Page 7 | To take my son to A&E on Monday

PuppyKeep · 2025-10-10T13:50:20+00:00

Deep breaths. I know I'll get attacked for this, as A&E is for life/death emergencies, but my heart is breaking for my son and I must help him. He's 13 and autistic. For several months, he has had extreme fatigue, gradually getting worse over time. He is losing weight rapidly and is now clinically underweight. He looks skeletal, sleeps all day and has chronic constipation, despite daily prescribed laxatives. When he finally has a poo, there is a lot of blood. He is in pain (lower stomach and bum) - I worry he's developing fistulas or worse. His mouth is full of ulcers. He has had blood tests which show hugely raised inflammation markers. We are waiting for a stool test. The community paediatrician strongly suspects Crohn's and has put in an urgent referral to the city hospital. The hospital estimate 4 weeks till he can be seen (despite the paediatrician pleading for him to be seen within days as he is so sick). 4 weeks! No treatment. I phoned the hospital in desperation and asked if I took him to A&E could he get treatment. The nurse said he would not get the specialised treatment he needs over the weekend as the consultant has gone home, but we might be successful on a weekday before 5pm if we try A&E then. My thinking is: help him through weekend as best as possible and then rush him in on Monday?

CatchTheWind1920 · 10/10/2025 19:42

Don't blame you, op. Your poor boy. If they can help him, take him on Monday

BeetyAxe · 10/10/2025 19:45

I have no advice but I just wanted to say I’m so sad to read this, your heart must be broken. Poor you and your poor son. I really hope he gets the help he needs soon. Huge hugs for you.x

SepticPegsSepticLeg · 10/10/2025 20:00

Oh OP your poor baby!

Please take him in the morning. I am very worried about him and I am a complete strangers on the Internet!

You must be beside yourself with worry.

He may not want to go but as a parent you need to override his wants right now. He absolutely MUST be under the care of medical professionals today.

Opal888 · 10/10/2025 20:05

Take him

Holycowhowmuch · 10/10/2025 20:22

Your the adult you decide take him insist in b12 blood test

Nursingadvice · 10/10/2025 20:25

I would definitely go today. I have been to a&e several times for my IBD. If you are well enough to wait, you probably don’t need a&e. If he is not well enough, it doesn’t matter if the consultant isn’t there. There will still be a whole team of people on duty. I’ve been to a&e on weekends and been admitted, they have then done investigations such as CT scans, and started medications.

before I was diagnosed I left it so long before going to hospital my bowel was almost perforated.

Newlysinglemumma · 10/10/2025 20:32

Hospitals do have specialist teams in on weekends and even nights and there are always people on cal they can reach out to if there not around.

MousseMousse · 10/10/2025 20:36

@PuppyKeep I understand its difficult when a child has ASD, but so many of us with experience of IBD here telling you not to wait until Monday...

ThankULord · 10/10/2025 20:56

PuppyKeep · 10/10/2025 19:34

Thanks everyone. He’s sleeping. No stool for 4 days. I’ve given Calpol and his usual laxatives.

He doesn’t want to go to hospital “if the proper people aren’t around”. I said they’d definitely be around on Monday so we will go then at the latest.

I keep randomly crying. It’s so hard.

@PuppyKeep , paediatrics operates a 24hr service. Proper people.are always around. Some hospitals have consultants on site 24hrs. Others have consultants on site till 10pm, after 10pm, they are called to discuss patients or asked to come in if they are needed. These consultants are on call.

There is always a registrar on site 24/7 who discusses with the consultant when the consultant is off site and who will liaise with the specialist team on call.
Almost every paediatric unit in London has a policy that a patient has to be seen by a consultant within 24hrs of admission.
So for e.g, if you went tonight and the consultant discussed your son with the registrar but did not have to come in to the hospital to see him, he will definitely be seen by a consultant on the morning ward round tomorrow.
Please, do take him in. He can have his pain managed, his nutirion and hydration managed, all necessary blood tests done and initial Gastro management started. By monday, there will be enough results from blood tests, nursing observations, from response to pain relief and hydration to give to the attending Gastro team for the week to hit the ground running.
Are you in London, @PuppyKeep ?

AutumnedCrow · 10/10/2025 21:01

ThankULord · 10/10/2025 20:56

@PuppyKeep , paediatrics operates a 24hr service. Proper people.are always around. Some hospitals have consultants on site 24hrs. Others have consultants on site till 10pm, after 10pm, they are called to discuss patients or asked to come in if they are needed. These consultants are on call.

There is always a registrar on site 24/7 who discusses with the consultant when the consultant is off site and who will liaise with the specialist team on call.
Almost every paediatric unit in London has a policy that a patient has to be seen by a consultant within 24hrs of admission.
So for e.g, if you went tonight and the consultant discussed your son with the registrar but did not have to come in to the hospital to see him, he will definitely be seen by a consultant on the morning ward round tomorrow.
Please, do take him in. He can have his pain managed, his nutirion and hydration managed, all necessary blood tests done and initial Gastro management started. By monday, there will be enough results from blood tests, nursing observations, from response to pain relief and hydration to give to the attending Gastro team for the week to hit the ground running.
Are you in London, @PuppyKeep ?

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She’s in Newcastle, I believe the OP said, and that the hospital she will need to go to is the RVI. This is a central teaching hospital and it’s going to be very, very chaotic busy on a Friday night and weekend.

