To think 70% of people shouldn’t be in A&E

Yes I was going to say the same. My friend ended up In a&E on Sunday and it was really quiet. She mentioned it to the staff and they said it’s because it was Father’s Day so most people had something going on!

This is likely accurate for some people, but definitely not all.

The reality is that for a lot of people the GP wait times are absolutely crazy. In some cases the person's condition wouldn't get worse with a wait, but a lot of people's would.

A GP receptionist can't reliably judge what is urgent or not when a patient likely doesn't know either.

I nearly died of sepsis due to my gallbladder. I had to wait weeks for an appointment despite the fact that I was passing out from the pain and throwing up for hours. By the time I got to my GP appointment I could barely walk and was rushed straight to hospital where they operated.

I wish I hadn't waited for that GP appointment and instead had taken myself to hospital. I would have avoided emergency surgery, 6 days in hospital and terrifying all my loved ones.

I've never spoken rudely to any medical staff, ever. And I don't condone rudeness, but people who are more quiet and don't advocate for themselves enough can be in life threatening situations due to the current wait times.

And you may say I should have realised it was a situation that deserved A&E and I was stupid to wait... But we hear about time wasters so often that I was scared of being one.

We are told to patiently wait for GP appointments and not to fill up A&E... But it doesn't really stop the attention seekers, it just stops those who are scared of doing the wrong thing.

There's a balance somewhere, but the current system isn't it.

Think poster is a bit confused and thinking Erectile dysfunction.

Pills for Eating Disorder on the internet?

I think ED is a bit of a stretch for going to A&E. You can even buy pills for it on the internet now like my DH does.

you say that pain in itself is not a reason to present to A&E

No, I said it's not an emergency. I also said anyone was welcome to go to A&E, OP and your good self included.

I disagree with you, and you are still trying to argue with me

Are you not accustomed to people disagreeing with you once you have spoken? That's how a discussion goes, usually.

I have presented to A&E with chronic pain that I am unable to get under control, and many other people have.

Good job, sincerely hope it helped. What would you like me to do with that information about your choices?

GP’s won’t prescribe morphine IV so the only option is to go to A&E (GP’s own words).

All jolly good, and true. This is a valid route to treatment, as dictated by the system. You should go. Still not an emergency.

at least I don’t say they shouldn’t be at A&E as their pain isn’t worthy of treatment

I should hope not, that's unprofessional and not your place to say. I haven't said this either, in fact quite the opposite. Please, absolutely do go to A&E if you feel it's necessary - pain is still a valid reason to go to A&E, it's just not an emergency in and of itself. OP is the one judging you for why you're there, not me.

They really do. On more than one occasion I have seen extended family members accompanying the patient - snacks, drinks, books and games. One patient had 7, 7! other family members with them. They really did treat it as an exciting outing 🤦‍♀️

The A&E time wasters is a trope that has been around for years. It’s especially beloved of the daily mail and other right wing rags but is essentially bollox.

When the Looney Lansley reforms were introduced a group of local GPs thought that they could do better A&E triage, so a portacabin was found for them to try. Reader the experiment failed. GPs being thorough, single minded and experienced managed to admit more patients than junior Drs who were following orders. The patients may have been safer but the emergency admissions targets were missed by a mile.

The truth is that people don’t go to A&E for shits and giggles (although some could do without quite so many family members). They go because they are sick, injured, in pain, having a mental health crisis, need care, need love & need adequate homes.

It is shameful that successive governments have decimated the services that used to prop people up and are then blaming the victims of their stupidity for its consequences.

Actually I have just checked - he was a Community First Responder from the St John's Ambulance service. I know this because I remembered i wrote to my mp about something around service from the nhs and I mentioned it, and I just found the email. I wonder if they still do this. It was 2015.

I don't think he was St John's Ambulance. He was doing doing some nhs training course and they were swamped so they sent all the trainees out! He was on his own, it was very strange.

We had an out of hours like that. But, they closed it. Despite it always being rammed and over used.

never had the questionable fella turn up at the door! Was he like a St John’s ambulance?

