nhs direct

Dogger69

ouchy2012 wrote: »

I can understand that but to be honest I think they need to be a bit more discreet and not sound as if they are accusing us. I'm surprised it doesn't put some people of ringing them through fear of social services being informed.

ouchy2012 wrote: »

So my baby hit his head rang nhs as always feel its better to be safe than sorry but the nurse I spoke to made me feel so bad and was speaking as though she didn't believe me that it was an accident.

They told me although everything seems fine he needs to be checked over and that I needed to take him to a&e straight away. I told them I do not drive and that I could get there in around an hour but they said I shouldn't wait and that they suggest i get a taxi and not wait..surely taking a baby in a car with no seat is dangerous? ! They seemed to think not.

It is comments like the above that lead to them being so blunt with you. Your daughter had a head injury that *may* have been very serious, and your response clearly did not reflect the urgency of the situation. The fact that your daughter was fine is irrelevant - at that stage no one could be sure that she was ok. If she had taken a turn for the worse your delay could have resulted in serious harm, or worse. Would you still be criticising them then?

POPPYOSCAR

Dogger69 wrote: »

It is comments like the above that lead to them being so blunt with you. Your daughter had a head injury that *may* have been very serious, and your response clearly did not reflect the urgency of the situation. The fact that your daughter was fine is irrelevant - at that stage no one could be sure that she was ok. If she had taken a turn for the worse your delay could have resulted in serious harm, or worse. Would you still be criticising them then?

Then they should have told her to call for an ambulance, not take the child in a taxi with no car seat, if they thought it was that serious.

I would of thought advising to take the child to the GP the first step in the circumstances.

ouchy2012

Dogger69 wrote: »

It is comments like the above that lead to them being so blunt with you. Your daughter had a head injury that *may* have been very serious, and your response clearly did not reflect the urgency of the situation. The fact that your daughter was fine is irrelevant - at that stage no one could be sure that she was ok. If she had taken a turn for the worse your delay could have resulted in serious harm, or worse. Would you still be criticising them then?

IF it was an emergency then I would have rang for an ambulance not waited for a taxi to travel 17 miles to a&e with my child sat on my lap risking my child's life. Nearest taxi 10 mins away plus 17miles driving means at least half an hour plus that is providing the taxi company had one available at that time.

add all that to the time i would have been waiting in a&e...

would rather arrive half hour later with my child in a car seat than risk my child travelling in a taxi with no safety seat in place.

Techhead_2

ouchy2012 wrote: »

IF it was an emergency then I would have rang for an ambulance not waited for a taxi to travel 17 miles to a&e with my child sat on my lap risking my child's life. Nearest taxi 10 mins away plus 17miles driving means at least half an hour plus that is providing the taxi company had one available at that time.

add all that to the time i would have been waiting in a&e...

would rather arrive half hour later with my child in a car seat than risk my child travelling in a taxi with no safety seat in place.

As a parent I find that disturbing. Being concerned about the way someone spoke to you, time waiting and the mechanics of travelling. Child first, remote possibility of accident and hurt feelings second.

tamiami

They don't have car seats on buses, does no one travel on a bus nowadays with babies?

DaveAA

Had you rang NHS 111 (don't know whether that's started in your area yet) it's quite likely they would have sent an ambulance out rather than expecting you to travel.

Gordon_Hose

tamiami wrote: »

They don't have car seats on buses, does no one travel on a bus nowadays with babies?

If I was on a bus with a baby, it would be in a pram/buggy. If very small then more than likely a car seat that connects to a travel system.

If you would take your child in a taxi with no car seat you're nuts IMO.

ouchy2012

Techhead wrote: »

As a parent I find that disturbing. Being concerned about the way someone spoke to you, time waiting and the mechanics of travelling. Child first, remote possibility of accident and hurt feelings second.

My child was put first! After being told it was not an emergency I decided I was better of taking the 20 minutes walk to the GP rather than risk my childs life on a journey that would have taken a lot longer, we were also seen straight away where as a&e would of had a wait.

As a parent I feel that in circumstances like this you need to do what is best for the child..I feel I did this..do you not think I did?

Gordon_Hose

You did the right thing, ouchy2012!

bod1467

You did the right thing ouchy2012. I think some people criticising you have skim-read the posts and have not taken into account the chronological order of things ... NHS Direct had ALREADY determined that it was a non-emergency situation BEFORE the discussion about taxis/travel was had. (Is how I am reading things).