"3/4 week wait"

I have major concerns about the service in my area. We did have three GP practices but one has shut down and it is now incredibly difficult to see anyone.

At the start of the month my 1 yr old had a cold which developed into pain in her ears. I called for an appointment on the 2nd of May to be told the next was on the 29th of May. I said I would need to see someone the next couple of days as for the last week my baby had been suddenly screaming and grabbing her ears.

They said the only way to do that was to go through the triage nurse for a same day appointment. That I must keep my phone with me as if I miss the call they will not speak to you. I have experience of that when I missed a call, I ran to the phone called back immediately and was told I should have answered it. So I had my phone with me every second of the day and no one called. 2 days later I went to reception and said please can someone just take a look in her ears, I think she has an ear infection. Again I was told I would have to wait for the triage nurse to call, this time she did. I told her the baby had had pain for days, had started having bouts of sweats. She said they wouldn’t see her unless she had a VERY high temperature so she doesn’t have an ear infection (diagnosed by phone!). A few nights later she woke up screaming, very high temperature, I called 111 and they arranged for her to go to the out of hours doctor who said she had an infection in both ears, which as she hadn’t managed to fight off she needed help with. She prescribed penicillin.

A couple of days of taking it was making her throw up, have stomach pains and an upset tummy. I called 111 they said to go to my GP.

Again I spoke to the nurse who said to give it to her for another 24 hours and stop if she is still ill but wouldn’t see her still. Basically she just had to have an ear infection until it cleared itself. I went to see a pharmacist who said she couldn’t understand why if she is having a bad reaction they didn’t give her antibiotic ear drops?!

They will be missing the early stages of more serious conditions with there policy of it has to be urgent of you wait a month. I feel we have no GP service available in Littlehampton.

I hope something can be done. I don’t think wanting an appointment with 3 – 4 days is unreasonable. Their triage criteria also doesn’t match those of the NHS 111 service who believed she should see a doctor.