Cornwall mum praises 'absolute angel' 111 clinician after toddler suffers severe asthma attack
Katherine Shortt from Camborne phoned for advice the day after Amber ended up in hospital
Last updated 28th May 2021
A Cornwall mum has revealed how calling 111 saved her from rushing her poorly toddler to A&E.
Katherine Shortt from Camborne used the service after little Amber suffered a severe attack of croup.
The three-year-old had woken up choking and struggling to breathe - and her lips turned blue.
Paramedics treated the tot at home, before taking her to hospital to be checked over as a precaution.
It was there that medics discovered she had also suffered an asthma attack.
Katherine said: "It was the worst attack we'd ever seen. We dialled for an ambulance who arrived in 6 minutes and she was given an inhaler and steroids and took her to the hospital. It was very scary, and we were panicking".
Amber was later discharged but parents Katherine and John phoned the non-emergency number the next day when their daughter did not bounce back.
"Normally she gets her bounce back after she has had the steroids but this time that didn't happen. I began to panic and started to go through what if it happened to Amber again and how we might not be so lucky the second time. I was extremely scared".
Katherine, who works at Royal Cornwall Hospital, Treliske, dialled 111 and "an absolute angel" called Katie, a 111 clinician, called her back.
"Myself and John was so worried about Amber and if it hadn't been for Katie and the whole of the 111 team, I would not have made it through the night and driven her straight to the emergency, even if had meant I had to sit in the car park all night.
"They saved an admission when the emergency department is so busy".
Katherine admitted she was "very emotional" when she spoke to Katie.
"Katie was absolutely brilliant; she was calm, took me through all the scenarios and each point step by step but without the feeling that I was being spoken down to. Katie was relatable and supportive".
Amber's condition means that she regularly receives a prescribed medication through her doctor, which the family had run out of.
"Katie was very appropriate and sought the correct advice from another clinician before arranging the prescription".
The 111 clinician even went the extra mile and tried to arrange for a smaller dose to make it easier for Amber to take the medication.
And when it wasn't available, took a further call from Katherine with less than an hour before the pharmacies closed and organised for another prescription to be sent to a different pharmacy immediately.
Katherine added: "I am really glad to have spoken to Katie and the 111 team, they were able to provide the reassurance, clarity and medication, which meant I felt our daughter could remain safely at home without needing hospital care".
Katherine has shared her story as part of an appeal from NHS Kernow, for people to choose the right care.
It comes ahead of what is expected to be a busy bank holiday, half-term and summer.
Visit 111.nhs.uk or call 111 any time, day or night, if it's an urgent, but not life-threatening condition such as a fractured bone, sprains, and burns, or when your GP surgery is closed, and you cannot wait until it re-opens.
You can check which service to contact and when here.