I’m a 111 Clinician ama

[111999A]

I’ve name changed for this as I don’t want it linked to my regular posting. I’m currently doing a temporary stint in 111 as a clinician so I’m one of the people who calls you back after you’ve been triaged by the call handler. As you can imagine it’s a bit busy at the moment.
I’ll do my best to answer any questions as accurately as possible.

How would you define a "continuous cough"?

Thank you to you and all your wonderful colleagues for what you're doing for us all.

It's a persistent cough, ie not one you have due to something going down the wrong way or one single episode due to you talking too much. I started coughing yesterday after making about 35 calls, once I'd had a cup of tea and a break from endless jibber jabbering it went so not persistent or continuous.

Do the nurses at 111 do the same job as yourself, or do they get given difference cases to call back? Do you need staff?

Thank you @111999A . So just to confirm, if someone is coughing every ten mins or so they (and now their family too) should isolate for 14 days, even with no fever? It's just I feel so bad not going to work as I'm a teacher with exam classes, and obviously want to help to keep the schools open!

As far as I know, and please don’t quote me, the situation is horrendously fluid, yes it’s a new, persistent, dry cough and/or a temp of over 37.8 isolate the household for 14 days from the onset of symptoms.

@111999A thank you

endless jibber jabbering

You need to quit yo' jibber-jabber

hoping this audience is old enough to get a BA Baracus reference

A 1 year old who coughs on waking up (one or two single coughs) then doesn't cough again for 3 hours, then again once after a few more hours etc
Basically a random single cough a few times a day. Is that okay, no one else would know he has a cough as it's so rare, i just know cos I heard him on the monitor etc it's very few and far between. DH and I are not isolating based on this,does this seem reasonable? If it gets worse or we get any symptoms then we will of course isolate together

@BuzzShitbagBobbly I am certainly old enough, used to love watching the A team.

Can you take a look at this thread (if you haven't already) as this lady is very stressed
www.mumsnet.com/Talk/_chat/3851034-Ive-been-on-the-phone-to-111-for

Down to GP laziness on that thread

Hi OP, i have mild asthma, i use a brown inhaler every day but my blue one only when i get bad cold or my husband takes me on a hike with big hills (the sod ) as its mild do i need to be staying at home as suggested or am i ok as long as i just go to office (we are monitoring every sickness log so i could go home at any time) and the supermarket once a week?

Just wanted to say that I have used 111 on many occasions, as I am on my own with two Asperger's young adults in the house, and 111 have been so helpful and very understanding of my two, who tend to panic if they think I am ill.

Just to add, my son (15) had to listen to his dad die, 5 years ago, and is still terrified something bad is going to happen to me.

Paramedics were absolutely fantastic that night, and I have an immense amount of respect for them and all frontline NHS staff to be honest. It must be a very hard job, but I've never had anything but kindness and understanding.