Tried to get a doctors appointment for my severely constipated 16 month old, let me tell you how fucked the system is

[Lsquiggles]

Yes I understand covid has changed how and when you can see your doctor, but this is disgusting and a complete neglect of care.

My DD has been constipated for a few days but it all came to a head yesterday lunch time when she was screaming and I was scared she was going to give herself an injury. My dp went to the pharmacy which is opposite our gp surgery, queued up for 30 minutes (behind lots of people with physical prescriptions, interesting) to be told they couldn't give us anything over the counter as she's so young so to call gp. Annoying but fair enough.

Call the gp at 2pm and they say there's no appointments (of course), the doctor isn't in today (?!) and she'll send him an email so he can prescribe something.

The receptionist calls me back at 5pm (3 hours later) to say my DD needs to be seen in person but they're closed now so either she'll be seen Monday or to call the local walk in centre and 'they'll see her today'. At this point I'm already angry because they left me 3 hours with an upset child instead of telling me to call the walk in centre at 2pm.

I call the walk in centre, explain everything, she said they're doing a call back service and a doctor will call me in 2-3 hours. I explain my doctor has already said she needs to be seen in person, she shouts over me that it's the discretion of each doctor to decide that.

The walk in centre closes at 8pm, the doctor calls me at 8pm. The nicest doctor tells me how sorry he is that my doctors surgery passed the buck over to them and that they should've never turned away a child. He said your children are the most precious things to you and he's shocked with our doctors actions. He said he'd prescribe it over the phone or stay half an hour longer for us so we could bring her in to be seen. At this point my DD was in bed so I just accepted the prescription but he did say if we were worried over the weekend to call back and he'd see her ASAP.

How is this allowed to happen? My DD has no medical issues or allergies, all the symptoms I described were of basic constipation, why did I have to jump through all these hoops and be patronised by multiple receptionists just to get something to help my child go to the toilet?

This is why people are going to A&E with minor complaints, something needs to change before serious issues are left untreated or misdiagnosed

Granted that this is pre covid, but when mine were little I just used to turn up at the surgery with them and ask that someone see them. TBF, for how crap my doctors surgery is with things for myself, they would always see my kids when I rang up and said they were under five, even if it meant going and waiting for an hour at 6pm.

That's terrible
For comparison at work yesterday someone called at 10.30 am for their constipated cat who seemed in discomfort. Earliest free appointment was 5.30, receptionist spoke to me and we dumped my paperwork slot so we could see it at 12.30 rather than have it wait all day .
Where's the compassion gone ?

@fatted my mom said similar used to happen when she used to take me to the doctors as a child too. When you go to A&E they always prioritise young children and so they should. I'd always expect a child to be seen before me

@FlibblyFlobblyFloo - totally echoes my experience. Chairs barricading reception; people waiting outside. We even have a bouncer at the front door.
I am in Scotland and no matter how many times they tell me they are open for business, that’s not the case with gps.

I think that there have been some instances where people really have struggled to get a doctor appointment but I disagree with your complaint in this case - from my understanding of your post the first time you contacted the GP was 2pm on a Friday? It's also a non emergency situation but you were able to get a same day prescription albeit by going round the houses a little. I think that's really good and I'd be pleased with that although I know it's hard when you have a little one in pain. I've had situations where I've needed a prescription for my DD on a Friday for a condition that has appeared overnight ie ear infection and sometimes it does mean going round the houses a bit to acquire the prescription so I know what it's like but appreciate the NHS aren't magic. That doesn't mean we shouldn't expect a certain level of help from them and I think feedback is really important but I think in this case YABU

If there was evidence of a serious imminent harm like a temperature with it I'd say it was more of an emergency

Your GP practice couldnt have seen your child if the GP wasnt in though? Perhaps they were self isolating at home. And were prob dealing with multiple other patients virtually by 2pm.

It is an annoying situation but my GP surgery is the same. They only give same day appointments so you need to decide very early in the morning whether you need one or not. In my surgery, appointments are normally filled up by 11 o clock. In which case, you either try again the next day or go to the walk in centre.

