"I don't think that this was professionally handled"

My son had a continuous illness for just under 5 weeks. Multiple visits to the GP and no further forward. After 3 antibiotics later, my son was still not getting better.

This month my son took a slight allergic reaction. A doctor seen him and advised to stop antibiotics as he was having an allergic reaction and prescribed antihistamines.

The next day I checked on my son after I woke around 8am, to find he was covered in a rash. A very red/purple rash which was spreading before my eyes. I woke him and he said he felt funny and I could clearly see his face was puffy and the rash was spreading to his face. I rushed him to Forth Valley where the receptionist booked him in. I advised he was taking an allergic reaction and at this point his skin was covered and it was burning and itching. His mouth felt sore also. The nurse called upon us and we headed into the back room where they took his temperature and blood sugar. Checked his rash and advised to go to our GP. 

I was astonished and thought I’d heard wrong. Again they said that we needed to go to our GP. They advised there was a 7 to 10 hour wait and no one would see him and to go to our GP. My son was getting worse, he was uncomfortable and scared. As a parent seeing her child like this I was scared too. I didn’t know if this was an allergic reaction or anything more sinister. 

After raising my concerns the nurse told me it wasn't meningitis, it wasn't that kind of rash. They stood staring at me while other staff came in and out of the room from the other door within the hospital. There was no empathy for my son or me. We were ushered out of the door and advised that my son will stay on the system in case we did come back. 

After calling my GP outside, they prescribed more antihistamines and advised blood tests, however there were no appointments.

I drove to Glasgow Sick Children’s Hospital where we were seen straight away and my son was admitted with a severe drug allergic reaction. His whole body was red and all his rash had joined together. His skin tight and itchy along with burning. His tongue had blisters and ulcers on (if checked at FVH this would have been seen). He was prescribed steroids, stronger antihistamines, creams and lotions. 

I feel my son has been let down by NHS Forth Valley and as a parent I was too. Allergic reactions are an emergency and can change dramatically so quickly and can be fatal. I don’t think that my son’s allergic reaction was taken seriously and this then caused a delay in treatment. I don’t think that this was professionally handled and we were neglected. 

I would not feel comfortable to take my child to this hospital again nor myself or family members. We were basically turned away and this is not acceptable.