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Original poster

So disgusted with A&E about my son.

163 replies

Paranoidandroidmarvin · 27/09/2021 05:10

My son has a undiagnosed chronic painful condition.

Got to the point today that he was in so much agony. He could walk and Everytime he tried his legs went from underneath him. The doctors at the surgery have given him no painkillers for this condition.

So I took him to A&E. hoping that they would help him with the pain.

Nope. He sat there for over six hours. And they refused to help him as it was a pre condition. He crawled out of that hospital to the door.
When I got there I had to get him a wheel chair as he could walk.

They let a 17 year old unable to walk. Walk out of that hospital with no treatment and on his own as I had to wait in the car.

OP posts:
Bowtie292 · 27/09/2021 10:41

Hazel444 that's simply not true. Many long term health conditions (diagnosed or not) have to be treated through A&E on occasion. So much misinformation on this thread.

Bowtie292 · 27/09/2021 10:44

LST same here. We are explicitly told by our consultant to go via A&E if out of hours. Never had an issue.

I think the ones commenting that the OP shouldn't have gone to A&E possibly have no experience of a chronic health complaint that can't tell the difference between a week day or a weekend.

LST · 27/09/2021 10:47

@Bowtie292

LST same here. We are explicitly told by our consultant to go via A&E if out of hours. Never had an issue.

I think the ones commenting that the OP shouldn't have gone to A&E possibly have no experience of a chronic health complaint that can't tell the difference between a week day or a weekend.

I've had an ambulance called by my dp before as I was in absolute agony with a hip flare. The crew were amazing and took me straight to a&e where I was doped up and slept for the first time in days. I have had to go due to a flare in my ribs which was hurting even just to breathe. Again they gave me stronger painkillers and muscle relaxants to go home with. Just because it's a pre existing condition doesn't mean people should suffer and gp would be no help in that situation anyway.

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about these subjects:

Children's health General health
beautifullymad · 27/09/2021 11:21

Ring the GP today. Make an appointment and go on with him. He's a minor so you can.

If they won't give you an appointment, calmly and factually email the practice manager.

You will get an appointment. Then take with you a history of symptoms and insist this needs an appropriate referral as A&E couldn't help and that this is adversely affecting his quality of life.

You'll get a referral.

JennieTheZebra · 27/09/2021 11:43

In the NICE guidelines, there’s a distinction between chronic “primary” pain (pain without a known cause, but also includes conditions like fibromyalgia) and chronic “secondary” pain (pain that is caused by a known pain condition, such as RA). The new guidelines from April 2021 tell doctors not to prescribe any strong painkillers for people with chronic primary pain, even if the patient is in agony, as there’s no evidence that it really helps and can lead to dependence.
This probably explains the discrepancy between some people’s experience of painkillers in A&E and the experience of the OP-an old pain with no clear diagnosis and no red flags will mean no painkillers.

DogFoodPie · 27/09/2021 11:49

Yes I have heard of these cruel guidelines from the so ironically named"NICE" absolutely inhumane and wrong. I have even signed a petition against it.

ThanksIGotItInMorrisons · 27/09/2021 12:24

@Paranoidandroidmarvin
Are you sure there’s not NEW GROIN PAIN op?

BoredZelda · 27/09/2021 13:07

Not A&E’s fault. Be angry at your GP for not providing proper care.

LST · 27/09/2021 13:13

@BoredZelda

Not A&E’s fault. Be angry at your GP for not providing proper care.
She can be angry at both
Strugglingalone · 27/09/2021 13:24

Has he had his vitamin d levels tested? Sounds very similar to me before diagnosis, it caused me chronic deep pain that would leave me in tears!

Makinganewthinghappen · 27/09/2021 13:28

I was at a and e last night and it was a total disaster zone. I have never seen the hospital like this. I was at out of hours for 2 hours before seeing the triage nurse and the waiting room was packed to the point there were mothers and babies sitting on the floor. The triage was taking 2 hours then it was 4 hours to see the doctor.

It was mostly children with temperatures and what sounded like quite serious coughs - i dont know if its covid or if its other illnesses they just havent been exposed to over lockdown but it was shocking how many there were.

After triage i got taken to the resus bit of a and e and they were full, again some children were very unwell including a week old baby.

The majors part where i spent a few hours after resus was again rammed full of people and the corridors were full.

I am not normally a worrier about things like this but i am worried about winter now.

I think OP was turned away because they just couldnt cope with her son - they should have he is in serious pain but they couldnt.

Ozanj · 27/09/2021 13:29

Contact Bupa / Spire / Nuffield Hospitals and get it arranged urgently. I paid £250 just the other day for an ultrasound scan and a consultant appointment. It’s more for an MRI / Cat scan but they have monthly payment options if you are self funding.

