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Original poster

Do people really pay that much?

74 replies

imjustsoworried · 13/09/2021 22:31

DP bitten by dog. Phoned 111 and they'd like us to go in but won't provide transport (fair enough, we all know how swamped ambulances are at the mo). Problem is they also advised DP doesn't drive and I can't drive. Taxis are £45 one way (35 mins away to the hospital), £90 there and back.

Do people really pay this?! Do people just have £90 floating around spare? Slightly gobsmacked as to how we're meant to sort this tbh!

OP posts:
CandyLeBonBon · 13/09/2021 22:45

Neighbour?

SpamIAm · 13/09/2021 22:47

FWIW, I'd happily help out a neighbour I didn't know particularly well in this kind of situation, so your neighbours might be helpful? I'd probably leave you to make your own way back at this hour though!

Original poster
imjustsoworried · 13/09/2021 22:50

@SpamIAm

FWIW, I'd happily help out a neighbour I didn't know particularly well in this kind of situation, so your neighbours might be helpful? I'd probably leave you to make your own way back at this hour though!
Our only neighbour within a 5 min walk is our landlord and I'd worry about annoying her. She's already been hugely accommodating over the last couple of months with my knee (collecting our bins, mowing our garden), and I don't want to push it.
OP posts:
CassandraTrotter · 13/09/2021 22:52

Your poor partner and your pod dog! If she can drive, Id drive and you go with her. I still cant work out why she would have a concussion.

CandyLeBonBon · 13/09/2021 22:53

@imjustsoworried well you if you can't afford a £90 taxi bill you don't really have much choice do you?

ShuddaBeenMe · 13/09/2021 22:53

I would just pay for a taxi. We have money saved for emergencies.

Original poster
imjustsoworried · 13/09/2021 22:55

@CassandraTrotter

Your poor partner and your pod dog! If she can drive, Id drive and you go with her. I still cant work out why she would have a concussion.
Honestly me either! The injury is on the face and she has a headache so maybe they're worried about impact?

On the phone to 111 to ask about going to GP first thing tomorrow instead. Feel so bad about wasting their time with how stretched NHS is right now, hopefully it's not a big deal.

OP posts:
Elouera · 13/09/2021 22:55

don't really want to clog up the lines! but wondering why they can't send an ambulance for a non-emergency dog bite to you!!!

Slightly gobsmacked as to how we're meant to sort this tbh!
Well, majority of adults could work out a solution!
Is this a joke?

You options are:

  • partner drives
  • pay for a taxi
  • use public transport
  • 'try' GP tomorrow
TinselTime21 · 13/09/2021 22:55

I would just drive!

Original poster
imjustsoworried · 13/09/2021 22:57

@Elouera

don't really want to clog up the lines! but wondering why they can't send an ambulance for a non-emergency dog bite to you!!! Slightly gobsmacked as to how we're meant to sort this tbh! Well, majority of adults could work out a solution! Is this a joke?

You options are:

  • partner drives
  • pay for a taxi
  • use public transport
  • 'try' GP tomorrow
I said I didn't want to bother the ambulance service. I said it was understandable that they didn't want to send one out. That's in the second sentence of my OP. If you can't be arsed to read a post properly please don't comment.
OP posts:
doadeer · 13/09/2021 22:57

Just get the taxi! Crikey. It's hardly a regular occurance just get it sorted

gogohm · 13/09/2021 22:58

I would just take a paracetamol and drive. Concussion I doubt very much, wrong bit of head!

Original poster
imjustsoworried · 13/09/2021 23:00

@gogohm

I would just take a paracetamol and drive. Concussion I doubt very much, wrong bit of head!
Yes exactly, I really don't know how they've come to the concussion conclusion.
OP posts:
SeriouslyISuppose · 13/09/2021 23:00

Of course they do. We used to live very rurally and kept £100 in cash in the house for this kind of occasion.

