I'm really angry. Should I complain?

peachyprice

No, I don't think you should complain when you have nothing to complain about. It was your own decision to take your baby to the wrong place for treatment.

Surgeries can't just treat people off the street, regardless of whether or not it's a baby, they have neither the staff or facilities to treat casualties. Was it even your own GP surgery?

Person_one

ceegee wrote: »

I think it would be a good idea if everyone had basic first-aid training too!

This is a really good idea, a little training can really reduce the panic levels when things like this happen.

Have a look here OP:

http://www.redcrossfirstaidtraining.co.uk/Courses/First-aid-public-courses.aspx

http://www.sja.org.uk/sja/training-courses/courses-for-the-general-public.aspx

soccermom

as someone who works in the ambulance control room calling an ambulance is completely OTT :eek: unless a large amount of blood is lost in a 30 min time frame.

Hope you baby is feeling much better and you are getting over the shock. lots of cuddles needed

thorsoak

Had you called 999 and asked for an ambulance, if you were in this area, the first intervention would have been a first responders car. The first responder has a marked ambulance car, is a fully qualified paramedic, and could have ascertained whether s/he could treat your baby or whether you needed hospital attention - and would then have called an ambulance to attend. This is why you call 999.

You did not know whether the doctor's surgery would have a qualified person in attendance - doctors and nurses both go out on call - and unless you are registered at a practice, they are not first-aid centres - you'd have possibly done better going to the local pharmacy!

No - you'e got no reason to complain - but at least you know what to do the next time - and believe me - there will be a next time - at least if my experience of my children growing up has anything to go by!

I always advise doing a first aid course!

unsure

These two statements don't really fit together do they:

"Now that I have calmed down I realise that a medical practice is not an A&E and I shouldn't have gone there in the first place..."

"Am I right to be upset and annoyed and should I complain or was the doctor right to send us away?"

You know you should have gone to A&E. You have no reason to be unhappy with anyone else. Your personal panic level is not the determinant of how medical services should be organised. Hopefully you have learnt a useful lesson for the future.

silly_moo

Thanks for all your replies.

My son must have been tired out by the whole situation as he's been fast asleep for the past few hours and didn't even wake up for his feed. Poor thing

I think this situation has given me the final push to enrol into a first aid course. I will also be putting the NHS 24 and the local taxis numbers on my mobile so I can call them quickly should anything happen.

I did have half a mind to call an ambulance but decided that it's better left for people who really need it. Although if my neighbour hadn't come home at that particular time and I had no one to ask for help, I don't know how I would have acted.

I didn't realise not all doctors/surgeries can deal with cuts/stitches. I thought it was one of the basic skills each doctor/nurse should possess. It only took the doctor at A&E a few minutes to clean and dress the wound and he didn't need proper stitches, just the paper ones. Surely a doctor at the surgery should be able to do that and maybe then waiting times at A&E wouldn't be that long

I see the point though and will not be complaining.

[Deleted User]

Hi,

calm down, chill.

If this should happen to your next child, you will know what to do,

You are getting too hyper, first baby, no experience, so a bit lost in how to handle the situation.

Did you never fall and scrape your knee?

Person_one

silly_moo wrote: »

I didn't realise not all doctors/surgeries can deal with cuts/stitches. I thought it was one of the basic skills each doctor/nurse should possess. It only took the doctor at A&E a few minutes to clean and dress the wound and he didn't need proper stitches, just the paper ones. Surely a doctor at the surgery should be able to do that and maybe then waiting times at A&E wouldn't be that long

If GPs acted as mini A&Es and saw people straight off the streets they would never have time to do any actual appointments! Its not about whether they are capable, its about each service having a different role, and the fact that the system would be in complete chaos if they didn't have some separation.

A GP might not have spent any time in A&E for decades anyway, they aren't the right person to triage and treat injuries.

Good luck on the first aid course, the first link I posted has courses specifically for babies and young children.

silly_moo

peachyprice wrote: »

No, I don't think you should complain when you have nothing to complain about. It was your own decision to take your baby to the wrong place for treatment.

Surgeries can't just treat people off the street, regardless of whether or not it's a baby, they have neither the staff or facilities to treat casualties. Was it even your own GP surgery?

Yes, it was my own GP surgery. And it wasn't my decision to take him to the wrong place - I was totally panicked as I have never been in my life and wasn't making rational decisions. I hope you are never in a situation where you are panicked, scared, have a screaming baby and the people who trained for situations like this don't even want to see if they could help.

Person_one

silly_moo wrote: »

Yes, it was my own GP surgery. And it wasn't my decision to take him to the wrong place - I was totally panicked as I have never been in my life and wasn't making rational decisions. I hope you are never in a situation where you are panicked, scared, have a screaming baby and the people who trained for situations like this don't even want to see if they could help.

They did help, they directed you to the right place where you could appropriate assessment and treatment of your son's injury.

Its over now, try to calm down, your baby is fine and you're going to get some training so you'll be cool as a cucumber next time he hurts himself. It'll happen a lot between now and when he leaves home!