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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

That the gp should be more concerned

168 replies

poorlybaby23 · 30/11/2023 13:26

I'll start this off by saying I know that Primary care is overwhelmed at the moment.

I've got a 6 month old who has this dreaded virus that's going around, I think. Been poorly for well over a week, hacking cough that brings up mucus. Now refusing any milk, so far today has had 3oz. Usually has around 6x 7oz feeds a day. Very sleepy and seems unable to hold their head up. Inconsolable crying all night and most of the morning. Called the doctors and the receptionist said that we couldn't go on the duty list as it's probably just viral. I pushed at this point as 1. She isn't medically qualified 2. My baby is deteriorating.

Still waiting on a call back, I'm unsure whether to go to A&E as I'm starting to get concerned. Aibu if they don't call to lodge a complaint?

OP posts:
Jellycats4life · 30/11/2023 14:58

Yep, go to A&E. That’s a set of worrying symptoms in such a young baby. Good luck.

dooneyousmugelf · 30/11/2023 15:06

I'd ring the NHS line and wait an hour or so for a call back to confirm a walk-in appointment. In my area and others I can think of, you would be sat in A&E for at least 4-6 hours. Hellish with a poorly baby.

Lovepeaceunderstanding · 30/11/2023 15:09

Your GP hasn’t had a chance to be concerned because you were triaged by someone who as far as we know is not medically qualified. This ought not to be allowed.
Go to your local walk in centre, if they think you need A&E they’ll send you there.

Ddcg12 · 30/11/2023 15:10

Goto A&E hopefully just a viral infection but with symptoms your describing better safe than sorry you will be seen quickly with a young baby and nurses are always happy to double check poorly babies for concerned mothers.

Hope everything is ok update us when you can sending a hug

Notsurewhatnext · 30/11/2023 15:16

just because it could be viral, it doesn't mean they shouldn't be seen. Mine spend a week in the HDU because of the RSV virus. Definitely a&e and complain to GP at a later point.

Zanatdy · 30/11/2023 15:23

Go to the out of hours GP or A&E, never trust a GP receptionist in this situation. With babies you can never be too cautious in my opinion

FarmersWife2019 · 30/11/2023 18:44

Thank you @Riverlee
@OhpoorMe Dioralyte should only be given under the guidance of a doctor to babies under two years of age.

OhpoorMe · 30/11/2023 18:48

FarmersWife2019 · 30/11/2023 18:44

Thank you @Riverlee
@OhpoorMe Dioralyte should only be given under the guidance of a doctor to babies under two years of age.

I understand but my point was the Gp was right that it could wait till the next day, so I didn't understand you raising a complaint

Original poster
poorlybaby23 · 30/11/2023 19:18

Well we have been admitted, so very glad we came in when we did. Lesson to me to always follow my gut.

OP posts:
Doggymummar · 30/11/2023 19:20

Oh no, hope everything is ok

lljkk · 30/11/2023 19:21

<Hugs>. I hope you find it helpful to keep us updated.

Ratfinkstinkypink · 30/11/2023 19:26

I hope you are both soon home and well.

Rosebud21 · 30/11/2023 19:30

Not all urgent care centres are co-located (on the same site) as an emergency department. An unwell baby, as described here, needs an emergency department. OP, I hope you & baby are ok.

tedgran · 30/11/2023 19:30

Many years ago I was a GP receptionist, the only advice I was allowed to give was plenty of fluids and paracetamol for colds. I hate the way unqualified peoplele offer advice. Good luck with your little one.

FarmersWife2019 · 30/11/2023 19:31

@OhpoorMe But the GP didn’t tell me he could wait until the next day, the receptionist did who isn’t medically trained or qualified to triage. 111 however triaged and decided he needed to be seen. My complaint was followed up by the GP practice who agreed what happened was incorrect and additional training would be put in place because of this. Said practice has only just come out of special measures with a CQC rating of inadequate.

GreenDay9irl · 30/11/2023 19:37

A&E asap. My friends son was like this and ended up on oxygen with RSV

edited to say I’ve seen your update. Hope baby is ok.

RoseAndRose · 30/11/2023 19:40

GreenDay9irl · 30/11/2023 19:37

A&E asap. My friends son was like this and ended up on oxygen with RSV

edited to say I’ve seen your update. Hope baby is ok.

Edited

(Edited to get rid of a comment to pp, which is no longer required as she has updated her post)

Wishing you well, OP
Flowers

GreenDay9irl · 30/11/2023 19:43

@RoseAndRose no need for that tone.

I was giving advice as a friends young baby had same symptoms and ended up on oxygen. I hadn’t got to page 2 yet.

Needahandholdplease2023 · 30/11/2023 19:46

Hope your little one is ok and you are too its horrid and so scary when they're unwell. You're in the best place now. Thinking of you both xx

RoseAndRose · 30/11/2023 19:52

GreenDay9irl · 30/11/2023 19:43

@RoseAndRose no need for that tone.

I was giving advice as a friends young baby had same symptoms and ended up on oxygen. I hadn’t got to page 2 yet.

What on earth is wrong with saying I wish the OP well, and posting flowers?

Confused

Or perhaps, because I edited my post as soon as I saw the one I was quoting was updated (I responded before the edit), you might extend the same courtesy re your further response?

fetchacloth · 30/11/2023 20:01

poorlybaby23 · 30/11/2023 19:18

Well we have been admitted, so very glad we came in when we did. Lesson to me to always follow my gut.

Hope all will be OK OP 🌺
Your gut is rarely wrong.

WingingItSince1973 · 30/11/2023 20:01

So glad you went to hospital. I had a doctor tell me a few times my 3 year old was fine and was just a virus. Even to the morning I could hardly wake her. Rushed to hospital and she had pneumonia and was put on a drip. If I had carried on listening to the doctor I dread to think how poorly she would have become. Hope for a speedy recovery xxx

pinkyh · 30/11/2023 20:09

Thank god you went to a&e. Well done OP. You're both in the best hands now. Wishing your baby a speedy recovery. The receptionist needs a massive complaint at the end of this. X

SleepyRich · 30/11/2023 21:55

Glad you went!

Unfortunately many surgeries have had to stop seeing all babies same day as the numbers would be overwhelming/demand far outstrips capacity. There are just so many parents demanding babies are seen with really minor symptoms over less than 24hrs in many cases that people with genuinely sick kids like yours get missed In the crowd. There are too many for GPs to triage themselves so receptionists have had to have triage training, they do there best to sift who needs to be seen, which of course won't be perfect telephone triage is very difficult.

CormoranEllacott · 30/11/2023 22:00

OhpoorMe · 30/11/2023 14:39

I called 111 who referred us to A&E that night. After some fluid therapy and diarrhoea relief all was okay. I then made a complaint against the GP practice for allowing a receptionist to triage.

But that sounds as though you didn't need A&E, just to give baby dioralyte and fluids?

You mean she should’ve just popped in an IV drip herself and then also given a medication not approved for babies? Yeah, that sounds like a great idea. Good on you for coming out swinging on a thread about it too. One about an unwell infant.