Tanfastic · 13/09/2021 23:01

Op my dog severed my fingertip a few months ago in an accident and I had a two night stay in hospital and an operation to stitch it back on. I was given intravenous antibiotics for three days starting at A&E that evening it happened. It was a medical emergency. Now you've not said how bad the bite is (does it need stitches?) but dog bites can be really nasty. Personally o would get it looked at tonight if it's a gaping wound for example.

Herecomesthesun70 · 13/09/2021 23:01

I'd just drive. Unless she can't see then just go.

Original poster
imjustsoworried · 13/09/2021 23:02

@SeriouslyISuppose

Of course they do. We used to live very rurally and kept £100 in cash in the house for this kind of occasion.
I suppose we've learnt the hard way Grin

We only moved rurally a few months ago really. Before that we were much nearer a city. It's definitely a bit of a gamechanger!

OP posts:
Original poster
imjustsoworried · 13/09/2021 23:03

@Tanfastic

Op my dog severed my fingertip a few months ago in an accident and I had a two night stay in hospital and an operation to stitch it back on. I was given intravenous antibiotics for three days starting at A&E that evening it happened. It was a medical emergency. Now you've not said how bad the bite is (does it need stitches?) but dog bites can be really nasty. Personally o would get it looked at tonight if it's a gaping wound for example.
It's wee and stopped bleeding now. Was yours bleeding quite a bit?
OP posts:
Original poster
imjustsoworried · 13/09/2021 23:05

111 have now given us the option to go in or wait until the morning and call the GP so I think we're going to wait it out and call first thing. Thanks for your advice everyone - was slightly panicked and wasn't thinking straight so probably would have felt bad calling them back otherwise Smile

And now we know to keep money aside for things like this! Grin

OP posts:
m0therofdragons · 13/09/2021 23:06

The ambulance service is for people who need urgent medical care quickly, not to ferry around people who can’t drive. I’m glad you said you didn’t want to bother them but even if you called them you wouldn’t get an ambulance for this!

This is why mnetters are judgemental about non driving adults. Dp advised not to drive, you live rurally and you can’t drive so it’s a friend or taxi. I do hope he’s okay though - it must have been a massive shock for you.

Antiqueanniesmagiclanternshow · 13/09/2021 23:09

can i urge you to learn to drive op? it is SUCH an essential skill and makes such a difference to life.

Original poster
imjustsoworried · 13/09/2021 23:09

@m0therofdragons

The ambulance service is for people who need urgent medical care quickly, not to ferry around people who can’t drive. I’m glad you said you didn’t want to bother them but even if you called them you wouldn’t get an ambulance for this!

This is why mnetters are judgemental about non driving adults. Dp advised not to drive, you live rurally and you can’t drive so it’s a friend or taxi. I do hope he’s okay though - it must have been a massive shock for you.

Well yes exactly. I had an ambulance when I badly broke my knee and even then I felt awful. I even said on the phone to them that I know how stretched services are and we weren't expecting an ambulance. Ultimately it's up for us to solve.

And yes I do think anyone who hasn't learnt to drive but has the ability to do so and lives more than a 10 min drive from a hospital should just do it. I can but currently can't because of the whole knee.

She's ok now - we're going to try and get some sleep and get into the GP surgery first thing tomorrow.

OP posts:
Original poster
imjustsoworried · 13/09/2021 23:10

@Antiqueanniesmagiclanternshow

can i urge you to learn to drive op? it is SUCH an essential skill and makes such a difference to life.
I do - but I broke my knee a few months ago so I'm out of action.
OP posts:
FlowerArranger · 13/09/2021 23:10

@Antiqueanniesmagiclanternshow

how can you live 35 minutes drive away from a hospital but have no car? are you very rural?
Oh FFS - not everyone wants or can afford a car.

However, I don't see why the NHS should pay for transport in this instance, given its not a life threatening emergency.

@imjustsoworried - you are saving a lot of money by not running a car. You just need to suck up the cost of an occasional taxi.

bethclark553 · 13/09/2021 23:12

Please pay for the taxi. My dad put off medical attention for a cat bite and ended up with sepsis. I hope you're well