We always have to go to A&E for xrays tbf. But 111 will sometimes send us to a health centre in the local area. It's basically an emergency / after hours gp appointment at one of the big gp surgeries. I have called 111 up hoping to get one of those and been lucky but sometimes they are all taken and am told to go to A& E. But they don't advertise the service at all, and most people have no idea about it. We also once had a kind of paramedic sent to the house by 111 - he was a volunteer first aider (!) who stuck a sign to his car door. That was a bit wierd.

because I live here.

And have needed to use 111 as have others I know.
things like sprains / neck or back pulls that need something more than OTC meds, weekend ear infections that sort of thing.

I had an injury that required an x ray. Not urgent as such, it just needed checking. 111 got my GP to send me to A & E

How do you know there isn't also another service? They don't advertise it, you just get it when you call 111 and they think it's suitable for you and there are appointments available. Otherwise they tell you to go to A& E.

In my area.

That’s A & E

Then 111 who can arrange an out of hours GP or can signpost you to alternative provision.

YANBU. I know this is true because A&E was almost empty during critical moments of the World Cup. If you can watch a football match instead of attending hospital you’re clearly not having an emergency.

I have two adopted daughters. Their birth mother was accused of munchausens by proxy (now called "fabricated illness"). She did all sorts of things to the older one to enable her to take her to hospital (she was actually admitted 4 times before her 1st birthday before the staff started to work out what was going on). She had done the same with another child previously. Thing is, she was treated so nicely at the hospital. She had a horrible home life with a horrible partner. This was her escape.

The fabricated illnesses weren't the main reason she had her children removed btw but they caused a lot of unnecessary suffering.

I think there is a huge difference between timewasters/people that go for fun, and people that know they dont need to be there but have no other place to turn.

I do not believe 70% or even 50% of people go happily to wait 6 hours plus to be told our fine go home.

Majority of people go to A&E as they are horrendously worried and ant get access to the other relevant services that should be available.

Ive only ever been to childrens A&E, and i dont grudge anyone there the time to see a doctor as they are clearly very worried for their child for whatever reason, serious or not.

Yes, but you have decided that you can gauge other people’s pain just by looking at them. Everyone’s body deals with pain in its own way. I turned up at A&E, in agony with abdominal pain, but outwardly calm. I have a tendency to direct my pain response inwards. Later that day I was having emergency surgery to remove an ectopic pregnancy. If you had seen me sitting in A&E, you probably would have thought I should toddle off and visit my GP in a couple of weeks.

None which has anything to do with this thread or other patients who are entitled to privacy and not to have their health diagnosed by others who aren’t even patients.

We can spend several days in A & E and then the UTC. Some of the other patients also get sent to the UTC, for days. The UTC is just a dedicated A & E for mental health patients.

I am bound to look around and usually other people get talking to me, and asking where things are. Or do you think it’s better I mind my own business and don’t tell them, all they need to do is ask the HCAs for food and drinks?

I don’t need your permission to think what I like, but I don’t go round talking down to other people, making assumptions about their relative’s mental health history, as you have done to me. DD2 developed an ED at age 9, and was under CAMHS for a year, who were already treating DD1, her twin sister for a sexual assault at 8 in school, which affected DD2 too.

I’m really not bothered what your DD’s OH experience is. We’re talking about A&E waiting rooms. You really need to focus on your own need for being there instead of others. 🤔

You wrote

‘Popoverblues · 13/06/2025 21:38
It isn't. The causes of it may be, but pain in itself is not. OP says she was discharged so I'm guessing it was neither A or E in her case.

you say that pain in itself is not a reason to present to A&E. I disagree with you, and you are still trying to argue with me.
I have presented to A&E with chronic pain that I am unable to get under control, and many other people have. The problem lies with waiting for specialist treatment, waiting years for surgery . In the mean time do you suggest I suffer at home in excruciating pain for days at a time? GP’s won’t prescribe morphine IV so the only option is to go to A&E (GP’s own words).

and yes I read my patient case notes very well thank you :-) at least I don’t say they shouldn’t be at A&E as their pain isn’t worthy of treatment 😩