When your children are poorly, however serious, it’s frightening. Last week we certainly had our fair share, and thankfully received the right help and advice when it was needed the most.
Big E has asthma. He’d got to the stage where his inhaler was doing nothing for him and he was coughing so hard and constantly that he couldn’t keep food down. He wasn’t sleeping as lying down made him worse and he had a 40.2°C fever.
At 2:30am last Sunday (29th November) I called NHS Direct. I spoke to an adviser who had a nurse ring me back within minutes. The nurse then contacted the out of hours doctor service who arranged for a doctor to visit.
By 4:30am the doctor had examined his chest, and given us a small dose of steroids to help open Big E’s airways so his Ventolin inhaler had a better effect. We were advised to continue with regular doses of paracetamol, watch Big E’s progress and take him back to the doctor on Wednesday if he wasn’t improving.
Wednesday came and by this time Little E had developed a rattly chest, a very snotty nose and a low fever. We couldn’t get a double appointment with the same doctor so I took Big E to one appointment whilst my husband took Little E to the other.
Big E coughed and vomited his way through his appointment. The doctor said the virus had spread and was now a chest infection. We were prescribed double the original dose of steroids, antibiotics, more paracetamol and more inhalers.
Little E , being the happy souls she is, smiled and gurgled through her appointment. The doctor diagnosed a viral infection and said no antibiotics were needed but prescribed paracetamol for her fever.
Big E started to improve within a day. The extra steroids and antibiotics really boosted him and his appetite picked up. He was still by no means well enough for nursery or anything more than resting on the sofa. Little E, on the other hand, became more fretful and seemed to be getting worse.
We rang the surgery hoping for an appointment but were given a phone consultation instead. The doctor told us to carry on as we were and Little E would be fine. She didn’t need antibiotics and didn’t need to be seen.
Friday came and went with no improvements for Little E. When Saturday morning came my husband left for work at 6am. I brought Little E into my bed as she was unsettled. Her breathing was very shallow and fast and she was obviously distressed.
I rang the doctor’s surgery, spoke to the receptionist and explained that Big E had a chest infection, Little E was ill, I had no transport, and asked for a home visit. She informed me the home visits were discretionary but if I spoke to the doctor she might come out to us.
I was put through to the doctor’s phone. This is the conversation that followed:
Me: ‘Oh hello doctor, I was hoping you could come out and visit my 6 month old daughter…’
Doctor: (cutting me off mid sentence and being very abrupt) ‘How did you get this number? Did you dial direct or did reception put you through?’
Me: (totally blind sided): ‘Reception put me through…’
Doctor: (cutting me off again) ‘Well, we don’t do home visits on Saturday’s. You should have rung NHS Direct not the surgery.’
Me: (getting angry by now) ‘OK thanks, I ring them then.’ And I terminated the call.
I was shaking with anger, panicking at my daughter not being able to breathe properly and not once did she ask me anything about Little E. I was furious and very upset.
I rang NHS Direct and (whilst crying) spoke to a lovely adviser who reassured me a nurse would ring within 10 minutes as she’d flagged the case as urgent. In the meantime my Dad rang, found me sobbing down the phone in a panicked state, and said he’d be round in 20 minutes.
The nurse called back as promised, and after listening to Little E breathing over the phone, confirmed that she did need to be seem and would prefer if I could take her to the out of hours surgery at A&E. They’d ring me back within 30 minutes to arrange the appointment, and if I needed it they would provide transportation.
I rang my husband’s supervisor and asked him to get a message to my husband to come home urgently.
The out of hours centre rang and arranged an appointment for 1:20pm and offered transportation but since my husband was on his way home we no longer needed it.
My Dad and brother looked after Big E while we took Little E to the hospital. We were seen punctually by an excellent doctor. He had a brilliant manner with Little E, he listened to her chest, looked in her throat and diagnosed acute bronchiolitis. He prescribed an inhaler, antibiotics and some antihistamine syrup.
