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Original poster

ahhhhhh nhs direct, chicken pox, childrens hospital and out of hours gps!

23 replies

katzg · 20/05/2007 16:43

ahhhhhhhh blooming nhs direct!

i phone them for some advice on what i could use on dd2's poor little bottom as she was screaming in pain ever time she goes to the loo in her nappy, due to the large number of chicken pox blisters on her bum and bits. nurse refers to doctor who at the first mention of rare skin condition wants to see her, so we take our highly contagious child to the gp coop this morning, gp not sure what to do thinks spots on bum are infected and phones on call dermatologist who says hmmm she should she a the on call paed. So referred to the childrens, wait for nearly 3 hours to see the on call paed (again highly contagious child in a and e waiting room), who takes a look and says hmm just looks like lots of chicken pox blisters not infected try metanium cream! why did the nhs direct not just say this instead of us wasting 6 hours at the various doctors this morning?

ahhhhhh

sorry just need to vent

OP posts:

PinkTulips · 20/05/2007 17:59

on your behalf.

you must be shattered. have a cuppa and relax for a while

(bet the other patients were extatic to see your infectious child there btw )

Kaloo20 · 20/05/2007 18:02

if your GP had phoned hospital first you get admitted immediate and walk straight in A&E to be met by a nurse who takes you to the infections control children's ward. That's what happened to dd when she was hospitalised for chicken pox in bits and not being able to pee.

fizzbuzz · 20/05/2007 18:26

Grrrrrrr NHS Direct told me to continue to give dd milk throughout her horrible stomach virus

Endless vomiting and exploding bum ensued. Dd recovered after all dairy was cut out.

Also took them 3 1/2 hours to phone back........

Original poster

katzg · 20/05/2007 21:14

gp had phoned ahead! the on call paed said oh sorry for the wait but we were busy on the ward and i had to have my lunch!!!!! he'd known we were coming from 10.45am we arrived just after 11am and were seen just after 2.45pm

OP posts:

morocco · 20/05/2007 21:18

ouch! sorry about wait/endless drive round as well, your poor dd
anyhow, ds2 had exactly same prob and couldn't even sit down, bless him, we got prescribed a 'numbing cream' to deaden the pain on point of contact so to speak so you could ask gp for that - bear with it, ds2 waas much better after 2 days so hopefully by tomorrow it will be much better for your dd

Hulababy · 20/05/2007 21:24

Oh no, nightmare Katz. And poor DD2

Anything we can do to help this week?

Original poster

katzg · 20/05/2007 21:33

the nhs direct gp suggested numbing cream but her rare skin condition scared them off that one.

thanks hula - should be ok weekwise, will be off work with her tuesday. thankfully she's still her normal self, sleeping all gone to pot so she's still up now. metanium aslo working so screaming minimised during weeing.

if you fancy a coffee tomorrow we will be in all day - not going to french because dd2 not leavable.

OP posts:

Hulababy · 20/05/2007 21:39

I can watch DD2 if you want whilst you take DD1 to French. Would have to collect M from school but would only take 5 minutes and wouldn't be near other children if I did it from a distance

Or could drop DD1 off at French, so long as I can get back up the road for M for half past.

I am at the gym at lunch time and doing my workput after that, so not free till just before and then after school.

Original poster

katzg · 21/05/2007 08:03

thanks for the offer but dd2 has been so clingy that i'm just going to stay in and cuddle them both and have a lazy day. offer of coffee still stands

OP posts:

Hulababy · 21/05/2007 08:03

I'll see how I get on this afternoon. Might pop in after school if that is still okay?

Original poster

katzg · 21/05/2007 08:08

no problem

the metanium seems to have done the trick, she slept better last night although she was in our bed so it was less of a disruption when she did wake. she's still asleep now but didn't fall asleep until 10pm last night so not suprised.

OP posts:

Hulababy · 21/05/2007 08:29

Ah, bless her. Hope it continue to get better. Did you need anything bringing in at all. At gym at 11, but if you need anything from shops can call in on way.

Pixiefish · 21/05/2007 08:35

poor little dot.

I had a cream with calamine lotion in it- not as drying as calamine lotion which I couldn't use due to dd's excema. It was very good. It had something else in it as well- got it form the chemist. I also gave her Piriton which stopped the itching- this i also use when her excema is bad. Can your dd have piriton?

Hulababy · 21/05/2007 08:39

M was very concerned for DD2. She doesn't like her friends being poorly, esp after your DD1 had it last week.

Just booked tickets to go to London this weekend - to go to the zoo. Need all your tips later

tatt · 21/05/2007 09:13

Don't get this. Does your child normally have a rare skin condition? If so they were being cautious. Your gp thought it was infected and referred you - how is that the fault of NHS direct? If the spots had been infected you'd be grateful for the referral - how is a nurse on a telephone supposed to tell whether your child's spots are infected when your gp isn't sure and he's seen them?

Ok so you had a long wait but I don't see you have a complaint against NHS direct for that.

Hulababy · 21/05/2007 09:15

Yes, Katz's DD2 has a rare skin condition Think Katz was just ranting after a long stressful day. We all do at times. TBh think it was the hospital at fault.

tatt · 21/05/2007 09:31

just concerned this type of thread puts people off contacting NHS direct. I don't see what else they could have done with a baby screaming in pain and a mother asking for help.

gscrym · 21/05/2007 09:42

NHS direct told me to hold DS down and force calpol into him. He's spat the stuff out since tiny. When I said that he wouldn't take it and would rather not pin down a frightened child she said 'well if you aren't going to use my advice, there's no point in me helping you. Call your GP in the morning' then hung up.

I do hate them.

gscrym · 21/05/2007 09:43

I had no problems with our out of hours GP service that used to be in this area. They were always really helpful and never rude.

suncream · 21/05/2007 10:04

Poor little one, hope she feels better soon.
NHS-bleeding-redirect-after-a-good-5-hour-wait, they should call it.... I've never found it to be especially helpful either, and I don't think it cuts down on the number of visits to GPs or A&E the way it was originally planned to.

Hulababy · 21/05/2007 10:07

"and I don't think it cuts down on the number of visits to GPs or A&E the way it was originally planned to. "

I agree. Most of the time NHS Direct is used they seem to suggest A&E or GP visit anyway.

Tried to use NHS Direct last week about my eye. Couldn't get through over a 3 hour period, phone kept ringing then cutting dead. Just went to the drop in centre, run by nurses, at the hospital instead in the end - much quicker!

Original poster

katzg · 21/05/2007 11:16

As hula said DD2 has a rare skin condition all the time, all i wanted was info on what i could put on her chicken pox blisters to protect them from her wee, i really was just checking that metanium was the right thing for chicken pox.

My real rant is at the childrens hospital and i will be writing a letter of complaint, we were under the impression as was the out of hours gp, triage nurse and receptionist that we would be seen very quickly once at a and e. I still can't believe that we waited for nearly 3 hours in a very busy a and e dept with a very contagious child, this was craziness.

i didn't mean to give the impression to not use nhs direct, i just wish that the nurse had said yes metanium is fine on chicken pox blisters.

OP posts:

Grrrr · 21/05/2007 11:22

Hmmm, I think if we ever have to do this, I'd be tempted to say in a loud voice, on arrival at a & e, "dd has chicken pox, where would you like us to wait so that we don't risk infecting these other people who are waiting ?"

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