Bumblesbumbles · 27/09/2021 13:31

We had issues with my dd and were told by the GP to go to A&E. the care was amazing- seen, had x ray, range blood tests and even saw paediatric specialist within a few hours. Pain in a child who can’t even walk def seems appropriate for A&E to me and I’m so sorry you’re not getting any further. I’m assuming they’ve explored arthritis and also that his bloods are normal? Sorry if you’ve already given more information

NigellaSeed · 27/09/2021 13:34

If this a flare up so it will become manageable again or he is in constant agony 24/7? If it was a flare up, they could of taken him in and put him on a drip until worst was over?

BoredZelda · 27/09/2021 14:04

She can be angry at both

Not when only one of them is at fault.

LST · 27/09/2021 14:21

@BoredZelda

She can be angry at both

Not when only one of them is at fault.

Leaving a 17 year old in pain to the point they can't walk is being at fault
ReeseWitherfork · 27/09/2021 14:30

@BoredZelda

She can be angry at both

Not when only one of them is at fault.

Pretty sure no one has to be at fault for there to be anger. I find it remarkably easy to he angry at people who haven't actually done anything wrong.
MilesOfSand · 27/09/2021 15:40

@AnotherName456

Really confused by all these comments. Surely if someone is in so much pain they cannot physically walk then it is an emergency?
Yes but this is MN, where people like to tell you not to go to A&E unless it’s an Accident or an Emergency because they think it sounds like they know something clever that other people don’t know. Any sane person would take a child in pain to A&E.
Mynameismargot · 27/09/2021 15:47

I think lots of people expect far too little of the NHS. The child was in so much pain that he couldn't walk, that is an emergency and sending home someone in the state is appalling.

Honestly, the things I have read on here lately about the UK health system and people just shrug their shoulders like it is normal that people are being left stuck on bathroom floors for over 12 hrs, that it is normal that when a child is in so much pain they cannot walk they are sent home with no treatment, that it is normal to never be able to get a GP appointment. It isn't normal and it isn't right.

gogohm · 27/09/2021 16:13

A&e cannot prescribe pain meds unless in very specific conditions (eg end of life care) because of the risk of drug abuse. People going into a&e, fake name stating they are in pain and need opioids is a real issue. Pain killers are available over the counter, anything stronger for a chronic condition needs to be prescribed by the gp. You need to return to the gp, and take it further to the ccg if he's not taken seriously, but do bare in mind that non urgent (aka non life threatening) referrals are very slow

LST · 27/09/2021 16:24

@gogohm

A&e cannot prescribe pain meds unless in very specific conditions (eg end of life care) because of the risk of drug abuse. People going into a&e, fake name stating they are in pain and need opioids is a real issue. Pain killers are available over the counter, anything stronger for a chronic condition needs to be prescribed by the gp. You need to return to the gp, and take it further to the ccg if he's not taken seriously, but do bare in mind that non urgent (aka non life threatening) referrals are very slow
That is just not true. I've been to A&E many times for RA flares and have been given stronger painkillers than the ones I am prescribed
purplesequins · 27/09/2021 16:36

@gogohm

A&e cannot prescribe pain meds unless in very specific conditions (eg end of life care) because of the risk of drug abuse. People going into a&e, fake name stating they are in pain and need opioids is a real issue. Pain killers are available over the counter, anything stronger for a chronic condition needs to be prescribed by the gp. You need to return to the gp, and take it further to the ccg if he's not taken seriously, but do bare in mind that non urgent (aka non life threatening) referrals are very slow
not true.

but also, if someone in great pain buys a load of otc painkillers and takes an overdose the cost for the healthcare provider can be enourmous.

BoredZelda · 27/09/2021 16:49

Leaving a 17 year old in pain to the point they can't walk is being at fault

Not if there is nothing they can do to help. They will have looked at his notes and his medications and discussed it. Or, are you suggesting that doctors who took an oath to help just refused? I know it’s fashionable on here to think A&E is run by fuckwits who don’t care, but that really isn’t the case.

like they know something clever that other people don’t know.

Conversely, people like to act like they know more than the actual trained professionals who looked at the case notes.

Pretty sure no one has to be at fault for there to be anger. I find it remarkably easy to he angry at people who haven't actually done anything wrong.

Thanks just bizzare. Why would you be angry at someone who hasn’t done anything wrong? Be angry about a situation, but to direct it at someone who isn’t at fault? And post on a forum slagging them off? That’s not on.

BoredZelda · 27/09/2021 16:51

I think lots of people expect far too little of the NHS. The child was in so much pain that he couldn't walk, that is an emergency and sending home someone in the state is appalling.

I think people expect far too much of A&E, like they can cure all ills no matter what. If they literally couldn’t help him, what else where they supposed to do other than re-direct them back to the people who could help?

purplesequins · 27/09/2021 16:52

but if a&e can't do anything why would they not admit to the appropriate ward?

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