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

I agree but it’s not all the patients fault. There was a post on here yesterday where the DC had a fungal infection and the GP said that if it didn’t clear up after treatment, to go to A&E as apparently they can do the swabs there. Is this really what A&E is for?

As pp said, many people can't even get registered with a gp and those that are registered can't get an appointment. Many walk in centres have closed.
My local council is planning a new housing development of over a thousand flats. I doubt there will be new gp practices springing up. God knows how the local hospital will cope.

Things start as minor but the lack of go appointments cause problems to become major so A and E becomes the only option. No one is in an and e for fun, everyone knows it’s hell going there, they have no choice.

Twice in the past 18 months the GP or 111 have told me to take my child to A&E. I didn’t agree (and neither did A&E) but then again if I hadn’t and something had gone wrong, and my child had come to serious harm bevause I hadn’t listened, then what?

It’s not the “only way they can be seen by a doctor”.

it’s the only way they can be seen by a doctor in a timescale they consider appropriate.

People are so entitled these days - everything has to be fixed NOW - many who are there, know they shouldn’t be, but if you hear the way they speak to receptionists and triage staff you just know why they think they’re special.

I have a genetic blood condition and if I have symptoms of a DVT I have to go immediately to A+E for a scan. A+E is the only way to get the scan in my area.

While I’m in waiting for the scan, as my DVTs are not very painful, I will probably look perfectly well.

If I don’t get the scan, and do have a DVT, it could travel to my lung and I could die.

I’m not a medic but my impression is that so much diagnosis is based on sophisticated test, scans etc, and some of those waiting in A+E are there because it’s the only route to getting those things done.

I read once some opinion that A&E have triage the wrong way around. Instead of a nurse on triage, they should have the most senior doctor on duty on triage. This doctor would then just send loads of people home, often after minor/advice treatment. This way loads of patients would only have to see one HCP not two, cutting workload and waiting times. There must be some reason why hospitals don't do this though.

I spent 13 hours with dh in A&E recently he had a suspected bloodclot in his leg. A&E was bursting. Some sitting on the floor as no chairs.
In truth I saw noone where I thought they didn't look sick. One guy was in so much pain he was crying out every time he moved. He was told they would get him a bed but when we finally left at 5 30 am he was laying across 3 chairs with a blanket still moaning in pain.

One eldery lady had clearly had a fall blood was running down her face and she had a lot of bruising she was there all night too.

Police was there with a dude whose head looked very sore. A young girl was there with her boyfriend in obvious pain.

Im not saying people dont go when a 111 call or gp visit could but that horrendous night worrying my husband was about to die. I didnt see one I thought should not be there.

Edited spelling

I got a tampon stuck once, when to GP, they didn't have the tool to remove it. Told me to go to A&E, told me not to go to work first, go now, don't leave it. I was absolutely 100% fine.
What should I have done?

If you are able to triage people just through the power of your eyeballs maybe you should get a job there and help being the waiting times down!

I don't believe for a minute there are very many people putting themselves through the hell that is a&e for shits and giggles, no.

I don’t disagree that many people at a&e dont “qualify” but for many people it’s the only way they can get seen by doctor. The problem is lack of GP and walk in provision