A YOUNG Helensburgh mum has warned new parents to “always trust their instincts” - after claiming her newborn daughter’s severe allergies went undiagnosed for months.
Twenty-year-old mum of two Sara Murray gave birth to Victoria at Paisley’s Royal Alexandra Hospital in May and realised soon after taking her home that something was not quite right with her second child.
Sara, who is also mother to 17-month-old Jordan, said Victoria wasn’t sleeping or feeding in the first couple of weeks at home, while she also developed rashes and an arching back and would regularly be sick.
Despite contacting four different doctors at Helensburgh Medical Centre, Sara said she and her baby were not provided with sufficient support, leading to weeks of worry for the young mum.
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“We repeatedly contacted doctors and got told that it was just reflux or that ‘babies cry and vomit, it’s normal’,” Sara told the Advertiser.
“Our daughter’s health has been rocky at best with her being on several different formulas which haven’t helped and her constantly vomiting and screaming in pain which is very distressing as parents.
“We tried and tried to tell the surgery that something wasn’t right and she was in so much distress and they constantly told us that there was nothing to worry about, that she would grow out of it.
“Unfortunately she hasn’t and we have had to consult a dietitian through our health visitor who finally gave us a suspect diagnosis of multiple allergies.
“It has taken four months for our daughter to finally get the help she needed.”
Little Victoria, who has a severe cow’s milk allergy, was unable to be seen in-person by a doctor due to lockdown restrictions at the height of the coronavirus pandemic.
And while understanding the constraints at the time, Sara said she felt more could have been done to help her daughter.
“If the surgery had allowed actual consultations as opposed to video consultations or phone calls due in part to Covid restrictions then this would have been solved weeks if not months ago.
“We would not have been as stressed and as worried as we have been and our daughter would not have suffered in the way that she has for so many weeks.
“It was very difficult for me as her mother to watch her in so much pain and not one doctor would see her. I tried everything I could to help her but I knew she needed professional help.
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“She had Gaviscon and omeprazole, they didn’t help at all, and I phoned almost every day telling them something wasn’t right.
“I think loads of medical issues have been neglected due to Covid, and I don’t agree, a baby should be top priority yet they wouldn’t see her. Why?”
Doctors at Helensburgh Medical Centre declined to comment on the matter.
Sara said Victoria’s health has been more positive in recent weeks and issued a message to other young parents who may experience a similar situation.
“Victoria is much better but still not quite right,” Sara added.
“She still vomits a lot but her pain seems to be away, she is a happy girl and a fighter and has always got a smile on her face regardless of how sick she’s been.
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“Mums always know when there’s something wrong with their baby. Always trust your instinct when it comes to your child, it’s never wrong.”
An Argyll and Bute Health and Social Care Partnership (HSCP) spokesman said: “Due to Covid-19 our GP practices have had to make significant changes in how they provide services.
“We can’t comment on individual cases but we would ask anyone who has any issues with the service they have received to feed this back to the individual practice, or to our feedback team at nhsh.argyllandbute hscp-feedback@nhs.scot.
“As a HSCP we welcome feedback to help keep our services as patient friendly as possible, and appreciate these are particularly challenging and worrying times in which to require healthcare.”
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