Best A&E in London?

[wildsummerdreams]

Our daughter has been sick for the last couple of days with high temperature
(39) and it's not coming down even with paracetamol. We are very worried.

Last time we went to A&E at the Royal Free we had a horrible experience - it was a similar situation, she was very sick and we were made wait 4 hours and no attention.

Please can anyone recommend an A&E that actually works? We would consider private too. Thanks.

I wouldn't say vomiting and a temp is necessarily an A&E trip. I'd phone NHS 24 and they will triage her and possibly send you to out of hours GP if necessary.

Def get it checked if your gut instinct is saying so. These things can pass quickly or can be a sign of something needing attention. How's her heart rate and breathing? I always say, if concerned, take expert advice (not mn).

Used UCLH (warren street) - it was excellent.

Why are you very worried? Does she have an underlying health condition?

Otherwise that sounds like a sickness bug. Total over reaction to go to A&E.

You could call Portland doc around the clock (not used it myself), but if you are really worried and feel she needs a&e there is nothing like private a&e and you should go with the nhs. I used uclh for myself not dc and they were good.

Definitely call 111.

Based on what you’ve said... if you go to a&e you will be waiting a long time whilst they see actual accidents and emergencies.

I don’t think you’ll find many public A&E’s who are that excited by a temperature. And clearly your daughter was fine last time. Have you considered 111 instead of emergency? In the absence of a medical issue that a temp would be an issue with, I doubt you’ll be seen particularly quickly as your level of sickness whilst stressful for you, isn’t a high priority in an A&E dept. an OOH or GP sounds more appropriate.

Doc around the clock are open now if you did want to call - you can get home visit or phone consultation. Steep price though!

www.theportlandhospital.com/children/childrens-doc-around-the-clock/

Get your child seen ASAP. A high temp that won’t come down is a sign of Kawasaki. Best to be safe than sorry. I really don’t understand people saying not to go to a&e. When I hear that I’m thankful for our system here in Ireland where we are encouraged to bring our children to out of hours doctor or to a&e if we have any doubts.

Unless she’s a baby, I think an Out of Hours appointment is ok. I assume you’re alternating ibuprofen/paracetamol and avoiding dehydration? Do you suspect a particular type of infection (ear? UTI?) If you’re especially worried about dehydration, or rash, or drowsiness, or she’s very young, then yes to A&E.

Ive never had a bad experience at UCLH would reccomend

Seriously User Kawasaki is so so rare. A high temp that persists is also pretty much the most common symptom of every viral bug going.
Alarmist much

User1471 are you serious? You hear temperature and think Kawasaki? A temp could mean a thousand things, the majority of which are harmless and certainly do not require a trip to A&E. out of hours and 111 is there for this type of situation, to get medical opinion without clogging up A&E with what is more than likely a bug.

I won’t bother commenting on your scenario, I’ll just recommend a hospital based on years of heavy nhs use. Kings College, Denmark Hill.

I'd call 111 in the first instance, if you go to any A & E only presenting with a fever you will be in for a long wait. Agree with above poster Kawasaki also presents with other symptoms so highly unlikely.

Honestly, be grateful that you had a long wait to be seen. It means there was nothing / little wring with your child.

Parents who get the 'attention' and are rushed through are the ones to worry.

Is this an accident?
Or an emergency?
Ring 111

Trust your instincts.

All the major hospitals have a separate paed A&E, so you don't have to wait with adults. You will however be triaged by need, so the wait can be long wherever you are, if other patients have more urgently concerning symptoms. But you will be seen, which sounds like the important thing for you as you are worried.

If you went to Royal Free before, I suggest you try UCH or St Mary's as they're your side of town.

Ooh gp before a and e. They will refer directly to hosp admissions ward or assessment unit if needed and will be a much smoother process then sitting about in a and e. And less of a waste of time for all

I hope your DD is OK this morning, and that you found the right medics.

It's scary when something makes you worried in the middle of the night.

I can never get ds's temp down with paracetamol. He responds much better to Ibuprofen. If that won't bring it down I'd ring 111.

I would always phone 111 for a high temp / sickness.

One time we actually got referred to A&E as my DS had had a head bump a few days earlier. I was so embarrassed as I knew the 2 weren’t linked but I couldn’t go against the advice of 111.

Agree with most people, why are you thinking A&e? Ring GP or ooh . You had a long wait at Royal Free because you weren't an emergency. This is the system working, for which you should be grateful. Your option if you want urgent medical attention is to pay push doctor or similar.

Also agree with pps, if you genuinely think this is an emergency then use NHS.