what exactly constitutes an 'emergency' for a GP appointment?

[geekgrrl]

And is this one? Am feeling v. guilty now for probably taking up an appointment of someone whose leg's about to drop off or something...

Dd2 is 5, has DS and a really poor immune system at times. She had croup on Fri/Sat and whilst she isn't as poorly as she was then, she's obviously still feeling really rubbish most of the time, 'whining', dribbling loads because her throat's sore and is off her food. She's lying on the floor now whining and going to sleep I think. Her temp ranges from 38 - 41 (although today it's not been over 40).

Is that a good enough emergency? Or should we stick it out until tomorrow? I've just rung the GP (didn't ring earlier because I was hoping she was getting over it) and the receptionist wasn't too welcoming...

Since she's 5, ill and distraught, i'd say that's fine. At my surgery they'd probably want to see evidence of plague...horrid reception staff!

children with high temperatures and compromised immunity constitute and emergency in my eyes! children can deteriorate ( and recover! ) very quickly....i would take and damn the snotty receptionist...

if your mummy instinct says she needs the doc..take her...

Children are always seen as an emergency at our surgery.

I would insist, TBH.

What would you expect GP to do? Do you think she has an infection or if she had one and it went untreated could it turn very bad? Does she tend to get much more ill very suddenly?

No, that's a good enough emergency IMO.

She's only very young, and those temperatures are high.

Be firm with receptionist, and insist on seeing someone. Maybe push for a home visit too.

im with the others: she is v young, high temp, obviously uncomfortable/in pain... thats emergency enough for me.
lulumamas right: young children can dramatically worsen or recover pretty quickly.

trust your instincts.

Aside: do you think they have a special course they go on; doctors receptionists?? or maybe they ask at interview if they're rude and insensitive and if not they dont get the job?? grrrr mines just as bad.

flack, she tends to get secondary bacterial infections every time she gets a bad viral one, and she used to be on permanent high dose antibiotics for several years because of this.
Not a cold passes by without it turning into a full-blown bacterial chest infection, and I'm worried that this has become tonsillitis or something.

Anyway - we've got an appointment this afternoon, phew! Haven't had any sleep for 4 nights in a row now, hope this sorts it out.

Fio, do you ever get doctors & other staff quizzing your dd about the pain? I just want to scream "FFS she can't tell you, she's disabled!!!" - instead I usually pretend that she's not saying anything because she's being shy.

well, the GP was lovely and said "she's got a throat infection and a chest infection, let's give her some antibiotics".
Hopefully she'll be back to her normal cheerful self by Wednesday.

That's good news - I hope your DD is feeling much better soon.

I guess I alwasy try to compare emergency with "ordinary" appointments (eg to discuss birth control, or follow up to test results). Your child is ill, and if you feel you need to see a doctor then it should be classed as an emergency.