfortunately the Government don’t want to acknowledge the truth about what is needed because they are scared of what it will cost them.

Anything to do with your kids health is worrying. I struggled to get antibiotics for DC last week and was reduced to tears. Can you talk it over with someone you know? That really helped me.

So difficult, OP. I know this isn't always the case but, if reassuring at all, my toddler has had extremely good care on the NHS for exactly the type of chesty, noisy breathing/wheezing/general respiratory issues you describe. We had to go to a&e for something less serious (but still directed to a&e by GP) and all the children were triaged by order of urgency, with the breathing issues being dealt with first. I know there is a lot of bad press, but in a real emergency I think you'd be seen quickly.

yes I’m worried about it. I am also worried that taxis may become overwhelmed (given its Xmas and the advice is phone a taxi if you need an ambulance 🤦‍♀️) I don’t drive so it would be my only option.

I know what you mean OP, it's pretty scary. I don't really feel like we do have a proper medical system at the moment. At this point I'm thinking we would almost be better off with a different system. I'm thinking of putting my whole household onto my work private healthcare although it's another expense but that doesn't solve the emergency problem.

Oh I completely agree re funding.
But my main point was, I suppose, frustration at consistently low voter turn out, disengagement with the system, lack of effort to actually find. stuff. out......To make the connection between voting and at least the potential for change.. I mean, people would have to actually have to have been in a coma to not notice the way things have been going?
Anyway. I'm off to howl at the moon.

Yes but 'prioritised' at the moment still seems to mean a long wait, plus no beds at hospitals. It's a mess.

I think critical care is still operating. Honestly it's better not to look at the papers it's terrifying. If your child was seriously ill they would get treatment.

It's difficult OP, but I do find (at least in my case) I've been able to access care for my 16m old easily... it's the adults which are harder!

DH called 111 last week as she had a temp of 39.7 and very lethargic, we had been seen by an ooh gp and had antibiotics within 4 1/2 hours of him picking up the phone - and that included 90 minutes on hold! I had further concerns about her yesterday and put in an e-consult with my gp practice, and despite the fact the surgery is only accepting more urgent issues at the moment as they're too busy, I did get a call back from the Dr to reassure me.

To reassure you… GP sent DD to hospital with suspected sepsis. Ambulances queued up outside A&E, 177 people ahead of us. I was terrified and expected a long and anxious wait.

We were triaged within 15 minutes and seen by a doctor within a further 20 even though the triage nurse was satisfied it wasn’t sepsis (which it wasn’t). Emergency care is struggling without a doubt, and people are suffering because of it. But (suspected) critically ill children will always be prioritised.

@Overthebow in a dire emergency a bed will be found, my hospital has 21 patients on PICU. When a patient who should have been a day case, arrested out if the blue. He was on picu within 10 minutes of the crash call.

My DD had RSV a few weeks ago and we went to A&E. She was triaged by a nurse then sent through to the ward about 2 minutes later, immediately put on oxygen and seen by Drs etc.

Im not worried at all, I think that those who need genuine emergency help and care will get it. It will be much worse if you have a medium injury / illness and need to wait tbh, ie waiting hours to be seen about a broken bone is no fun