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Original poster

Left A&E, Not sure I've done the right thing

172 replies

Perfect28 · 13/08/2022 21:59

My 17mo fell out of his pushchair head first on to concrete. about a minute before I said we don't need to strap him in he will be fine. Well he got excited and rocked forward. A massive bump and bruise came up quickly, we called 999 who said to go to hospital. We went and we were not even triaged in nearly two hours. Child seems normal, responsive, alert, no longer in obvious pain. We left and he is now asleep. I will sleep next to him and keep a close eye. Have read all the things to watch out for. Now lying here feeling awful. First it was my fault he wasn't strapped in (lesson well and truly learnt!!) But secondly for leaving before being seen. Advice welcome, and stories of bumped heads too!

The guilt is awful and I feel really anxious.

OP posts:
Violettaa · 13/08/2022 22:02

I would have stayed tbh. He could have slept (strapped!) in the pushchair, and you don't want to mess with head injuries.

ClivePowermax · 13/08/2022 22:04

How can you keep a close eye if you're asleep, whether he's next to you or not? I know it's a tough call in this heat especially whether to spend hours at hospital or risk it going home so it's all very well for me to say I'd have stayed but I wasn't there. I think I probably would have though. No one on mumsnet can tell you he's going to be fine and it would be hugely irresponsible if they did.

lunar1 · 13/08/2022 22:05

Honestly, I'd go back and get him checked properly. Chances are everything is fine, but there are some things you just don't take chances on.

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Original poster
Perfect28 · 13/08/2022 22:06

Thanks for your reply. He wouldn't have been able to sleep so would have got more irrate. He has no signs of any serious injury and if I hadn't been in such a panic I probably wouldn't have taken him in the first place. but yes you're right to take head injury seriously.

OP posts:
A580Hojas · 13/08/2022 22:07

2 hours? Come on! No one on Mumsnet can reassure you as we are not medics or cannot see your child.

Luckymummytoone · 13/08/2022 22:07

The hospital (should) flag this up as safeguarding!
mid expect a call from social services!

Luckymummytoone · 13/08/2022 22:07

I’d*

Livpool · 13/08/2022 22:07

You should have stayed. You can't ring 999 then can't be arsed to sit in A and E

I had concussion at 17 and it was not pleasant!

Horcruxe · 13/08/2022 22:08

I think it would have been better to stay, and better if you could go back.

Original poster
Perfect28 · 13/08/2022 22:08

Ok thanks all. I can see I did the wrong thing clearly

OP posts:
Whattodooo90 · 13/08/2022 22:08

Everything about this situation is a contradiction. So you were worried enough to misuse our emergency services and call 999 but you couldn’t be bothered to sit and wait at A&E? You can’t take back that you didn’t strap him in, but for him to have fallen headfirst onto concrete and sustained that sort of injury without being assessed by a health professional is unforgivable. Sleeping next to him won’t achieve anything if he’s got a bleed or fluid on the brain

lunar1 · 13/08/2022 22:09

Not all head injuries show symptoms straight away. An extradural haemorrhage takes time, nobody here can rule that out, that's what hospital examinations and tests are for.

Whattodooo90 · 13/08/2022 22:10

I agree that a safeguarding referral might come of this

Widily · 13/08/2022 22:10

I wouldn’t have gone in the first place. Or called 999.

He’s hit his head. There’s no sickness, drowsiness or any other signs of serious injury, what does everyone thing ED is going to say other than “yup, he’s hit his head?”

Whowhatwherewhenwhynow · 13/08/2022 22:10

Don’t beat yourself up about the strap. We all make lapses in judgement like that. But Why did you leave A and E? I don’t understand that?

im sure most likely your son will be fine but having waited 2 hrs is just wait for the reassurance. Did you just walk out of tell them you were leaving…just wondering if they’ll be wondering where you and your son are?

User129867588 · 13/08/2022 22:10

I just want to send you a virtual hug, parenting is so hard and I can only imagine how anxious and guilty you feel. You’ve been given the correct advice above so won’t repeat

GettingItOutThere · 13/08/2022 22:11

honestly go back. It is worth being checked out - you will probably now get a call from social services as this will flag up

Original poster
Perfect28 · 13/08/2022 22:12

Of course I communicated with them. thanks for the advice.

OP posts:
Tiredmum100 · 13/08/2022 22:12

I spent 9 hours in a&e last week with my ds aged 8. I know how frustrating it is, but had we left and there was a problem I would never have forgiven myself, plus it may be a safeguarding issue. You made a mistake leaving, but you can go back.

Lilbunnyfufu · 13/08/2022 22:12

Whattodooo90 · 13/08/2022 22:10

I agree that a safeguarding referral might come of this

Another that agrees about a safeguarding referral being sent to social services

sintrawest · 13/08/2022 22:15

I would go back. Hope he’s ok Flowers

GiltEdges · 13/08/2022 22:16

DS had a bad bump to his forehead at a similar age and it resulted in a horrible looking golf-ball-sized lump which took forever to go down. As soon as it happened I called our GP, who saw
him straight away and told us all the signs to look out for in terms of concussion/it being something more serious. Nothing happened, so we just kept him at home and he was absolutely fine.

I think in your shoes I probably wouldn’t have called 999, but I’d definitely have sought medical assistance of some kind and waited until he’d been seen for my own reassurance that he was ok. As you haven’t done that and don’t seem likely to wake him now, can you/his dad take it in turns to stay (awake) with him through the night? Then perhaps give 111 a ring for further advice in the morning?

LadyCluck · 13/08/2022 22:18

I hope he’s ok. Can you just get ready and go back?

ANewNameANewDay · 13/08/2022 22:19

Don't mean to pile on but you have asked for it.

No idea why you decided your own time was more important than waiting to have you son checked over.

And why would you not strap him in? Confused

mattressspring · 13/08/2022 22:22

Widily · 13/08/2022 22:10

I wouldn’t have gone in the first place. Or called 999.

He’s hit his head. There’s no sickness, drowsiness or any other signs of serious injury, what does everyone thing ED is going to say other than “yup, he’s hit his head?”

This (unless it was my first) Blush

The idea that social services are going to be coming to see you is crazy. People really don't have much understanding of safeguarding and SS intervention. You are allowed to take your child home from hospital if you choose. The child had not been admitted, so did not need to be discharged. People leave A&E all the time.

I hope he is ok OP