Youngsters ‘examined outside in the cold’ on visits to GP

PARENTS SAY CHILDREN NOT LET IN WITHOUT A PCR TEST

PARENTS say GP practices are asking poorly children without PCR test results to be examined in the cold.

Residents of Birstall took to Facebook to share their stories, with babies as young as five months old allegedly subjected to the policy.

A mother posting on the Spotted Birstall page said: “A morality question. Do you think it’s acceptable for a fivemonth-old baby who is struggling to breathe, to not be allowed access into the GP surgery to be checked without having a PCR test?

“Instead the baby is assessed in the back of a car in the car park when it’s two degrees outside and clothing is removed for several minutes while baby is screaming?”

Another parent said: “Same thing happened with my youngest, three years old, chest infection, seen in the car park outside in the cold. Vile beyond belief.”

A third said: “This happened to my child. Yes, she’s two so much older, but to not see a child inside is absolutely ridiculous.”

A fourth said: “They refused to see my baby at all in October.

“My son, just shy of seven months at the time, was admitted to hospital needing oxygen and a feeding tube.

“The receptionist said ‘it was protocol.’ It’s absolutely disgusting.

“I was standing there crying because I desperately knew something was wrong and the professionals were refusing to help.”

The Mercury contacted the clinical commissing group about GP practices in the Birstall area.

A spokesman said it would not be able to address concerns without information on specific cases.

Patients who have been treated in an unsatisfactory way by their GP practice, have been asked to contact the practice in the first instance and if this is not possible, they can contact the clinical commissioning groups via email.