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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

to seriously think about changing doctors

10 replies

IndigoMoon · 22/02/2008 14:19

ds (15 months) has been really poorly since wednesday last week. it started fairly mildly so i held of taking him to my gps initially but on saturday he got up and was in a lot of pain with his ears. i went to the local drop-in clinic and they gave me amoxycillin for an ear infection.

on sunday he started to be quite sick and om tuesday i took him to the drs as i was worried about the amount he was throwing up and he was still not well. I asked the dr if it could be the antibiotics - he said no and pretty much fobbed me off and sent me home.

by wednesday it had reached epic vomit status and his hip bones were sticking out with the amount of weight he has lost. so i stopped the antibiotics.

the sickness has stopped but yesterday he was so weak and tired he could not climb on the sofa so i phoned the drs to be told there were no appointments and to phone back at 3.30pm. I pretty much begged for an appointment but they said no that i would have to phone back. 3.30pm is the time i get dd from school so i tried to get childcare but no one was available so i left it and he was a lot better by the end of the day.

this morning he has got up, looked loads better, ate loads of breakfast and went back to bed after taking dd to school.

he only slept a short time and woke up flushed with temp again and with a racking cough. So i phoned the drs - again!!!! all the morning appointments were gone, i asked for an afternoon one, they said the only ones left would be released at 3.30pm. I again explained that the time was difficult as i needed to get dd, i again begged for a time slot and then i can work some childcare around that and was told no. one of the moms could get her today but i need to know what time my appointment is so i can let the mom know when i will be back etc. they still said no!!!! anyway i went back down to the drop in clinic with dh, they have checked him over thoroughly and they just think he is run down ubt all the infection is gone. they did say that if he gets very lethargic to go to hospital!! so once again i am at a loss with it all and dont think i am getting a good service from my drs.

so i am seriously thinking about changing - its a shame cos the head doctor is fab and has known me since i was my daughters age but he is so busy you normally see somebody different and the one has no bedside manner and the other was the one who fobbed me of on tuesday. Also at the moment it is usual to be an hour late to go in for an appointment. in fact last year i had to leave before my smear test as the nurse was running an hour and a half late and i had to go to another appointment.

seems like a big decision though as i am wondering if it is better the devil you know

OP posts:
edam · 22/02/2008 14:28

It's shit, isn't it? It's no use having a good GP if you can't actually get to see them.

Worth phoning around a few different practices and seeing what their appointment systems are. And if I were you I'd write to the practice manager ONCE you've signed up elsewhere explaining how impossible it is, and copy your letter to the chief executive of the Primary Care Trust.

readytopop · 22/02/2008 14:29

If they are that busy, it might be worth asking for recommendations on a local info site, like if you have a local freecycle cafe.

With my dc's if they are ill, I will usually ask for a telephone consultation. saves me dragging both dcs and bump there, or trying to rush back to collect ds from nursery, and if they are not sure, they ask me to bring the child in, by which time ds is home anyway. Another route I have been known to use is take dcs to baby clinic (this one only works on baby clinic days, obviously) and ask my hv what she thinks, cos after all they do train as nurses initially. If she isn't happy, and she tends to err on the side of caution, she will toddle off and drag a doc back.

Hope your ds is better soon.

IndigoMoon · 22/02/2008 14:34

my friend has recommended hers as she was shocked at how i was being treated! she said that her dr speaks over the phone as well. which would be so useful in a situation like this.

he has eaten a lot of lunch and is back in bed. i was in bits this morning though - i am so tired of having a poorly child cos its horrible for him and i feel useless and cannot get anything done.

also the dr on tuesday was quite shocked when i asked if i should avoid milk for ds to see if that would stop him being sick! he said no thats just silly but twice the receptionists have advised me to stop giving him milk!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

i am going to change - seems a really big decision

OP posts:
RedJools · 22/02/2008 14:40

grr at your docs!! Tbh, after some friends' experiences with GPs, if any of mine were worryingly ill, and I wasn't sure what was wrong, I would take them straight to the local children's hospital. It amazes me how docs can be so blase about other people's kids! I would say change doctors, but don'y get your hopes up- in my experience they are all pretty bad when it comes to getting an appointment, with a doctor who will actually examine your child, listen to your concern and then give you a prescription! Hope your ds is better soon!

rebelmum1 · 22/02/2008 14:44

I would change. Was the sickness a reaction to the antbiotics? Some of them are very very rough on the gut - check the contraindications. I know from experience with my dd. I would give your dc a probiotic, live yoghurt, one a day for a while.

rebelmum1 · 22/02/2008 14:45

In future go straight to hospital at least until you find a good doc - I usually always get seen the same day with dc - they don't usually take risks which I am very pleased as once my dd couldn't breathe properly.

WonkyAngel · 22/02/2008 14:59

Indigomoon,

It could well be the antibiotics. Amoxycillin has penicillin in which makes me very ill. I'm not allergic to penicillin, but it does not agree with me.

Also check the dosage you were told to give him. It could be that it was a bit much for someone so young?

If I were you, I'd write a letter to the practice manager, or head doctor and just say that you felt let down and dissappointed by the service and am considering going elsewhere. Not a formal complaint, but it might be a good thing for the head doctor there to hear what is going on with the others.

And I would change doctors, or just take him straight to hospital next time.

x

coastalmum · 22/02/2008 15:06

I agree with WonkyAngel - I sent a letter to our doc explaining how I felt the service the practice wasn't working. I got a really nice letter back, and some changes have been made.

I do find some not all doctors receptionists can be real jobs worths.

pol27 · 22/02/2008 15:13

Indigomoon, We had the with DS between christmas and new year ~ nothing but bother and being 'fobbed' off.

Has he still got a cough?? Just my DS was v.similar (from what you've put, apart from anti bios) and he had croup.

It took until we rushed him to a&e and he stopped breathing for them to do anything, please, if you're worried about him take him to hospital ~ you're his mum and you know your child best.

p.s. i'd complain about docs and change too.

IndigoMoon · 22/02/2008 15:52

i still am not sure he is at all right. no more temp but he is very lethargic and snotty and his cough is terrible. am so tired with it all.

he started with temp
little bit of sickness with the temp
pulling ears
went on antibiotics
huge amounts of sickness and really vile stuff as well
came off antibiotics
sick once
high temp this morning
bad cough
snotty nose
lethargic

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