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Original poster

How long do 111 normally take to call back?

24 replies

TreacherousPissFlap · 08/09/2019 00:34

I'm an utter amateur at this and have never called them before, so genuinely have no idea. I guess it's a question of how busy they are / how serious I'm deemed to be?

I spoke to them at 7pm and still haven't heard. I have absolutely raging toothache which has developed from a bout of (possibly) neuralgia. I haven't slept properly for a couple of days (was ill prior to this) and genuinely feel I could murder someone - uncharacteristically for me I even had a little weep earlier. I've missed three days work so far and there's no way I can go in today unless I can be furnished with some stonking painkillers Confused

OP posts:
Comefromaway · 08/09/2019 00:36

Hours. I rang them once at 11pm once very concerned about dh and got a call back at 5am.

DramaAlpaca · 08/09/2019 00:38

Sounds utterly horrible, toothache is agony, you have my sympathy. I'm not familiar with 111 as I'm not in the UK so I've no idea of response times, but could you try calling them again, just in case your earlier call has been missed.

Original poster
TreacherousPissFlap · 08/09/2019 00:39

Really come , that's awful Confused

The irony is I work for another chronically understaffed frontline service and will be unable to work my shift later because I've been unable to be seen. I'm aware I sound like a precious diva but that's how I feel right now

OP posts:
Witchend · 08/09/2019 00:44

It's varied for me.
I called once mid-afternoon, one Wednesday, when dd was 9 months old when she had a temperature, was vomiting and refusing to eat. They called back over 12 hours later.
Another time I called with something minor and just really wanted advise and they called back within half an hour.

twiggy19 · 08/09/2019 01:15

Call them back, they can pull up your last call. Say you really need something for the pain.👍

PenguinsRabbits · 08/09/2019 01:20

Varies, generally within 30 mins for me but once was 6 hours. Think depends how busy they are and how urgently they grade you.

Butterflycookie · 08/09/2019 01:38

I would call up to chase the call. But they will probably do a reassessment. The clinical queue might be very long and those that are life threatening are prioritised. Who was meant to phone you back? A clinician? What did they actually say? 5 hours is a very long time to wait. Call them now....it shouldn’t be busy as this time of night.

Also , as it’s out of hours they can only give you pain advice.

Original poster
TreacherousPissFlap · 08/09/2019 01:49

I was told I would need to see someone within 24 hours and they would call me back.

The pain is that bad that I can't sleep, the worry is that if I do fall asleep I can sleep through a thunderstorm so I'm unlikely to hear the phone.

I really don't mean to complain as I'm aware how stretched they are, I just want to be able to sleep and then go to work.

OP posts:
Butterflycookie · 08/09/2019 03:01

“I was told I would need to see someone within 24 hours and they would call me back”

This makes more sense now. As it was a Saturday and you were told you would need to be seen within 24hrs you would’ve been referred to the out of hours. The out of hours should’ve called you to make an apt with you. As it is within 24hrs, they have until tomoro to contact you. But they’d usually call well within the timeframe given. 24 hrs is one of our longest time frames.

However, as they have not made any contact, I strongly suggest you call them again so that 111 can chase up the ooh to give you a call. They will do a reassessment if your symptoms have got worse so you can be seen sooner.

I am a 111 health advisor. And from your original op when you said that you were waiting for them to call you back I thought it was one of the 111 clinicians (paramedics or nurses) that you were waiting for to call. The clinicians can take a while to call back cos of the amount of people in the queue and they have to prioritise. But seeing as the health advisor had said you need to be seen within 24hrs and someone will call you make I assume it’s the oohs you have been referred to.

CherryMaple · 08/09/2019 03:25

I find 111 terrible at calling back. Are you dosed up on over-the-counter pain relief? Is it worth calling a 24-hour pharmacy and seeing what you can take? One of the big Boots stores...? Sorry you feel so unwell OP. Or an emergency dentist in the morning?

kittlesticks · 08/09/2019 03:38

I find 111 absolutely brilliant when dealing with the DC out of hours. Called them today about 7 week old DD and we were with a GP 45 mins later. When I call, there's a separate number optionfor toothache. Don't know why. I think ring back and ask where you are in the queue

Original poster
TreacherousPissFlap · 08/09/2019 03:49

I've had a head cold so I'm feeling grotty anyway, I'm dosed up on Sudafed and ibuprofen but can't take anything else (I'm absurdly sensitive to codeine, though at the moment I would take a 16hr nap in a shot)

I'm going to get up and call them back.