Within one day she began to perk up.
One day.
I cannot praise enough the service we received from NHS Direct and the majority of the doctors we saw. They were thorough and helpful and didn’t waste a second in getting my children the help they needed.
I know not everyone is happy with the service NHS Direct provides but I can honestly say I’ve never had a bad experience with them.
When they’ve said we didn’t need to be seen by a doctor they have been right and when we needed more than a phone consultation they have been on the ball with sending doctors out in the small hours or arranging out of hours appointments.
My children are both getting better by the day with Big E being well enough to return to nursery today and I feel lucky.
Lucky to have my children and lucky to have received the right medical attention when we needed it.
Thank you NHS Direct and thank goodness that week is over!
Image courtesy of SXC
{ 23 comments… read them below or add one }
I'm so glad NHS direct worked well for you! I've never had to use them before but our Doctors surgery is as useless by the sounds of it, we normally end up at childrens A+E. Glad they are both on the mend now! Hope your recovering too!
I've never been particualrly impressed by NHS direct, they have generally taken 20 minutes to ring back only to say "go to A&E", so now we just go to A&E.
Plus, why can't they get a nurse to actually pick up the phone rather than someone to say "we'll ring you back in 10 minutes".
I'm glad they worked for you though. Breathing problems are very scary indeed.
Glad she's on the mend. Disgusting behaviour by your GP surgery.
I agree you received excellent service from NHS direct. I would be writing a letter of complaint to your doctors though
You should complain to the PCT about your Dr, that's terrible, and then they wonder why people call ambulances. I'm so pleased NHS Direct were so good, and sorted it out. Hope they're both on the mend soon x
We've had mainl;y good experiences of NHS Direct.
Really glad everyone's starting to feel better.
I'm glad that everyone is getting better now. I've always found NHS Direct to be excellent with the kids. I called them once sobbing when DH cut newborn Ben's finger instead of fingernail, and they were great.
What a (kind of) lovely post – restores your faith that there are good people about.
We have only had good experiences with NHS direct also – i think they are wonderful & i am glad that you have too – especially in the situation you were in.
I think the fact they offered you transport too is super good!
Definitely think about writing to your PCT though – thats awful how you were treated by the doctor.
Hope everyone gets 100% well ASAP.
Aww poor kids and poor you and hubby! Hurrah for NHS Direct. You should email this post to them. So glad all ended well.
Jeez – you poor things. That sounds terrifying. What a ridiculous response from the doctor – can you officially complain? Great to hear everyone on the mend. Love the festive decor by the way
I've always had good experiences with NHS direct too, glad Big E and Little E are on the mend xxx
It's so good to hear the children are on the mend. I'm very grateful for our good access to medical facilities, too. It would be too scary to have to do without.
Oh how awful for all of you. NHS Direct has helped us too. It is practically impossible to get seen by a doctor at out local surgery and in no cases no they visit. Shame really. It was much better when I was younger and they did. Doctors were like family members in those days and people you could rely on in a crisis. At least you can oick up the phone for advice these days. I'm waffling now!
That was just awful, I had my hand clamped over my mouth whilst reading it, I am so glad you are all on th emend now – blimey what a to do. Aren't we so lucky to have the NHS? it regularly manages to not serve us all so well at times but all the same imagine those few days without any NHS at all – doesn't bear thinking about.
I hope everyone is well on the mend now. Asthma in kids is scary, and chest infections suck.
I only have good things to say about NHS direct and our local out of hours service too. We had to use them a couple of months ago when Moo had a fever for over a week which just wouldn't come down. NHS direct arranged for appointments with the out of hours clinic, who saw us within minutes of us arriving (not even giving Hubbie the chance to run to the car to pick up the (forgotten) nappy bag).
But don't even get me started on our local GP surgery… Guess it's OK if you know you're going to be ill a week in advance, at 8.45 am…
Terrible for your GP to deal with you like that, I remember our 'family doctor' when we were growing up. We had him for years and he knew us all well. That's all changed now and GPs just seem so overworked and jaded, I'd definitely complain about your GP.
