My daughters have been victims of misdiagnosis, my youngest at just 2 weeks old and my eldest at 3 years of age.

 

Our daughter Amelia was 2 weeks old when she developed a horrific cough and sucking in at the ribs. We got her in to see a GP asap, only to be told the cough was from her throat and that she more than likely had developed a sore throat. We had a midwife appointment the same day, that midwife saved my daughter’s life. We were immediately referred to CAU at Derriford hospital and were informed that our little 2 week old baby had actually contracted RSV and now had Bronchiolitis. She was on Optiflow for 5 days and had to be monitored 24/7 to ensure her breathing was improving. We were eventually allowed to return home after 1 week in hospital.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fast forward to March 2024, our 3 year old, Olivia was sent home from school with a temp of 39 degrees and a rash over her whole body. We immediately went to the GP and they informed us that it was simply a Viral Rash and would clear up in a few days with rest, fluids and pain relief. We returned Olivia to school, only for her to be sent home again with a high fever of 39 degrees and a tennis ball sized lump on her neck. Immediately I contacted the GP surgery but after having to go through the process of filling an econsult and not hearing back for over an hour, I decided to ring 111 who told us to get her to the ER in the next 20-30 minutes. Upon arriving at A&E paediatrics we were told Olivia had an infection that was unable to eradicate itself from her tiny body and that after nearly one whole week in hospital she has had to have a drain fitted to remove and decrease the abscess in her neck. If this was left untreated it would have turned Septic and we would not be in this situation right now, it would have become even more dangerous. This is still on ongoing process for my little darling and we are not out of the woods yet.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This could have been avoided with the correct care, procedures and treatment. 

This is a personal plea to improve child care and diagnosis in GP surgeries. Every parent trusts their child's health to their doctor, expecting accurate diagnoses and appropriate treatments. However, our experience has shown that this trust can be misplaced.

Every year, thousands of children are misdiagnosed due to various reasons such as lack of pediatric training or simply not listening carefully to parents' concerns (source: American Academy of Pediatrics). This not only puts the health and lives of our children at risk but also causes immense emotional distress for families.

We need stricter regulations ensuring that all GPs receive adequate pediatric training. We also need a system where parents' concerns are taken seriously because no one knows a child better than their parent.

Let us make our children safe by ensuring they receive the correct care when visiting a GP surgery. Let us ensure they are diagnosed with utmost seriousness and parents are listened to always.

Please sign this petition if you believe in better healthcare for our children.