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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:
KentuckyDerbyandJoan · 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?”

Are you a medical professional, because your advice is appalling?

Barbequebeans64 · 13/08/2022 22:23

I went to a walk in centre with my toddler recently who was very drowsy, high temp, dribbling. Post triage it got to 3 hours waiting and he perked up so much we left (and told them we were leaving). I never would have thought of it being a safeguarding issue, I just didn't want to waste anyone's time and knew being in his bed would be the best thing for him. Kids can do downhill so fast and that's the scary part.

I think trust your gut op, it's bad enough when they hurt themselves without the pressure of all these people telling you you've done the wrong thing. If you're not worried and you don't want to go back then keep a close eye on him tonight, make yourself aware of any concussion signs and ignore Mumsnet :)

Luckymummytoone · 13/08/2022 22:24

Standard protocol in our a&e for taking a child home without the advice of a medical professional. Especially after op rang 999 and it would have been flagged as a head injury 😳
But this should have been communicated with the op before leaving!

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about these subjects:

1 year olds Babies & sleep Children's sleep Families
Widily · 13/08/2022 22:25

FFS ED isn’t there for “checking over”

He has no signs of anything wrong with him…what are you all expecting the doctor to do, put out a trauma call and full body CT?

The usual questions: has he been sick? has he been his usual self? Has he been sleepy? How high did he fall from?

Check the bruise, check his eyes and send you on your way.

Doesn’t anything have any common sense anymore? And safeguarding referral?? They’re probably glad they’ve got one less person to see who doesn’t need to be there

willingtolearn · 13/08/2022 22:27

I'm going to disagree.

The initial reaction when your child is injured is panic - they're screaming, the bruise on their head is huge and you're worrying about everything.

If you give everything a chance to calm down, it is much easier to assess the situation - which you have done. You've identified they are acting normally and have gone to sleep normally. I agree if you'd kept him there and they would have to had wake him to assess - cue tired irritable child that is hard to assess.

You're aware of potential signs (if not certain NHS website is good) and I'm sure if anything changes in the night - you would go back. It's a good idea to have them in your room/go in theirs.

It's not a significant injury - so he fell out of his buggy from sitting? There is no speed/force (e.g ejection from car) no fall from a height (tree/window) and he fell onto the front of his head, not back or side where it is a thick piece of skull.

As to the safeguarding - the HV will pick up that you attended and might ring you to see if you're okay, but anything else is highly unlikely unless you live in the world's quietest need area.

What happened to 'trust your instincts'?

dizzydizzydizzy · 13/08/2022 22:28

I banged my head hard in some railings. Phoned GP who told me to go to A&E.

Original poster
Perfect28 · 13/08/2022 22:30

Thanks to those being kind, I really really appreciate it.

OP posts:
MeadowHay · 13/08/2022 22:30

mattressspring · 13/08/2022 22:22

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

Show quote history

This! My eldest has bumped their head loads of times, and we have never needed to seek medical attention. In the absence of worrying symptoms (e.g. sleepy, unresponsive, vomiting, changed behaviour etc), there is really no need to. It probably helps reassure us that DH is medical and used to work in paediatrics so can monitor our kids particularly effectively at home like.

whatshouldIdo2022 · 13/08/2022 22:32

I took my DD 2 to A&E a few weeks back for a head bump but she had caught her head on our stony wall and it was bleeding too although probably wasn't as hard a bump to the head as what you describe. We were there 4 hours, she was triaged pretty quick but she was bouncing off the walls and trying to run off the unit constantly as the doors were kept open, I was absolutely run ragged trying to keep her busy and she was annoying everyone so I asked if I could take her home as she seemed herself. They very strongly advised me to stay and have the Dr carry out a head injury check, in fact they phrased it in a way that leaving wasn't an option. They even talked about keeping her in so they obviously take head injuries pretty seriously. I stayed and saw the Dr and a lovely nurse helped me entertain DD for a bit. Chances are your toddler will be fine but you never know, and it really is best to get the all clear to go home.

TabithaTittlemouse · 13/08/2022 22:32

Can I ask what made you call 999? Was he unresponsive at all?

I think the answer to why you chose 999 would shape my opinion on leaving.

HarryPotterDucks · 13/08/2022 22:32

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?”

Yea same.

im not a mother though.

ClivePowermax · 13/08/2022 22:32

PP talking in general about common sense and instincts; have you ever met people? Not saying this applies to the OP, but not everyone has common sense, or even the same definition of common sense, and some people's instincts are crap. We've no idea who we're talking to online.

jd88123 · 13/08/2022 22:34

One of the signs of concussion is falling asleep. So since he slept id be worried. Of course it may be his natural time to sleep but still I'd get him checked. He can go in to a coma from a sleep if it's concussion. Always get head injuries checked by a doctor. Social services will be informed too. Will probably be a phone call to check it wasn't neglect.

