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Original poster

Would you go to A&E for this?

99 replies

bluemonkeysocks · 28/07/2019 15:41

Ds fell while playing football last week and hurt his foot. He couldn't walk well for the next few days but it gradually got better. A week on though and he's still in a lot of pain with it. He can put weight on it and drive but has limited movement (can't move it side to side or wiggle toes) and there's still bruising coming up. He's luckily been on annual leave this week is due back to work tomorrow. He's not composing too much and thinks it just needs to heal on its own but he flinches when anyone goes near it and it's at its worst when he's walking up/down the hill in front of our house. Problem is he can't get a Drs appointment till the 8th of August and we have no minor injury units so while A&E seems extreme it seems his only option. Would you take a trip to the hospital in this instance?

OP posts:
DefinatelyAWeeGobshite · 28/07/2019 18:01

I agree, if A&E is the only place on your area where you can get an X-ray then it’s not wasting resources.

It would be a waste of resources to use up a GP appt if they were just sending you to a&e anyway surely.

febel · 28/07/2019 18:09

Agree..xray and needs to be seen. Otherwise he'll end up like me, permanent foot disability cos I left it too long and break got v displaced. Took 4 months to start to heal and hasn't healed well. GO!

TwistinMyMelon · 28/07/2019 18:10

A gp appointment is not designed for this. Yes a&e

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YvonneMyBelle · 28/07/2019 19:03

@Aragog - completely agree!

OP I do hope you are taking all these posts on board. Hope you can persuade DS - it may be one of those situations where he doesn’t want to be seen to be ‘making a fuss’ but he needs his mum to ‘make’ him goHmm men Grin!!

Our minor injuries unit does have an X-ray but limited hours, that’s where I would go if there is one in your area (and X-ray is open) but otherwise I’m afraid you need to get a bag of water/snacks/charger and go and wait it out in A and E.

Good luck!

PeoniesarePink · 28/07/2019 19:09

Can you phone 111 and ask for advice? They can best advise where to go at the weekend.

Mummyto2munchkins · 28/07/2019 19:13

I broke my wrist a few years ago.
Was walking my dog, (siberian husky) who went through one of them swinging gates that close. The gate closed he pulled me and my arm was squashed between the gate and my body, whilst he was pulling me!
I Could still move my fingers but was swollen and bruised. I bandaged it up and left it 5 days thinking it was a sprain, eventually when it wasn't getting better I went to a&e (who at first didn't think it was broken but sent me for an xray to make sure) turns out I had one break and 2 fractures! They put me in a cast straight away and said it was lucky I went otherwise I could have had awful problems later on if I had left him.
Take him a&e, it maybe nothing. But it's better to be safe then sorry!

Original poster
bluemonkeysocks · 28/07/2019 19:17

Thank you everyone. He's been out with his dad this afternoon but due home soon so will talk to him properly then.

I think a lot of the attitudes on this thread is why he has just been hoping the pain will go away rather than "wasting" time.

We struggled to get an emergency appointment for dd at the gp a few weeks ago when she had really bad earache and his reason for not phoning back in the afternoon for an emergency appointment (rather than taking the August one) was he didn't want to take the appointment away from someone like his little sister who would really need it that day.

Not meaning to drip feed but what made me start this thread is because he went swimming this morning since he's done no fitness all week and he said after driving there and walking to the pool fine he couldn't use the foot to swim as it was so sore. The different motion he was using was really hurting which is what got me thinking he def needs to see someone about it.

OP posts:
ThatCurlyGirl · 28/07/2019 19:28

@bluemonkeysocks

We struggled to get an emergency appointment for dd at the gp a few weeks ago when she had really bad earache and his reason for not phoning back in the afternoon for an emergency appointment (rather than taking the August one) was he didn't want to take the appointment away from someone like his little sister who would really need it that day.

