Facebook users 'diagnose' sick baby after Billingshurst mum couldn't get GP appointment

Billingshurst mum Tia Muggeridge posted a photo of her 18-month-old son Tommy – covered in an angry rash – on a local Facebook page and asked if anyone knew what could be wrong with him.

Tia said Tommy had woken up with the rash on his face, arms and legs and said that it appeared to be spreading. She went to a local pharmacy but was told he needed to see a doctor.

She rang her GP surgery at 8am on Tuesday but when she got through was told there were no appointments available that day.

"I went into the doctors’ surgery after I had done the school run and said he really needed to be seen. But the receptionist said there were no emergency appointments left and I should ring 111 or take him to A&E.”

Tia called the NHS 111 number and was told someone would call her back within two hours, but no one did.

"I was a bit worried. I didn’t know what it was. I put it on Facebook to see if anyone could help.”

Scores of people responded with guesses at what the rash could be. A number diagnosed ‘hand, foot and mouth disease.’

Many advised Tia to go back and demand to see a doctor. One said: ‘Kick up a fuss’, and another: ‘Don’t let a receptionist decide.’ Another described it as ‘shameful.’

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Tia went back to the GP surgery yesterday (Wednesday) before it opened at 8am. “I said ‘I want someone to look at him and tell me what to do’.”

She finally managed to get an appointment for that evening – and Tommy was diagnosed with impetigo and prescribed antibiotics.

"I was worried,” said Tia. “I have another son and I didn’t want him to catch anything.”

She added that the doctors at her surgery were “really helpful, but I would have thought that they would have prioritised a young child.”

She thanked Facebook users for their help.

The surgery has been approached for comment.