I’ve worked on a ward throughout this and think some GPS surgeries are being ridiculous. I’ve had a very positive experience with mine this week, online form them a telephone consultation the next day was enough. I didn’t need to be seen face to face. This will work for some patients

However lots of people should be being seen and assessed, Children can be hard to assess when they are in front of the doctor nevernind a phone so l get your frustration. I don’t understand why after a triage phone call more can’t be seen physically seen.

Ppe can be worn, ventilation, cleaning all in place. This happens in hospital so why not the community? I’ve no doubt more people are turning up to a&e because they can’t be seen.

Positive that someone at least sorted you out today though.

Yanbu it’s only constipation but it can be really stressful and all you want is to help your baby. I hope it’s sorted now.

The receptionists are making decisions without the Dr knowing anything about these calls

Receptionists aren’t trained to make decisions. If they’re not passing information on to the doctors for the doctors to make the decisions about their patients healthcare this needs reporting to the local CCG.

Absolutely. I spoke to the receptionist again yesterday after putting an E consult in earlier in the week which basically said ' this is getting ridiculous now. It's over a year overdue, my mother had pre cancerous cells removed at 27. I dont care when it is, or where it is, jist book it and I'll do whatever i need to to attend.' to be told that she's put me on the urgent waiting list and someone will call me back hopefully by the end of the month

There are lots of things you can do for a child with constipation at home without meds, best time if it becomes a thing is to start as soon as straining begins or any signs she’s having difficulty, call dr for advice then they know and if things don’t start moving you can move to prescribe meds. We are always really busy on Fridays, afternoons into evening for people who have left things until a Friday because the gp isn’t open over the weekend.

On the flip side my youngest son is asthmatic and has chronic constipation/toilet aversion/asd and has continued his amazing care whilst in lockdown had face to face appointments and gp appointment as his asthma can flare up quickly. I’ve had no complaints and I know he’ll be treated if required usually within the hour.

Your daughter did need to be seen, at her age I think I’d have seen her, had dr prescribe meds & given you advice how to use it and other methods to help as I know how horrible constipation can be, some kids do suffer a bit in childhood so having whatever meds to keep things soft is an option it’s just getting the balance between soft and water and making sure she’s drinking plenty.

Fridays just aren’t a good day for the reasons I gave above I think you just had bad luck, however you did speak to a dr & get meds eventually. Warm baths often provide good relief, and infant paracetamol but I don’t think your experience means the system is broken, I just think your timing was bad and there is a&e if things had become more serious there was always that backup.

@AnoDeLosMuertos

I’m sorry but it’s not an emergency. I know your daughter was in pain, but there will be higher priority people.

GPS aren't there for emergencies. They're there for things exactly like this.

The system is ridiculous. My dd had her ADHD review in September and missed the call. No two hour window; she had to be available from 9am to 5pm. She called me in a panic. I googled the facility and called the number. Long message saying they were closed. Contact them by email or ring main switchboard. Rang main switchboard to arrange phone call. Whilst the clinician rang back this muddle totally blindsided my dd who cut for the first time in 18 months.

I have asked why the unit is closed, why society has locked down again for the NHS when parts of it (low risk parts) have not locked out since March, why they cannot update the website with contact details, why they cannot provide a two hour time slot, etc.

So far I have pages of waffle abput business continuity plans, assurances that F2F appointments are taking place (yet they are closed) and thanking me for letting them know about the website but hoping I understand things like that may take a long time to correct. They have had nearly 9 months already to sort it out.

Three pages of waffle so far and no answers or action:

Why can't timed slots for calls be offered.
Why doesn't the website say the office is closed and give the alternative number, corre t email address?
Why has the unit been shut since March when ever one else locked out over the summer?
Why can't NHS staff go to work when they are supposed to be key workers and retail workers, bank staff, teachers, lecturers, bus drivers, etc, have all carried on through this?
FWIW in September when dd's call between 9am and 5pm was scheduled, there were 8 covid cases per 100,000 here and we were in Tier 1 when we picked down again on Thursday!

