Tonsillitis - referral refused

[whosthemumma]

My son has constant tonsillitis I asked for a referral as had it more than 6 times this year but it was rejected, my doctors are next to useless, if I change surgerys am I more likely to get a referral ??

I can't think why a referral should be refused if DS has had 6 bouts of tonsillitis. How old is he and what have previous years been like. Have you asked why a referral was refused. I found this on the NICE guidelines but it's from 2010 so not sure if this is most recent:

The following are recommended as indications for consideration of tonsillectomy for
recurrent acute sore throat in both children and adults:
sore throats are due to acute tonsillitis
the episodes of sore throat are disabling and prevent normal functioning
seven or more well documented, clinically significant, adequately treated sore
throats in the preceding year or
five or more such episodes in each of the preceding two years or
three or more such episodes in each of the preceding three years.
2.4 postoperative care
; At the time of discharge, patients/carers should be provided with writ

I had constant tonsillitis as a child and still remember just how ill I felt. In my case my DM wouldn't let me have tonsils out as she had severe anxiety. It truly wrecked my childhood and education. If your DS is ill each time and is missing school each time, I really don't see why a referral should be such a huge issue for the GP. I don't have any idea whether another GP would be willing to refer your DS. But I'd certainly challenge your current one. Good luck.

It's because it's changed to 12 times in a year for a referral. My son was getting it constantly last winter and was on antibiotics once a month. The last time he got it, it was only mild (some white patches and no fever) and I let his body fight it off without antibiotics and as of yet, he hasn't had it this winter. I also put him on chewable tablet probiotics at the same time

Oh wow they have really upped the criteria . I wonder if in school aged kids they would consider referral if a lot of absences due to it tho. I was off school every couple of weeks for a lot of primary and I missed masses of work.

It also depends on the type is it the bacterial one or the swollen sore one. My daughter has the non bacterial tonsillitis on a very regular basis and has been referred to the hospital but theu won't take them out as they avoid it as much as possible now. So she has to put up with feeling ill and sore throat. Luckily its not bacterial so no antibiotics.

Hi I started getting tonsillitis at 7 around 4 times per year, it's only now at 25, after an ambulance to A&E and three days on a ward (due to sepsis) has my tonsillectomy been approved - it's incredibly difficult to get them to take them out 😒

We had the same problem with DD- referral was refused because she only had it 5x to date (for appointment). We kicked up a fuss, and showed a school attendance letter to our GP- that got us a referral. But, the criteria was absolute b- shit, (some years ago) as they looked over a 12 months period - January- December, rather than "tonsilites season" November- March. Because there was always a big gap- it wasn't deemed severe enough!
.

My son had his out in October after six episodes but we'd had SS involvement due to attendance and he was also getting recurrent scarlet fever - 4 times in 13 months, and they really encouraged us to go for it.

Also depends on your gp though. My practice have very 'refer friendly' doctors. I was referred for large tonsils with 0 episodes of tonsillitis. My son was referred because he had had it a lot and I just asked if he could please refer me. The ent doctor said 'I can remove them, if you want me to.' A lot depends on the area you live in and funding...postcode lottery really