To ask that Out of Hours GP does bloods tonight

[SnugNightsss]

We’ve got an appointment for my child this evening. I’m concerned it might be appendicitis. I have not had good experiences at the out of hours service locally. Those who’ve had children with appendicitis, how did they diagnose it? Should I ask that they take blood to check for infection markers? Anything else I should be aware of?

Wouldn't suspected appendicitis be more A&E's department?

You need to go to A&E. Mine ruptured and turned gangerous 2 days after pain began.

Presume ooh gp would send you to hospital if bloods needed

Highly doubt the GP surgery will do a blood test there and then. You usually have to book a few days later. I'd second others saying it's more of an A&E matter!

If you are genuinely suspecting appendicitis it’s an A&E job. Is your OOH GP attached to a medical facility that can process bloods?

They likely won't be able to get bloods to a lab for testing at night.

Like others, if you really suspect appendicitis is there a reason you aren't going to A&E?

Walk in centre would be better for getting bloods done. The OOH GP won't have an arrangement for sending them to be processed I wouldn't think. My local walk in sends theirs to the hospital. Or as pp have said A&E.

I’m not sure it is obviously. I’ve contacted 111 and they said out of hours GP. Knowing our A&E even if I set off now she won’t be seen before the GP app at 7.20 anyway. They’re always so busy. My friends child with haemophilia wasn’t seen for over 5 hours last week.
She’s had stomach pain since midday & it’s getting worse. At times she is groaning with the pain, very unlike her. It’s round her belly button and towards the right as well. She’s also vomited once.
So maybe a Gastro bug?

Bloods from a&e have a 1hr turnaround time from when they're received in lab where I work.

Take him to a&e if you suspect appendicitis. I had it as a child and it was diagnosed by physical examination by GP, and I was sent to hospital immediately.

Sorry I should’ve explained. We don’t have a walk in centre. Very rural. Out of hours GP is next to A&E. So if she needs bloods the lab will be the same one A&E and all the wards use at night.

Can she hop?
I've not lost the plot, it's what they asked when we thought dc might have it. The fact he could and the pain didn't get worse during/after meant it was unlikely to be apparently.

Can she hop? (Crude but fairly sensitive test for appendicitis)

She’s 7, she ate at 11.30 just 2 olives and a slice of bread though. Not been herself all morning.
Vomited about 30 mins ago. Temp been normal until just now when I took it, it’s 38.4°. She had calpol at 14.15.
Hasn’t moved from the sofa since 12.00. Won’t let me touch her stomach so I can’t be certain it’s tender. Definitely wouldn’t accept food if offered. She’s miserable.

I forgot about the hopping test! I remember that now from when my cousin had it decades ago. I’ll try and persuade her to try.

There’s no point in doing a blood test tonight as there won’t be anyone available to analyse it.

Hospital blood testing is 24-7.

She needs to go to a&e

OP appendicitis is largely diagnosed clinically, on examination rather than blood tests. I assume if the A&E is next door to the OOH clinic, and the GP thinks it may be appendicitis, they’ll send you to the hospital to see a surgeon.

Nurse here - you should be at A&E with her right now

If they can get it to the next door A&E then they can. At the big hospital where I am they do them round the clock for emergencies .

anaesthetist that regularly sees appendicitis here - this is not a GP issue - ED is the right place. Don't try the hopping thing - it'll just be painful and doesn't prove/exclude anything.

You need to go to A&E, not mess around with OOH