The conduct of the NHS behind the front line is a disgrace especially when this time dentists, opticians, chiropodists, etc are open. My vet remained available throughout - but not much of the NHS.

I hope your dd is feeling better now op.

I want to start a thread about how the system is NOT fucked

Because that has been my experience. During this corona period debacle - I have had surgery, GP appointments at last minute for me and my children etc, and basically felt very supported

I can’t believe some of the comments on here. How does anyone know that there isn’t anything more to the childs discomfort then constipation? What would you suggest the OP do leave her over the weekend with constipation rather than ring up at 2pm on a Friday!

In comparison to this I rang up for my daughter yesterday morning for the same problem. Called back within 30mins and prescribed medication. Only as the day went on did I realise that she also had a urine infection. I called up again at 2pm, rang back within an hour and given another prescription. The appointment was for between 4.30 and 5.30 and they called back earlier. They prioritise children. Previously I rang up at 5.30pm after nursery advised me they thought she had a urine infection, the surgery advised me to ring 111 because of the time, fair enough. Attended the minor ailments centre at the hospital and given medication. Not ideal but I understood the reasoning but the OP rang at 2pm and not given a call back until they nearly closed. None of these are emergencies but who the hell is happy to see their child in such pain?!

But the nhs is agest though. Therefore anyone with a cardiac or sepsis problem should be seen before anyone with constipation. Agree you are being a bit ott. In current times we need to cut the nhs some slack. If me or mine had constipation I would want it dealt with but would understand it might not be a priority. Your gp called u back within 3 hours (if dealing with 2 or 3 sick people that 3 hours would be eaten up quickly) and directed you were to go. That place go you the medication. What's unprofessional is the dr at the walk in centre saying your gp was out of order not seeing a baby with constipation without knowing his/her work load and how he/she prioritised it. Its scarey times. The nhs is streched. Hope your little one is feeling better. But a child with constipation (of a few hours) has to be seen quickly but not right then and there if there are other emergencies. You got medication the same day.

My GPS surgery, reception staff and nurses have been very kind and practical during the pandemic.

Furthermore, pharmacists are the unsung heros. They have no choice about who works through the door and have had to work throughout this is often cramped, small premises.

I understand that this is your experience op, but on my experience the system is not "fucked'. It is under pressure though.

@AnoDeLosMuertos are you a doctor?

I'm going to come at this from the other end. You didn't need a prescription and the pharmacist should have been able to advise you and given something appropriate like lactulose. What did the doctor prescribe?

@Baaaahhhhh

I'm going to come at this from the other end. You didn't need a prescription and the pharmacist should have been able to advise you and given something appropriate like lactulose. What did the doctor prescribe?

Pharmacists usually pretty reluctant to give otc meds to kids under 2 like op said. Even if the Dr prescribed lactulose the point is it needed assessing by a Dr.

Baaaahhhhh I suspect the issue for the pharmacist is that the child was under 2yrs?

@FlibblyFlobblyFloo

Our doctors surgery have been an embarrassment through this. They are just short of putting barbed wire around their front door. There is no access at all for anyone. Old people stood outside in the pouring rain waiting for an appointment.

Aren’t hospital doctors outraged they they are getting a stream of people getting sent to them from inept surgeries? The A and E doctors have been working hard through all of this. Plus picking up the pieces of people who have ended up in A and E half dead because their surgery has repeatedly refused to see them and they end up more ill than necessary. It’s a shit show.

And your evidence for these claims is where exactly?

@Jroseforever

I want to start a thread about how the system is NOT fucked

Because that has been my experience. During this corona period debacle - I have had surgery, GP appointments at last minute for me and my children etc, and basically felt very supported

Couldn’t agree more.

Unfortunately some GPs just don’t give a damn and are using Covid as an excuse to stop face to face appointments, even for babies and small children. It’s a scandal.