Or so they say.
There are coughs and colds aplenty in our neck of the woods at the moment, so it was no surprise that the boy started to get wheezier and wheezier over the weekend. We were keeping on top of it with the odd puff of his blue inhaler but by Tuesday evening it was clear that we were fighting a losing battle. I wasn’t too worried, but I though I’d better phone NHS Direct for some advice and I figured we’d probably end up in hospital at some point.
Note to self, call EmDoc (our out of hours GP service) next time. NHS direct swung straight into panic mode, calling out an ambulance and a paramedic car, despite me telling them I was happy to drive the boy to hospital myself. The guy from the paramedic car wasn’t at all impressed (although whether with me or NHS direct, I’m not sure) and I’m not surprised. The boy wasn’t poorly enough to warrant four emergency health professionals (no kidding, one in the car and three in the ambulance).
The ambulance people thought he was bad enough to be carted off to hospital though, so off we duly went although this time to a different hospital. It’s in a fairly rough area but I have to say I was pleasantly surprised.
The pediatric A&E at our normal hospital is pretty much a corridor off the main A&E. The triage nurse is usually in a room with the door shut and there’s very much a feeling of being shoved into a corner and forgotten. The A&E at the hospital we went to this time is a dedicated pediatric A&E with it’s own staff, space and equipment. It wasn’t desperately busy (which always makes a hospital nicer) and although at the time it felt tedious we were actually seen within an hour and a half by a very lovely Dr who sent us packing with some prednisolone.
Now, I know that it’s because it was a much milder attack that we were sent home, but I can’t help thinking that maybe next time if we go to this new hospital then just maybe we won’t have to be checked into children’s ward again.
Wishful thinking never hurt anyone.
Oh yes, the picture was taken today – see, the boy is fine.
A tough day and seemingly over reactions but …. very definitely better to be safe. A nice ward like that makes all the difference. nice pic
Oh he’s definitely looking fine there! Cheeky lil chappy!
*hugs* x
Awww glad he is feeling better now! I’ve had some asthma dramas this week, luckily not with me. But its reminded me how serious asthma can be and how quickly it can get serious. You can never be too safe! Our local hospital has a brilliant childrens a n e! Its so colourful in the waiting area and in all the rooms including the childrens A+E crash room! If only all hospitals were like that!
What a gorgeous photo of all of you!
Love it when things run smoothly and very happy to read that your little guy is okay.