help! any GPs still awake?

[nouveaupauvre]

this sounds incredibly feeble but 4y0 ds fell over earlier today at CM's and has what looks like tiny tiny bit of grit stuck in cut. can't get at it with a needle or tweezers and after half an hour of trying he is now hysterical. DH, who is not one to under-react, phoned NHS direct who said take him to A and E but not sure this really merits spending four hours among the assorted drunks. any advice?

Good soak in some warm water then see if you can tease it out with corner of a flannel/muslin?

Bribe him with haribo?

is there a walk in centre or minor injuries nearby?

disclaimer - not a GP!

One of my DCs, I would put a blob of sudocrem on and see how it is in the morning if it wasn't coming out easily. Not a massive infection risk IMHO.

Not a GP but you could go to a 24 hr chemist and get some magnesium sulphate paste, some gauze and tape. Large lump of paste over cut, gauze over the top and tape it at the edges. Leave overnight and the grit should be drawn out. Works for splinters, boils and that annoying swelling you get on the edge of your finger nail when you accidentally tear a bit of nail at the side. Totally painless. hth.

The skin is quite good at expelling foreign bodies - if you leave it it will usually work it's own way out.

Don't go digging (that will increase the risk of infection). Let him go to bed, then put him in the bath in the morning to soak, and wash the area gently with a flannel; it may come out.

If it's becoming red, inflamed, mucky or hot to touch then see your GP.

Be careful putting mag sulph on cuts, it can cause irritation to broken skin. It's really best in intact skin infections such as boils and whitlows.

thankyou very much all! have decided he could probably do with a decent night's sleep more than a night at A and E. fingers crossed it works its way out..