To share ways to make A&E more bareable

Well having a frail elderly mum who was prone to falling, I always used to keep a hospital go bag in the car. Now my husband has complex and life limiting health needs, again the go bag has come into it's own for the inevitable A&E trips. Last week's experience was unfortunately typical - tests/scans etc were done promptly and he was supported by nursing staff in A&E triage at regular intervals, however the wait to be seen by a doctor was over 9 hours.

If you are taking kids to A&E, being well-prepared can be the difference between them being a pain in the arse to others and having a bearable time. Last time we were there, I'd taken plenty of paper, stickers and colouring pens and pencils and we shared them (and our snacks) with two little boys who had been kicking the shit out of the vending-machine. Their mum, who had her hands full with an extremely unwell and upset toddler, said apologetically that they'd been there for 3 hours already waiting for their younger sister to be seen.

🤣

As an epileptic, I always have a "hospital bag" ready on standby in exactly the same way I always had a hospital bag ready on standby from 36 weeks pregnant. What's the difference between the two situations?

(I would actually rather scoop out my own eyes with a melon baller than go to A and E, and do stupid shit like relocate joints etc myself if it means I can avoid A and E especially if it's a weekend night). Still, as my epilepsy is uncontrolled I am, as a PP quite dismissively said, a "frequent flyer" so have to be prepared knowing hospital visits will happen in the same way I knew I would have a baby at some point!

In fact I have two hospital bags. My handbag which I always take with me if I'm out alone, containing water bottle/two days meds/wipes and clean underwear/battery charger and cable/ipad. So I have the basics if I'm admitted alone or unconscious etc. My hospital bag which I would take from home, or which DH would give to paramedics, contains 7 days of meds/basic toiletries/charger plug/underwear/grippy socks/sleep mask/couple of big shirts I could use as sleep shirts or as a shirt dress for discharge. I usually deliberately wear a long cardi day to day which could double up as a robe in hospital, or be folded for a cushion etc. I like to have minimal amount of stuff for hospital waits/admissions and I don't like visitors or people with me.

I also obviously wear a medical alert bracelet which has DH's contact number and in the "emergency screen" on my iPhone I have the details set up including DH's mobile, my NHS number/blood type. I also have this as my screen saver which has proved useful in the past. I think that was a MN tip originally funnily enough!

I fucking hate A and E. Our average wait time is 8-10 hours but obviously it varies so much eg if you're walking wounded or straight in to majors etc. Our local minor injuries closed for "optimal staff distribution" during Covid and has never re-opened

Yes. I had very heavy bleeding and lost 2 pints of blood. I walked into A&E with a sodden bath sheet between my legs but I wasn’t in pain. I’d still have died if they hadn’t stopped the bleeding.

Similarly, someone could have had a stroke and their face might have dropped and they can’t lift their arm but they’re not in pain. There are all kinds of situations where serious conditions may not present with pain.

I don't understand it either. I'm not sure what people think happens when you need to go to A&E but there is always time to grab a few essentials, yourself or all someone else to get for you and you have a better time there if you do.

Medical emergencies aren't nearly as quick as they are on TV. There is a lot of waiting and being prepared is never wasted

I would also add, if you have medical POA for anyone or they have it for you, make sure you know how to prove it. Plus have a list of medications you or they are on. I take photos with my phone of medical letters so I can show them if necessary.

You really can't be too prepared.

I went to an ooh doctors appointment that bumped me to a &e then admitted for two days. I don’t think you always know. Luckily my car is a dumping ground so had a gym bag, phone charger type stuff.

We don’t have a minor injuries so you are waiting in a and e for suspected broken bones etc. I took DS last year as thought he’d fractured his wrist. Pack a bag, Nintendo switch, headphones, snacks, drinks, book. We struck it lucky and it was pretty quiet so we were in x rayed, splinted and back out in just over an hour. I’ve sat in there for 8 hours + with a similar injury on another child. Better to be prepared.

It's not spose to be a day out.

Also I don't see expectant mums be mocked for asking what to pack in a hospital bag and I don't see this as any different

Some of us know we (or our loved ones) have conditions that come with a side order of "life threatening" and consequently have to accept spending more time in a&e and hospitals that we would like.

Wanting to chat about how to take the edge off the misery is completely reasonable and it's a massive shame this thread has been invaded by people who think when anyone (other than them, presumably) goes to a&e it must be an overreaction

It's not about treating it as a fun place to hang out FFS. It's about making the experience marginally less miserable

Ive been to A&E three times over the last ten years or so, each time sent there by 111. One broken bone, one really nasty cat bite, one torn calf muscle. Unfortunately, when these things happen at weekends or evenings, A&E is the only option, and with such minor injuries you have to expect you’ll wait a LONG time and it would be mad not to grab a charger, book and bottle of water and pick up your handbag. Anyone who knows they might be admitted is surely going to know what they need to take (medication, spare underwear, toothbrush)

What I think people object to is treating it like some kind of outing - it’s not really supposed to be a fun, comfy place to hang out. And for most of us, visits are few and far between. Some people do genuinely like hospitals etc (possibly a different thing to health anxiety) and probably enjoy thinking about what to take to A&E 🤷‍♀️

So why can't we have a thread about useful things to bring when we have to go?

????

Of course there are people who genuinely need to be there. That's my point.

It's not just the lack of government funding that's the issue, it's mis-management within the NHS. HUGE amounts of money wasted in middle management roles.

The entire NHS needs an overhaul.

I have a bag which is always packed

Clean top, underwear, pjs
Phone charger and power bank
Book
Mini toiletries
Baby wipes
Medication
Snacks

If I needed to go I would just add a bottle of water

I waited 11 hours with chest pain in April. Turns out I had myocarditis so absolutely needed to be in A&E.

Exactly, a power bank , any regular meds, cushion

And actually I have thought of a couple more that were suggested to me/I wished I had had recently

• ear plugs (I like loop ear plugs but other versions are available)
• eye mask

(Those are more for if admitted to be fair, but whenever a Dr tells me to go to a&e I know that is a possible outcome, and they would make a&e marginally more tolerable)

Irrespective of that fact, many people go there who GENUINELY NEED TO BE THERE

(Sorry I never to caps lock shouting but you deserve that response)

So why the fuck shouldn't we chat about how to make it marginally less miserable.

There are better ways to deal with people who abusive the system than drowning out a discussion which could help people who do need to go.

Often the paramedics used to literally ask me to pack a bag while they were getting my son ready to go in the ambulance so having a good idea what to pack is bloody useful in a panic!

Equally many people like me are advised to have a bag ready at all times due to the nature of our condition. I actually hate having to go because I am immune suppressed so only go very reluctantly

And lastly PEOPLE ALSO DIE BECAUSE THEY DONT TO A AND E WHEN THEY SHOULD HAVE GONE

@TwinklyAmberOrca if you want to blame anyone, blame the govement cuts to nhs and the lack of out of hours gp level provision. Walk in centres have been closed all over here and GPs lack the appointments needed, often they send patients to a and e.

I went in with a belly ache which had a bit if a sharp pain. To be honest if my DH hadn't forced me to go I would have taken stronger painkillers at home and probably died whe it burst.