Thekormachameleon · 13/08/2022 22:36

Firstly, why call 999, you know it's for life threatening emergencies right ??
Secondly, expect a safeguarding referral, you were worried enough to call 999 but not concerned enough to wait to be seen - ridiculous

Original poster
Perfect28 · 13/08/2022 22:36

My dh called a&e because it happened in public and I was in a flap and people told us to. If the circumstances were different I would have acted differently, calmed him down, assessed etc. He cried a lot (good sign) and was back to himself within 15 minutes or so. I feel fairly confident there's nothing wrong, if I had any doubt we would still be there. I'm glad others are seeing where i am coming from. It's a shit situation and he absolutely should have been strapped in, so yes that's my fault and I have definitely had a wake up call. I just can't stop playing it over in my mind ☹️

OP posts:
willingtolearn · 13/08/2022 22:37

@jd88123

This is wrong.

Falling asleep is NOT the same as losing consciousness.

A child who bumps their head often screams for a bit, vomits and then falls asleep - all normal.

Vomiting more than twice is a concern.

Falling asleep after 8pm is NOT

Original poster
Perfect28 · 13/08/2022 22:38

He fell asleep because bedtime was hours ago... The advice is to let people rest if they are tired, it used to be to check for signs of concussion every few hours.

OP posts:
Doveyouknow · 13/08/2022 22:38

I wouldn't have taken him to A&E in the first place for what sounds like a minor head bump. If he had lost consciousness or was drowsy etc maybe. A&E will just give you the same advice as is on the website about what to look out for

AFP10 · 13/08/2022 22:39

www.nhs.uk/conditions/head-injury-and-concussion/

What your son does not need is a rung out Mum in the morning who is beside herself. Deep breath, stay calm and follow the above advice.
None of us are perfect.

In future though please only call 999 if life or limb emergency. Or symptoms as listed above.

Always prepare for a minimum of 4 hours at A&E.

If social services call, they will do a welfare check which I'm sure you'll agree is a good mechanism for ensuring those children who are in need are not missed or fall through gaps. Openness and honesty will see you right.

Set your alarm to check in the night.

Triotriotrio · 13/08/2022 22:39

I'm our ambulance trust, if you call 999 for a child under 2 and then ignore medical advice it's an automatic safeguarding referral.

2 hours is nothing in A&E. I was waiting longer than that to take a patient in off an ambulance today.

Personally I think you can't put a price /or timeframe on your own or especially your child's health

AFP10 · 13/08/2022 22:40

willingtolearn · 13/08/2022 22:37

@jd88123

This is wrong.

Falling asleep is NOT the same as losing consciousness.

A child who bumps their head often screams for a bit, vomits and then falls asleep - all normal.

Vomiting more than twice is a concern.

Falling asleep after 8pm is NOT

Agree.

StarDolphins · 13/08/2022 22:41

Drs at A&E aren’t going to scan him for internal injuries, they check he’s alert etc & give you a leaflet! then you just make sure he’s not sick within so many hours!

I went with my DD at that age & she’d fallen probably higher than a pushchair- they checked her over & said it’s a good sign the lump appeared outwards (it was like a golf ball!( they then told me what to watch out for & gave me a leaflet!

there will be people that leave A&E all the time like this & I’m pretty sure the SS will not turn up!

NannyGythaOgg · 13/08/2022 22:42

As a children's nurse back in the 70s, kids with head injuries were admitted 'for observation'. We used to disturb them every hour and shine a torch in their eyes to ensure that they reacted equally to light. and do temp, pulse, breathing and record any vomiting.
I am so pleased medicine has advanced so much since then - but, in 3 years, not one, who wasn't poorly, listless and vomiting to start with, developed any untoward symptoms.

I'm not saying it can't happen, and this was a long long time ago but fwiw I don't think you were being unreasonable and, if I had bothered to take them in the first place. I would also have taken them home in this scenario.

Not advice, not saying it's the right thing to have done - just what I would have done

jd88123 · 13/08/2022 22:43

@willwillingtolearn this is what I was advised by nhs 24 when I called when my baby fell off the bed about 3 years ago.
Nausea and vomiting is also a sign to worry about yes. I know this from previous experience. I remember being in hospital with concussion and the nurses woke me every couple hours to check obs.

mattressspring · 13/08/2022 22:47

@jd88123

One of the signs of concussion is falling asleep. So since he slept id be worried.

It's also a sign of a tired toddler. OP said he was now asleep at around 10pm. That's no sign of concussion. Had he been drowsy on/off since the bump, fair enough, but being asleep at 10pm, normal.