So the doctor still has no appointments left, chances are there'll be none tomorrow but I could go and sit in the walk-in clinic...

[foxinsocks]

where I'm likely to be sat for a few hours with one child who's just recovered from a stomach bug and the other who is really suffering (and he would be much more comfortable at home).

Poor ds. Has had sore ears for a few days now. On Tuesday night he was screaming in pain and since then he's had the most horrendous high temperature (like 40C) that's been going up and down (he's having nurofen, calpol etc.). He's also got horrible nose bleeds (probably from being too hot) and has now collapsed on the couch in a pile and fallen asleep.

Shall I do the walk-in clinic or shall I leave it another night and then hope like hell that we can get into the doctors tomorrow?

oh walk-in clinic not at doctor's surgery - at local minor injuries thing where there are only nurses, no doctors.

don't they make children priority at your GPs? At ours they always get kids in same day, even if you do end up hanging around a little bit to squeeze in a gap.

Might be worth phoning the surgery back and ask for an emergency appt.

Poor ds I would give the Walk-In Centre a punt. I've never been myself but I have heard from various people here (Leeds) that you can get seen quite quickly, esp if you go to one that people don't seem to know much about!

I'm amazed your practice wouldn't let you be seen with a sick child, ours would normally make a space, esp with the symptoms you're describing.

Hope he feels better soon.

You must bring your ds in immediately!!!! His symptoms sound really quite serious. Call the surgery and explain to them that your child has a high fever, bleeding and is limp and lethargic. It would be foolish to sit in a clinic and expose everyone else to a child who could have something serious and contagious. Insist that they must make an appointment and arrangements for you to attend that appoinment without exposing others to illness. If they won't do it, look on the internet for your local paediatric a&e and take your ds there. And make sure that you make a complaint to the practice manager at your surgery.

he's only tired because of his temp. When his temp goes down, he looks ill but not horrendous.

No, they won't see him. They are overrun, the surgery.

Maybe I should call them back and blub. I'm starting to think of taking him to one of these private places because at least we won't have to sit around to be seen.

Our practice is like this. Drives me insane. It is why I siemtimes spend some of my hard earned cash on going to a private doector. Which makes me feel guilty as some can;t afford it bt I fugure that if I'm doing ti with an ill child, it frees up a potential alst minute appointment for another ill child on the NHS.

yes, we are in outer London. It is a MASSIVE problem here. We have had a huge influx of families in the last couple of years but very little increase in the local infrastructure. So the schools are all over subscribed, there are no NHS dentists left and the doctor's surgeries are full to the brim.

It's worth mentioning it to the GP if you have a follow up - often it's the receptionists being too dogmatic.

In our old surgery before we moved I once had to take ds1 to a walk in centre as receptionist wouldn't believe me it was an emergency.

Walk in centre diagnosed a bad chest infection and said well done for bringing him in as it could have got a lot worse. Had to go see the GP later on in the week, mentioned it and he was HORRIFIED that the receptionist had said no given the symptoms and went and had a stern word with them.

yes, that's a good idea.

Have a feeling the doctors in ours are just as bad though (once had an altercation about them not taking dd's hearing issue seriously - I have a feeling there's a note about me on file!).

I'm going to wait for dh to come home and then take him to the walk-in (so if dd's tummy bug is still contagious, at least I'm not giving that to everyone too iyswim).

Sigh. Poor ds.

Are you anywhere near St. Mary's in Paddington. They have an excellent paediatric a&e that I used all the time when awful gp wouldn't take ds in when he was a baby and had high fever (105) that wouldn't come down with ibuprofen. Happened with most colds and was always an ear infection, but occasionally he'd get a rash with it too. We were in NW10 at the time, but the 40 min drive was worth it because he'd still get seen quicker than at our local a&e or gp's AND it was by paediatric specialists who always knew what they were talking about.

There may be a doctor available at the walk-in; our local one is staffed by nurses, but there is also a GP on hand if they feel you should see one.

walk-in centres are always quiestest when the GPs surgeries are open.
we went on sat tho' and must have hit lucky. in and out in less than 30 mins...perforated eardrum, anti-biotics and lovely lovely nurse.

Hope your DCs are feeling better. My DD and my nephew have both had something which sounds very simiular - it was a really nasty bug - they are both on the mend now. My sis had to really fight to get my nephew seen at the doctors.

Its worth remembering that your GP cannot refuse to see you. They can make you sit in the waiting room until the end of surgery (not ideal with poorly kids I know), but if you turn up with no appointment the do have to see you. You can also insist on a home visit - I had to do this once when DS (now 9) was a couple of months old and they got funny about coming out.

I recommend the pediatric A&E at Cheslsea and Westminster too.

Are you sure the walk in centre has no drs? The one that covers my pct is nurse practicioners only but recently took mil to one near twickenham and she saw a gp there after being assessed by a triage nurse. They were very good if its anywhere near you.

What is your out of hours care like? We have a number to call that is unconnected to our gp practice then go to either another gp surgery/cottage hosp. and see a dr there.

Thanks everyone. Littleducks, you are right. That is the one near us and you are seen by a triage nurse and then a doctor apparently (have now been fully informed - we've never had to use it before!).

Poor ds did eventually see a doctor. He has a double ear infection and a possible sinus problem - they have given him antibiotics but were concerned about the way he appeared so if there is no drastic improvement in 24 hours, then he has to be admitted. . My poor poor boy.

He is hardly ever ill so has only really been to the doctor once or twice in the last 4 years (went a lot as a baby but he doesn't remember obviously!) and he got in a right state because he thought he was going to get an injection. Doctor was lovely though and by the end of the consultation, he was positively fluttering his eyelids at her!

eyelids,eyelashes I meant. Sorry - lack of sleep arrghhhhhhh