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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think taking a baby to A&E for a runny nose is sooo stupid?

31 replies

chloejessmeg · 11/12/2008 18:55

So, somebody has asked for advice on local website. Her 3 month old baby has a runny nose and wants to know if she should go and see the GP. No other symptoms, no temperature or anything.

I can't believe that people on there have advised her to go to A%E! WTF?

Sorry but I think this is ridiculous!! How can anybody think a runny nose can warrent a trip to A&E???

OP posts:
blueshoes · 11/12/2008 19:18

Is it a parenting site?

Sounds barmy.

hecAteAMillionMincePies · 11/12/2008 19:19

i think that is ott. would it be bad form of me to ask if it is her first? only you do tend to be a bit, erm, yes.. with your first. (On account of it being bloody scary!!)

Lulumama · 11/12/2008 19:19

some people are terribly nervous and anxious parents, with no sensible friends or family around, and thereofre ask for advice for seemingly simple things and then get OTT advice from similarly nervous parents

i really don;t think you need to get your knickers in a twist about it

rubyslippersisappearinginpanto · 11/12/2008 19:21

i am with Lulu - it may seem an over reaction but for some people they are very nervy especially with a newborn

needmorecoffee · 11/12/2008 19:22

sounds like PFB. And people forget hospitals are full of sick poeple and you'll catch something!

misdee · 11/12/2008 19:23

when dd4 was born recently, in the afternoon she sounded really mucous-y, i asked dh if i should call the gp but then checked online and was reassured it was normal.

ElfOnTheTopShelf · 11/12/2008 19:28

at 3 mths my dd was all snotty, so I rang nhs who told me to go to a&e which I had thought was excessive, but it turned out she had bronchilitis and quite poorly

needmorecoffee · 11/12/2008 19:34

do NHS Direct ever give any other advice for anything? Every time I have rung them they end up saying 'go to A&E'. They could just stick it on an answer machine!!

Original poster
chloejessmeg · 11/12/2008 19:35

I am pretty sure she will wait for hours in A&E. I took DD there a 6months old with tonsilitis, temp of nearly 105 and still waited over 3 hours. And yes, the baby is more likely to catch something new.

GP I can understand but A&E is very OTT

OP posts:
GrimmaTheNome · 11/12/2008 19:39

I've always found NHS direct quite sane and helpful and reassuring - the only time A&E was advised was when DH was having an attack of atrial fibrillation before he'd got any medication for it.

I suspect if the worried mum in the OP called them rather than 'local website' she would not have been advised to cart babe to A&E

StealthPolarBear · 11/12/2008 19:39

nmc, yes so far DS has been to A&E for everything! Apart from yesterday when I called about a suspected ear infection, and had to confess he'd bumped his head! Was already putting my shoes on, but they suggested keeping an eye on it
Still would rather err on side of caution

StealthPolarBear · 11/12/2008 19:40

They asked is he conscious?
I replied Yes and didn't add "He's currently putting a nappy on his toy giraffe"

ilovemydog · 11/12/2008 19:42

ACtually got some decent advice off NHS Direct.

DD had banged her head, and the nurse asked me to observe various things, then decided that she was fine, and OK to give her Calpol which is why I called (wasn't sure with a bang to the head).

NMC did your DD have her op? Is she OK?

needmorecoffee · 11/12/2008 19:44

she did, was OD'ed by the stupid hospital, got out yesterday and is screaming her head off and has been screaming since yesterday. Gastrao nurse said it will be sore for a while. She hates being fed through it too.

StealthPolarBear · 11/12/2008 19:46
Sad
snickersnack · 11/12/2008 19:48

From NHS Direct's point of view, I can see why they advise parents of small babies to go to A&E. When you don't have any input from the patient themselves, it's so difficult to make a diagnosis so they do always err on the side of caution.

I think they are great - I heart NHS Direct. How marvellous to have a calm and reassuring voice at the end of the phone at 2 in the morning when your 11 month old has been doing weird screaming for an hour. The nurse suggested turning the tv on, which worked a treat .

ilovemydog · 11/12/2008 19:49

unbelievable. This is the second time they have managed to OD her?

needmorecoffee · 11/12/2008 20:04

yup. Which suggests wrong doses are actually pretty common.

Gorionine · 12/12/2008 11:03

3 mth is still very little and you have to be cautious , I would rather waste time in a trip to A&E than just wait and see.

Belgianchocolates · 12/12/2008 11:12

I only phoned NHS direct a handful of times and each time their advice as just common sense stuff I was doing anyway or go to your GP, so now I don't bother calling them, because I've never had any useful new advise from them.
Yes I do think going to A&E for just a runny nose is OTT, especially if baby was otherwise OK. Advising to go to the GP would have been better. However I'm one of those parents who don't worry unless it look like my dc's are really really ill.

Pinkjennybellrock · 12/12/2008 11:14

Maybe it's affecting her breathing.

WillburyNibbleQC · 12/12/2008 11:20

I think if you're alone with a tiny, ill baby, and are not an experienced parent, it is easy to become over-anxious.

A bit of reassurance, patience and understanding is all that is required.

I would rather someone was over cautious than uncaring.

gabygirl · 12/12/2008 11:25

I have ended up in A&E with a newborn with a cold - sent there by NHS Direct. My understanding is that when there are ANY breathing issues at all with very tiny babies they advise you see a ......

anniemac · 12/12/2008 11:25

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

gabygirl · 12/12/2008 11:25

...doctor (sorry - don't know how that happened!)