OP posts:
Original poster
TreacherousPissFlap · 08/09/2019 04:27

They called just as I was on my way downstairs, I wept at the poor lady on the end of the phone.

I have to wait for the OOH dentist to call now Sad

OP posts:
margaritaproblems · 08/09/2019 04:46

Have you been seen yet op?
Have you had trigeminal neuralgia before?

tedladybird · 08/09/2019 06:34

I've had good and bad experiences.

I called last weekend as I'm pregnant and DD has chickenpox (I've never had it). It took all day to get a call back and the nurse told me not to worry but if I got any symptoms to "maybe see your GP for a vaccination" (surely way to late for a vaccination once you've got the illness?!) She said there was no way to check immunity and when I mentioned a blood test she said there was no such thing.

Following day I managed to get an emergency appointment with GP who booked a blood test for me there are then and told me to go to A and E immediately if any symptoms appeared...

Like all NHS services I think it depends how busy they are that day and who picks up your case.

ilovetvandchocolates · 08/09/2019 07:14

It took 111 8 hours to call me back yesterday. They rang as I'd left the walk in centre with my prescription.
I was glad I hadn't waited for the call, it was a 4 hour wait in the walk in centre.

Original poster
TreacherousPissFlap · 08/09/2019 09:29

I've not been seen yet, but was told the OOH dentist would call "first thing"- I've no idea when that might be on a Sunday.

The pain has dulled slightly (or I've got used to it!) and I've managed about three hours sleep.

I've not had neuralgia before margarita so it's actually pure speculation. I've suffered recently with head colds rather than the normal snotty nose type cold, and the last 36 hours have had sharp stabbing pains in both my top and bottom jaw on the right, as well as in my ear and under my eye.

I'm feeling distinctly sorry for myself this morning Hmm

OP posts:
PlonkyPlink · 08/09/2019 09:37

Sorry you’re having a bad time.

I’m an OOH GP so do callbacks. It depends what your timeframe is triaged as - there are bandings of an hour, 2 hours, 6 hours, or 12-24 hours depending how 111 grade the urgency.

It also depends how busy it is. Yesterday we had over 100 people waiting for a call back and 4 GP’s working. I stayed very late but can only get through around 5-6 calls an hour if they are not complex.

Mainly people are now calling 111 to see a GP about routine things as they can’t get into see their GP in the daytime, I don’t blame them, but it’s leading to huge pressure on our service too.

Original poster
TreacherousPissFlap · 08/09/2019 11:07

I totally get that plinky and cannot normally rate the NHS highly enough when I haven't got toothache

Still waiting, but DH is being solicitous having slept through my midnight crisis and TreacherousCat is acting as a marvellous nursemaid Wink

OP posts:
BishopFrownofStThigh · 08/09/2019 14:18

@TreacherousPissFlap glad you got some sleep - did you have to miss work today?

I did feel for you last night! Glad cat is helping out and earning her upkeep in dreamies

Original poster
TreacherousPissFlap · 08/09/2019 15:19

Well...
I called back at 1pm as I still hadn't heard, there was a lot of "just bear with me's" and long silences, then a promise that she would "chase it up"

I've received another call to say that dental OOH have asked for another assessment (which we did) and which has now been marked as "urgent", I should receive a call within 12 hours and they will arrange to see me "if they are able"

I'm guessing they haven't received my initial referral and "if they are able" means that I won't be seen till tomorrow morning now.

I've lost another days work and will do so tomorrow as well Hmm

OP posts:
compulsiveliar2019 · 08/09/2019 18:26

As a former 111 call handler all I can say is sadly there is very little they can do for toothache unless you have good OOH dental care in your area. Unfortunately dental is one of the areas where OOH cover is patchy, some areas have good cover others it's miles away. The doctors can do very little for dental issues.

apacketofcrisps · 08/09/2019 19:57

Have you tried to google and see if there’s an out of your dentist nearby?

kittlesticks · 10/09/2019 09:05

Any news OP - hope you are feeling better

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