As I said before he really should get this seen to as soon as possible but what a lovely good egg - a sore foot but a kind heart! Please do encourage him not to risk leaving it too long, as a PP mentioned even doctors can miss these breaks and fractures until an X-ray so he really does need one.

mateysmum · 28/07/2019 19:38

I think it s one for A & E. He will need to be Xrayed and that means A&E. Might as well accept you will need to queue and go.
Recently I fell and hurt my arm - thought it was muscular, then 2 weeks later went to the GP who said I should have had an Xray straight away and to go there straight away.He said he could refer me, but would probably be quicker just to turn up. I waited for 3 hours but it was confirmed I had broken my arm and then I was straight into the orthopaedics system at the hospital.
Our local hospital is on an app which tell you the approx waiting time. Can't remember the name of the app but if you google waiting times at your local hospital it might come up. It gave a good indication of time and so if it's not an emergency you can pick the best time.

YvonneMyBelle · 28/07/2019 20:58

He sounds like a sweetheart! You definitely need to push him into going.

Original poster
bluemonkeysocks · 28/07/2019 22:03

Thanks everyone, turns out there is a minor injuries unit not long opened in the next town so guess where we're off to in the morning!
It's only open 9-5 mon-fri but nobody seems to know about it so the waiting times are really quick. Just as well to wait another night and go first thing rather than adding to the queues at A&E. Thank you for all the advice I'll update tomorrow when we've been seen.

OP posts:
whatnametopick · 28/07/2019 22:37

www.nhs.uk/using-the-nhs/nhs-services/urgent-and-emergency-care/when-to-go-to-ae/ seems like a&e is for LIFE Threatening injuries and illness only

mateysmum · 28/07/2019 22:47

WhatName That nhs advice is all well and good but round here there are no urgent care or walk in facilities. It's the proper a & e or cottage hospital ooh gp, but there's no xray facilities there after 5pm so they just send you to the back of the queue at the main a&e 10 miles away where you could have gone in the first place!

BrokenWing · 28/07/2019 22:54

Is he really ok to drive if he thinks it is potentially fractured? He is a danger on the road if it is so painful he couldn't do an emergency stop!

YvonneMyBelle · 29/07/2019 07:35

@whatnametopick our urgent care centre is attached to A and E, they triage everyone and then you get sent to the A and E waiting room or the urgent care one but everyone starts together.

I am unsure why people need to snark so much. It’s clear the OP’s ds needs and X-ray and in the majority of cases that can only be done via A and E (where you won’t take the place of someone needing urgent care) they just parcel you off to the right part of the hospital. If anyone watches 24 hrs in A and E there are always non-emergencies dealt with like kids with stuff stuck up their noses but they are dealt with by nurse practioners etc.

It’s not like the OP wants to call an amubulance!

Glad you’ve found a minor injuries unit OP. Hope your ds is ok.

Rainbowsintherain · 29/07/2019 07:38

A&

Rainbowsintherain · 29/07/2019 07:40

A&E consultant here. That’s a perfectly sensible use of A&E.

LoafofSellotape · 29/07/2019 07:49

Definitely go.

taybert · 29/07/2019 08:10

Most GPs do have access to X-ray but what they don’t have is access to immediate interpretation of the X-ray like minor injuries or A+E do. So you go and have the X-ray then wait a few days (or even a couple of weeks) for it to be reported. For an injury that’s too long really. A GP might be happy to examine you and say it doesn’t need an X-ray but if it does then he’ll need A+E anyway.

Girliefriendlikescake · 29/07/2019 08:15

I work in Drs surgery's and if someone turned up with a poss fractured foot they would look like this Hmm and tell them to go to a&e for an x.ray.

Medievalist · 29/07/2019 08:23

Most GPs do have access to X-ray

Is that really true? Have lived all over the uk and have never known that.

Aragog · 29/07/2019 09:33

Most GPs do have access to X-ray

There is no x ray machine at our GP surgery nor any of the ones in our city including the walk in.
Broken bones are always referred to either Minor Injuries or A&E here depending on the part of the body, the type of injury and the time of day/week.

They don't even bypass and get straight through to x-Ray here. They do that for some other departments but not to x Ray.

EleanorReally · 29/07/2019 09:37

but the gp can sign the x ray form

anyway, glad you have found a minor injuries unit. best place

Medievalist · 29/07/2019 10:15

but the gp can sign the x ray form

With what purpose?

Original poster
bluemonkeysocks · 29/07/2019 10:19

Here waiting now, nurse wasn't the friendliest and automatically assumed he must have been drunk. She thinks it's only ligament damage but he's had a X-ray so just waiting on the results.

OP posts:
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