That the gp should be more concerned

[poorlybaby23]

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?

The GPs cause the problems by using the receptionists as a gateway to appointments. The message you get when you call our practice says “one of our trained care navigation team will ask for a brief description of your problem”. If I really want an appointment these days, I make my problem sound dire, so I can’t be fobbed off.

Go with your baby to the nearest emergency walk in centre. That's disgusting of the GP secretary. I nearly died as had a serious soft tissue infection and got fobbed off by the GP secretary then spent 2 weeks in A and E and was told I was 12 hours from death. You know your baby best x

Don’t even waste time with GP ring 111 and they will advise. My daughter did this for her poorly 3 year old and then as her daughter deteriorated I the space of an hour rang 999 - they blue lighted her to hospital within 10 minutes . She also worried it wasn’t serious enough to begin with. Admitted overnight and intravenous steroids for sever croup - cane on over a couple of hours. Always follow your instincts and either grab the baby and go to A&E or 999. Kids go down super fast . I get that GP’s are overworked and the receptionist acts as triage but they shouldn’t and the practice should be held to account and have clear guidelines for sick infants, especially one so young . Complain away.

Go to A andE follow your mummy’s instincts .You know your baby .Some A and Es get you seen quicker if a young baby Virus,s can quickly change tibinfrction Your little one wil get dehydrated Go now

I'm like you, I second, (third, fourth...and on) guess myself. I'm glad you listened to your gut and the people on here that told you to go. Obviously the right call since you were admitted.

Haven't rtt but I'm guessing others have advised you to complain / feedback to the gp practice. Please do. Receptionists like that need to be trained. Someone who sat back and waited after being told "it's just viral" might be facing a very different situation.

OP posted four days ago. Do you imagine she has been dithering about this all that time?

We should be going home today, I'm apprehensive about going home but we will still have open access if we need to come back.

Baby is better in most aspects but the cough is painful you can see. Absolutely awful, we will be hibernating for a little while.

Glad baby is improving and wishing you all well.

with those symptoms I wouldn’t have bothered with GP straight to A&E.

@Skybluepinky
that's not the point of the thread though. OP did ring GP. Receptionist didn't only refuse a GP appointment but advised that, since it sounds viral, no treatment should be thought. This was totally out of order. If no GP appointment, she should have pointed out to OP to contact 111 or A&E but instead advised specifically that the virus does not warrant doctors time. Luckily Op ignored it but there are people out there who would have thought they waste NHS time in seeking a further assessment. The receptionist was bang out of order.

Write a formal letter to the GP making a formal complaint about the receptionist dismissing your 6 month old child's illness as "just a virus" with no medical qualifications whatsoever.

This is really serious particularly as some of the symptoms you describe could indicate septicaemia! Truly shocking and they need to know and do something about it urgently.

Glad that you are able to go home and baby is on the mend. Hope the cough clears up soon.

How is baby now OP?

@Jacesmum1977 much better but still not right, lots of coughing and sick from coughing. Poor baby, I had to call the doctors for a follow up appointment. Spoke to the doctor about the whole situation and they encouraged me to speak to the practice manager.

I spoke to her and she was very dismissive, I have now formally complained to the CCG.

@poorlybaby23 ffs what is wrong with people??? I’m glad you’re making a stand about this. Good luck and keep us posted won’t you x

Good for you OP. The Practice Manager should be ashamed of themselves.

Well done on taking it further. A good practice manager would be apologetic and be ensuring that practices are reviewed so that this situation doesn’t happen again.

In my surgery, it would be logged as a ‘Significant Event’. It’s not to apportion blame, but to highlight the situation, and to make necessary changes, implement training, new procedures etc to ensure something similar is less likely to occur again. Ie. It’s a learning process to improve standards.

Good! Do hope yoyr baby is soon properly on tbe mend.

Agree with the 'significant event' poster too. It was an appalling experience for you and your baby, let's hope significant 'learnings' can happen at your surgery so tbat your reporting can help others, because there will be others in exactly your situation

Glad you have taken it further. The fact the Practice Manager was dismissive is really concerning; there needs to be a constructive review of aspects of this GP surgery to ensure all understand best practice etc.

Hope baby improves soon