to feel really uncomfortable about this...?

[Astrophe]

My DS has chicken pox. One eye has gone really red. I rang the GP, they have refused me an appointment, but have had the GP prescribe some eye drops for DS, which I can collect today.

The GP hasn't even seen him, or spoken to me. DS is 2 years old. Would you put the eye drops in? AIBU to feel uncomfortable with this?

I would check with the pharmacist when you go to get them. They are usually good on this type of stuff.

Thats a good idea.

I'm sure it will be fine - the red eye is probably something really run of the mill... but still, its my little boys eye. Is it too much to ask fr 5 minutes of the GPs time? We pay taxes!

Yeah I wouldn't be happy without checking it out.

Unless it's a repeat prescription or calpol I'm would be seriously pissed at the idea of them prescribing stuff without seeig the child.

I have a GP mate I will ask to take a quick look...but WHY should I need to do that? Good health care shouldn't depend on heppening to have a mate who is a GP. The more I think about this, the angrier I am getting. WTF is wrong with this country?

they won't want you to bring the child to the surgery though because he is contagious. But a red eye isn't sufficient to warrant a home visit, hence why they have given a prescription.

When I've needed antibiotics for a known problem my GPs receptionist has said "you have to see the doctor first. She can't just hand stuff out without examining you"

Sounds like laziness has won out over ethics and safety

I will need to take him to the surgery to collect the prescription.

Although you are understandably worried I am sure the doctor experiences red eye in kids with chicken pox all of the time and is saving you taking an infectious child to the surgery where you may have to wait to be seen with a fractious child.

I spent most last week ranting about our drs.

The only thing that has been stopping me from swapping is thinking that maybe we'll end up with worse.

I'd guess it isn't laziness on the surgery's part, more a wish to keep chicken pox away from other patients, who may be ill/pregnant/be immuno-compromised.

But it does seem wrong to prescribe something without seeing the patient. Glad you've got a GP mate and agree about asking the pharmacist for advice but I'd also write to the practice manager, explaining what's happened and saying it's not good enough and that they need to change their procedures.

If they are so keen to keep c/p patients away, they can do a home visit, FGS. Or do as my surgery does and put any potentially highly infectious children in a separate room while you wait for the doctor.

I daresay it will be fine, and the prescription will be fine, but there is just that 'what if...'. I will check with my frind, and will write a letter to surgery.

An out of hours gp prescribed my dd1 (2 also) with antibiotic eye drops a couple of weeks ago, she didn't see her, we described symptoms over the phone, she said that we could go to casualty, but they would prescribe the same drops in any cirmcumstance (eg something in the eye etc).My dh drove to the local hospital in the middle of the night to pick them up.

They won't see you at the surgery because of the risk of infection.

Both my dd's have chickenpox at the moment - it is horrible, they are both really suffering, I hope your ds starts to feel better soon.