NHS told me I wasted my time taking my child to hospital.

[Lililoox]

Yesterday afternoon I called 111 for some advice as my daughter was slightly struggling to breathe and she had a bad cough similar to what she had in December when she had RSV and Bronchiolitis and had a 2 night hospital stay. I was told to take her to a urgent treatment centre which I did and the doctor who saw her said they would like her to go back to the hospital and he confirmed it was Bronchiolitis most likely caused by RSV again but the hospital would be able to do the swab to confirm. Fast forward upon arrival to the hospital the nurse at triage was lovely, she said my daughters ribs were sucking in and to take her round to paediatrician ward. They done her observations and her SATS were sitting at 95 which they were happy with. They said to go back to the waiting room for the doctor. My daughter then had a feed and vomited it back up pretty much straight away which again, is what she was doing in December when she was admitted. She is such a smiley playful baby even when she’s poorly. She was even happy with an NG tube in her throat in December, it’s just how she is. The doctor came round, her SATS were now at 93/94 which is apparently ‘very good’ and listened to her chest. He confirmed Bronchiolitis and said RSV swab is only done if child is admitted. My daughter was happy and smiling at the doctor and he said ‘I’m happy with how she is, she is happy and playful which shows she’s healthy so I have no concerns, to be honest it was a waste of time you coming here, there was no need”. I was completely taken back! My daughter had vomited after her feed, struggling with her breathing, and belching when coughing, and they think that’s wasting their time? They said to come back if she presented further symptoms but to be honest I’d rather drive the extra and take her elsewhere next time. Am I stupid to feel she’s been neglected or am I taking it the wrong way as she’s my baby? Thankyou if you got this far

You did the right thing OP.

FWIW my DC was admitted with bronchiolitis but was in good form and the nurse told me they refer to those kids as ‘happy wheezers’. Still unwell enough to be admitted though.

Well one would hope that they do. However, it has been known for them to get things totally wrong. Better to be safe than sorry IMO!

Have you heard of Martha’s rule?!

You never waste your time getting assurance that your baby is ok.

I've got a happy wheezer and we've had many similar experiences to this. By the time he starts to look a bit ill he's actually very ill indeed.

it sounds like OPs case could actually have been a clunky apology that your time has been wasted, rather than an accusation of wasting their time though? No doctor should ever complain about examining a baby.

My son had bronchiolitis; it was very frightening looking at a breathless baby. Policy at the time was to admit all babies under 1 year old, presenting like this.
Is there a vaccine - I thought I’d seen an advert in the GPS surgery last time I was there? But maybe for the elderly (as I know they’re susceptible too)
Hope babe is well soon OP

Yes, fine in bronchiolitis

He didn’t mean it was a waste of “their” time. He phrased it badly and you are overthinking it.

You definitely took it the wrong way!

He was being kind and reassuring.

He didn’t say you wasted his time or the NHS time.
He was acknowledging the time and stress you had to endure and reassuring you.

It may have been a slight dig at the original doctor but it definitely wasn’t a dig at you 😊

Problem is drs arent always right my kid at 3 had awful pain persistent temos ended up turning blue lipped and sent back from hospital - she had severe ear infection which burst her drums abd gave her a heart murmur.
Even with me saying its a ear infection and this is what symtoms shes had before

My son had bronchiolitis at 5 months. Just to warn, every cold went to his chest after until he was about 18 months old. I spent many nights sitting in a boiling hot steamed up bathroom with the shower running at full heat to ease his cough. Did they suggest using steam early on in the next attack, to stop you having to go to A and E next time?

Then he suddenly stopped getting chesty and is now 21 and a strong healthy lad.

If you didn’t take her 111 probably would’ve reported you to social services. That’s what I have read on other threads. Damed if you do damed if you don’t.

Wrong thing to say to a mum. You know your child best. Often they say it is better that you brought her in to check than not.

@Lililoox please always seek help as you feel fit as a mother. Don’t let this deter you.

Bronchiolitis can be diagnosed early on and does get worse on around days 4-6 before it gets better. Parents are usually told this.

I’ve worked within paeds for a long time (non medical) Sometimes babies do return as it worsens. If a baby does not need o2, managing sats and breathing, no temps etc and is managing enough fluid intake/wet nappies they do not need to be in hospital but should be heavily safety netted when to return. Viral swabs aren’t always taken as it doesn’t necessarily change treatment but this does seem to vary.

Paeds staff i have worked with would always rather check a baby/child out in my experience and would never be seen as wasting anyone’s time. Parents should always be listened to they know their children best.

Sats are accepted above 92 in babies and children in my experience. In adults it can be higher.

Doctors are representative of the society as a whole - so many percent are decent, so many percent are more-or-less competent, so many percent are morons and thick - always do what you think is needed - they are paid by the taxpayer to help the taxpayer. Complain in writing.