I've found NHS Direct brilliant where the children are concerned, less good when it's concerned me. But that's the best way round!
What a week for you though, hope you're all finally getting out of the woods.
I rang NHS Direct last week when Cash couldn't keep water down. A nurse rang me back within minutes and was extremely helpful.
I'm glad your little ones are on the mend now.
I agree with the others, you should complain about your GP – how rude. It's not your fault that the receptionist put you through. There should be clearer guidance on what GPs will or won't do.
Wow – am in tears – that must have been terrifying – am so lucky in australia to have the option of take your child to emergency, call nurse direct (who are very good) or call a locum (some of whom are good)- doctors NEVER do house calls anymore
not near us that i have found anyway- we have had some horror experiences, but the one you had is the kind that I want to have with my kids every time – so glad your bubs are getting better, poor honey *hugs* must have been terrifying.
Thanks for all the comments and shared experiences.
Hayley – Thanks for thw well wishes, we are all much better now x
Dan – I suspect for every good experience there is also a not so good. The red tape to get a call back can be annoying sometimes but we got there in the end. And yes, breathing problems are very scary. I hope you have a better experience if you use them again.
MSG, The Mad house & Liz VP – Bit reluctant to complain to GP as I've been registered my whole life and we do have a 'family' doctor at the surgery who knows us well.
Laura & World of & Jordan – Thanks and glad you have had good experiences too x
DJ Kirkby – NHS Direct tweeted to say they had read the post
HCM – 'Twas scary indded but everyone is on the mend. Glad you like the decor
.
MrsHarvey – Thank you my lovely x
MWA – I can't imagine a world wothout access to NHS etc, it would be scary and makes me thankful for what we have here in the UK
x
Rosie – Waffle away
So much is de-personalised these days. We still have a GP at the surgery who know our whole family. He's recently sold his stake in the practice and is retiring soon 
Kellogsville – Agreed, life without the NHS is a scary thought.
Bumblingalong – Glad you got sorted too. It seems so many have the same problem of not being able to even get a GP appointment when they actually need it until after the fact.
Emily & Sandy – Glad you've had good experiences where the kids are concerned. With regard to the GP, it's odd as she's usually lovely but I must have caught her on a bad day. That's why I was totally blind sided when she basically just fobbed me off without even asking about Little E.
Thanks agaon for all the well wishes and comments everyone.
That's awful (GP). I have become a big fan of the NHS. There's a big debate going on in the US at the moment about government-run medicine. I wish they would look at all the success stories!
One thing (and there weren't many) that I was impressed with in Germany is that the doctors will still come do a housecall, especially if it's after hours. It seems to be the norm (they do charge a bit extra, but at least they do it!) I remember my (American) mother talking about doctors making housecalls in the middle of the night to deliver babies and care for sick kids. It seems it was all so much more personal back then.
I'm traveling, but even when we were still in the States, we didn't have a "regular doctor". The one we started out with ended up being a over-scheduled ass who couldn't remember my son's name or what we saw him for. After Kindergarten shots, we rarely had to go to the doctor, and I kind of panicked if we did. I didn't know who to call.
I can't believe that your doctor would talk to you like that. And a woman! I would definitely complain. It's shameful.
I've always had good experiences too, with out of hours appts being made or advising us to visit A&E (correctly as it turned out). Our GP's is usually really good too. If you want an urgent appt, a nurse calls you back to triage you, and I've always got an appt within a couple of hours when I've been worried. Glad you're all better and loving your Christmassy spots!
Evan has been admitted to hosptial over ten times for breathing stuff, three of those times he had to stay in for more than one night. to be fair we sort of know what to do now and at what point we need to go to A&E.
To be fair they were quite useful when i rang them complaining of flu symptoms (in that they toldme to stay off work. Hurrah!)