5hr Wait to see a Dr with sick child - how are we at this point

[IAmADancer]

Just that really. Called 111 as my DD is poorly, very high temp, vomiting, lethargic, can’t put chin to her neck as it hurts. Was told she had to attend A&E.

She is currently sat on a plastic chair, looking horrendously pale and feeling so unwell. Seen the nurse and been told it’s a 5 hr wait for a dr.

Why do we accept this as the norm, it’s awful. I feel so frustrated that this is the best we can expect and that a small child who is obviously poorly is left to wait this long

Sorry to hear about this poor experience. I've been in kids a&e maybe three times in the last 3 years and always felt I was taken very seriously and seen (relatively) quickly. I think I want to share this is that its not a given it'll be poor and if you feel able to, then consider a complaint or feeding back via somewhere like health watch.

My gosh OP , I hope your DD is okay, what an awful experience for you. I really feel for you.

It is really quite terrifying hearing these stories. And doesnt make me feel any better hearing the 'good'. stories.

Shouldn't be a bloody lottery as to whether you get taken seriously or not.

Hope all turns out ok for you. Keep us posted!

Sounds like sepsis.
Hope the antibiotics kick in and have her feeling better soon.

Feel better now?

It's not ok and it's not acceptable but it's the NHS so it's magically your fault for being there instead of giving her Calpol and telling her to buck up.

I hope your DD is ok and you both get a good sleep tonight OP.

This is exactly what happened with my DD. They did her bloods and her CRP levels were almost 300. They're supposed to be under 3. This shows the level of inflammation in the body which indicates infection.

We didn't actually find out the cause of DDs infections(s) (the meningococcal bacteria) until she had already been discharged. The hospital had sent off bloods to Great Ormand Street and I got a phone call to say it WAS meningitis all along, and that my mum and I needed to get some type of antibiotic urgently and also a vaccine.

But exactly the same, they started DD on heavy duty antibiotics when they got her CRP levels back. This is exactly what saved DDs life and is definitely what your DD needs.

Wishing her a speedy recovery

Oh Bless Her, and You

A few years ago when I was well into my 50s, I had a nagging pain in my side and could not stop peeing .. Dr claimed it was a UTI and gave me tablets.
FF two days and I was in agony on my right hand side. Was vomiting and, had an unfortunate accident in my sleep I Was lucky to get an appointment with another Dr two days later .
To cut a long story short I had acute appendicitas that was soon whipped out, and found to be gangrene infected to boot

The surgeon, on his rounds the next day, said "It was particularly nasty".

Wishing your dd a speedy recovery.

A friend of mine was fobbed off multiple times before being admitted with sepsis. I'm fairly sure they would have died had they not eventually been admitted when they were. They were in the hospital for about 5 weeks once admitted. There's a massive issue with people not being taken seriously. I'm sure it's because staff are stressed and stretched beyond their limits but that doesn't make it ok, the lack of care my friend was shown.

I've been checking in to see how you were getting on after reading your post last night. You must both be exhausted. Thank goodness you've battled to get her the care she clearly needs. Keep battling. Thinking of you both.

@IAmADancer im glad your DD is being treated and hope she is doing OK

I notice on this and other threads that it is much easier to blame patients or parents, than admit the NHS as a system is not working properly. Thats not blaming staff or individuals, but a system designed more than a generation ago for fewer patients, with shorter life spans, doesnt always work efficiently in the current day and age.

OP has had her decisions questioned despite her DD showing clear markers for something that can be fatal. After saying I took my son, I was told by more than one poster that was a GP problem....except lots of advice online say those symptoms are deemed an emergency. And when I called 111 (I cant call my GP at 4.30am) they suggested it was urgent. The Dr's checked for appendicitis...which would have been urgent...
My DC have had lots of stomach bugs etc over the years and I am quite competent at treating at home but this was different from any others we'd experienced. (Even though in the end it was deemed "just a virus" )

Your weren't 'merely saying there is no point raging at the NHS'

With respect and despite your 'also I am not taking aim', you did in fact suggest that she made the decision to take her child home. And that she could have stayed. Thereby shifting the onus of responsibility back on to the mother of a very sick child who was in an impossible situation. I doubt any parent would have stayed given the circumstances.

I actually agreed with you re where the burden of responsibility lies for the current crisis in the NHS.

Frankly I don’t give a shit about NHS staff whinging about deficits.

Missing obvious red flags in a child is just being shit at your job - nothing to do with money and I am sick of that excuses. We all are.

Dear god. 🤐

I do not believe the ppl going to A and E with a broken fingernail rhetoric NO ONE wants to sit there all night unless they absolutely have to. Wes Streeting tried this on on GMB last Thursday, Its bollocks and its wearing very thin.

Such a worry OP. You were right to take her to A&E in the first place and it sounds like you were fobbed off. How is your daughter doing now?

I responded to someone further up, I was clarifying the time line for those that had not read all OPs posts, I am not blaming OP for taking daughter home, we actually did the same. Just some people thought she was in A&E all that time waiting when in fact she went home, saw GP today and was then admitted to hospital. This isn't a bun fight, I am a mum to 2 young girls and I would be beside myself if they had suspected meningitis. Of course I wish OP and daughter all the best.

Hope your dd is ok.

I mean I suspect you will give a shit when you have to pay. Do you realise how much medical care actually costs?
NHS staff are getting laid off left, right and centre but you do you 🙄

It was a priority to her and her daughter, yes we know things are!

😂 Obvs hit a nerve......At least you had the grace to edit your post. For the record I'm not at risk so all good 👍🏻

Fair enough.. but what about those who can't afford to pay? Will they just lie there in pain/suffering/dying of cancer? 😞🤔😪

Ridiculous hyperbole. I don’t think people left to suffer and die in France or Germany or many other countries.

Hybrid systems work perfectly well and manage to incorporate safeguards for those on lower incomes.

I won’t detail the thread further as this doesn’t need to be a NHS vs private vs whatever.

Op i hope your daughter is getting better,I thought it might also be an opportunity to remind everyone about Marthas law. Ive copied this from the nhs site. Let it all be a reminder to us in case we dont get the care we should be. Im not sure if this applies if you're still in the process of waiting to be seen but let's all keep it in mind.
Martha’s Rule recognises that those who know the patient best may be the first to notice changes that could be an early sign of deterioration, and the importance of listening to and acting on the concerns of patients, families and carers. It is being implemented in both adult and children’s inpatient settings in England.

Yes having spend that sort of cash and having some suggest I “ought to be grateful” for no care whatsoever when I have paid in all my life is indeed galling.