Clarissa111 · 10/10/2025 21:01

In my experience, this won't work. I'd take him still, but my 17 yr old has been poorly for around 2 yrs. We've had numerous GP appointments. Waiting for referals. Weve literally been to a and e 19 times. This is because he's been dehydrated. He's usually given a drip and sent home to wait for the referal appointment. One A and E doc told me that they aren't there to diagnose. Just to basically put a plaster on. Unless it's surgical. Twice he was kept in but not fixed, or seen a specialist. Just got him stable, then sent home. 5 days it's took, but still sent home waiting for an appointment.
His appointment finally came. For April. 2026!
We actually had a phone call today and he's been booked in as an emergency for tomorrow.
If you worried , take him to A and E. I hope he's ok. And your hospital is better than ours.

Hotchocolateandsnow · 10/10/2025 21:03

OP please be aware that Monday is normally the busiest day at A&E as lot of people don’t want to ruin their weekend and put off going.

UncharteredWaters · 10/10/2025 21:11

PuppyKeep · 10/10/2025 15:06

Only other option is to ask your GP to refer him directly to a ward?

Is this a thing?

Not quite.

If he’s in a flare of crohns he needs to go to hospital/out of hours/urgent care. So if you think he’s sick enough for hospital then you should be going along today.

alternatively if you think he’s well enough to wait to Monday - then you could see your gp. I often then ring paeds and either agree to admit a child (can be via a&e or to ‘a ward’ really an assessment area if a big enough hospital), or see in a ‘hot clinic’ over the next few days or they say safe to wait for outpatients etc.

Just be aware that if he’s well enough and goes to ED it does not guarantee seeing a paeds speciality consultant. It would just be Ed/paeds doctor for ‘immediate treatemnt’ and wait for OP appt.

ThankULord · 10/10/2025 21:14

AutumnedCrow · 10/10/2025 21:01

She’s in Newcastle, I believe the OP said, and that the hospital she will need to go to is the RVI. This is a central teaching hospital and it’s going to be very, very chaotic busy on a Friday night and weekend.

Show quote history

She should take him in regardless. He is not a simple viral URTI. He is really unwell.
RVI Newcastle has tertiary paediatrics, so they have their own specialists. And their own dedicated Paediatric Emergency Department. She should take him in.

Rainbows41 · 10/10/2025 21:21

Take him to a&e tomorrow please. It is easier to get a medical appointment from a hospital bay rather than at home, as the nurses can advocate for him, and the doctors can push for quicker action. This child is clearly sick and needs immediate medical attention. His body is suffering greatly and he is mentally exhausted. Get him in tomorrow please. He needs monitoring.

Thisisnotmyid · 10/10/2025 21:25

I wouldn’t wait until Monday. Surely there will be a Paeds consultant on call that they can get advice from?

partytimed · 10/10/2025 21:32

I’d take him today OP even if they get him on a drip and pain relief whilst they get a specialist in. There must be someone on call and it sounds like a genuine emergency.

LovingLimePeer · 10/10/2025 21:46

I was reading this thinking Crohn's before you mentioned it. If he is as ill as you say, he needs an urgent scope/starting on steroids and immunosuppressants after. I would get him seen by the surgical team in ED and if they don't plan to admit him then and there, they can at least arrange for him to have an urgent scope so that he can be started on treatment.

OhMehGoddess · 10/10/2025 22:25

PuppyKeep · 10/10/2025 15:06

Only other option is to ask your GP to refer him directly to a ward?

Is this a thing?

I was about 16years ago. Straight referral and admission.

ToutesetBonne · 11/10/2025 08:15

PuppyKeep · 10/10/2025 19:34

Thanks everyone. He’s sleeping. No stool for 4 days. I’ve given Calpol and his usual laxatives.

He doesn’t want to go to hospital “if the proper people aren’t around”. I said they’d definitely be around on Monday so we will go then at the latest.

I keep randomly crying. It’s so hard.

He's a child! He does not get to make that decision.

For the love of God, unless this is a fake post, please, please, please follow the advice of the several medical professionals who have posted here and take him to A&E!

Grumpybeforemytime · 11/10/2025 08:49

Yes take him. Sounds very suspicious of Crohns. Even if the specialist GI team aren't in over the weekend, he can still come in under the general paediatric medical team and have a basic work up overvthe weekend with blood tests, possible IV fluids if he's not drinking, and they can start with basic investigations like abdominal x ray etc. This can't wait until his outpatient appointment. I'm a paediatrician and we wouldn't be cross if you presented to A+E at all.

Idontknowhatnametochoose · 11/10/2025 08:52

I cried last night reading this so I can't begin to imagine how awful it is for you.

Yes take him. I wouldn't even hesitate. He is clearly seriously sick and to say 4 weeks is medical negligence..

unrsnblyannoyd · 11/10/2025 09:28

OP please do take him in. If a child needs specialist input there are consultants/senior registrars available on call for advice. They can start the bloods work up, get him hydrated, consider supplementing his nutrition etc…

Frolie · 11/10/2025 09:56

So sorry to read this. Your poor son and poor you. Take him today. I’d go this morning. If he’s dehydrated they’ll
put him on a drip and provide effective pain relief. It won’t matter if the consultant isn’t in until Monday. They can still admit him, get him in the system and make him
comfortable. Being dehydrated for a long period is dangerous in itself. My 13 year old
was admitted on a Friday night for a very rare sinus infection, close to his brain. He was given two MRIs over the weekend and antibiotics. If we hadn’t gone Friday night I dread to think what would have happened. Good luck and keep advocating for your son. I know how draining it is. You’re a wonderful mum x

Lbet · 11/10/2025 17:51

Any update on your son?