This is your child & you had seen them with this before who cares what the doctor says he's getting paid to work there regardless.

Try & get some rest yourself

Sats are accepted above 92 in babies and children in my experience

That seems to be my experience with both my children. You hear and read that anything below 96 is a concern but as long as they are above 92, doctors have never been concerned.

I'm a GP and tbh it sounds more like a dig at the staff who sent you in not you. Still unprofessional and not really necessary to say this but I wouldn't take it personally. Over-stressed doctor with a bit of a god complex. Not worth getting worked up about. Carry on keeping your child safe and take them to be seen whenever you think you need it and don't think on it. You're doing great xx

I would complain, but then I'm a sweary old lady. Two other professionals told you to go there, FFS. However, there is also a good argument for letting it go as he may have meant you were wasting your time. The serious point of this post is to ask if you have a pulse oximeter. If you don't, it would be well worth getting one. Loads on Amazon - this one seemed good to me as it allegedly does children and adults (the cheapest kids' one has poor reviews).

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Saturation-Monitor-GENERISE-Oximeter-Children/dp/B08Q4KSS2Q?dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.asGJlWJ1WZH-AhQKwwlSf6DYokujehr8SkjwGqDCNRS6eUAR4qxREIN5RWRObTGsrAIF9Ox7uzVqhhKiVdwgaOWvttA2y9MWRt84cj9YpnaC8YSR57k2b5hO1MeHg3z0nUOQDJEN0DO3c7M6Uj2uTTrMp925WGyEQ3HlBJeTgvi68LwG0yhi7vf4NWCOgKZKkk_9vpf_QR5lTvyQWUb58MyihWf8ErAGiNgYgljj-1GhLxX2BMWdqqqg8LrZHLT92JQakSCB1yuH-smY8oGI8DXifhxS2rdXrYvB-iYGvWK5W4g1dlJFKZCFd_u3cyWzSiiRtiFhUEv09gc0iTGx1DsnDTWY_YsZLZgYdfz35b4zxh7ZAH4TsTekIeOrt3SsVCJYCOT-6VDcJ8YqJ0ObMWXYkaCpXkbBfBa2BCz5YuFmAoV3Az7DpgBfzmc9it4o.LBcJJMUB1Yx_IPMtIDTQOcbOa5GFJoIzqx_ZwtzP4Yk&dib_tag=se&keywords=pulse+oximeter&qid=1740826979&sr=8-15

Are you certain it was a doctor and not a PA. They're a new brand of medically unqualified workers multiplying in a hospital or GP surgery near you. Google Physician Associate for the full horrifying story.

Am I stupid to feel she’s been neglected or am I taking it the wrong way as she’s my baby?

In what way has she been neglected? I’m not saying you’re stupid but they definitely didn’t neglect her. Advice from 111, a doctor saw her, a triage nurse saw her, SATs checked, doctor saw her again and checked SATs again, she in no way has been neglected. You went for advice and help and got both of them.

I had this - the HV told me to take my very tiny baby to A&E as she was a bit worried about her breathing (she had a bit of a grunt) - tbh, I really wasn't that concerned, but obviously went as that was the professional's advice.

The doctor I saw in A&E was awful, basically had me down as some sort of fantasist as DD was fine by the time we were seen? I'd had a very rare infection which led to her being born prem (which is why she was tiny) and when I explained this, the doctor essentially refused to believe me until I pointed out that it had been diagnosed at the same hospital as the A&E was in. All very odd and I was made to feel like I had wasted everyone's time, even though I'd only gone because that was what the HV said to do!

Some people, including doctors, are just rubbish at dealing with people.

Terrible bedside manner, but try not to get too worked up over a flippant comment. Burnout is unfortunately very real in the NHS and is unlikely to change, I'd try and shake it off. You absolutely did the right thing. Best thing for the future is to politely challenge a doctor if you disagree with their assessment at the time rather than expect them to read your mind. Push that this is your child's usual temperament even when unwell and ask if they can explain why they are happy with sats of that level. For what it's worth, new guidance allows children to dip to 92% and usually children cope very well with bordering/hovering sats and can compensate for a period of illness, Dr may have looked for signs of decompensation and been satisfied your daughter was stable but not explained their rationale to you etc.

I wouldn’t rely on Doctors and their medical knowledge

When we have it has led to death

It depends on his tone I think, was he rude? I'd take it as he meant it in a clumsy, reassuring way

I have taken bith my children ( on separate occasions 🤦‍♀️ ) to a&e worrying that their appendix was hurrying... both times they were constipated!

Both times I'd apologised for wasting their time and both times was reasured it's better to be safe than sorry

Why would you complain about a doctor who was trying to reassure a tired and worried mum?

What an awful attitude to have and it’s no wonder no one wants to work for the NHS anymore when all they do is get abuse and complaints.