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Original poster

111/OOH service struggling

21 replies

Suseal · 03/12/2022 22:59

We all keep hearing how the NHS are on their knees, it seems we're no longer able to get care or even advice when needed. What's been taken for granted for years is no longer available or at least in my experience, I've never had it this bad before.

DH has a temp of 39.5, heart 135bpm and very spaced out. He also has a serious heart condition and is immunosuppressed, It took me over an hour to get through to someone at 111, now awaiting a clinician call back, it's been 7 hours,

He has thankfully improved slightly in that time, otherwise I'd have taken him to a&e, which isn't necessarily the best place for him but he probably needs antibiotics.

He needed an ambulance last month, none was available so a taxi was sent instead.

Such a worry, especially for those with health conditions. It's going to be a tough winter.

No real point to this post, I have no answers or suggestions just sat here worrying.

OP posts:

AnneLovesGilbert · 03/12/2022 23:03

I’m so sorry. It’s fucking terrifying. Sending thoughts and hope he’s okay 💐

Original poster

Suseal · 03/12/2022 23:28

Thanks Anne

OP posts:

Original poster

Suseal · 04/12/2022 04:24

Finally got a call back after 11 hours, deemed urgent so want him seen immediately. I know he'll get sorted now.

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DilemmaDelilah · 04/12/2022 05:04

It took me an hour just to get through to 111 last night, and I have since waited 7 hours for a call from a doctor which, when they did eventually ring wasn't a call from a doctor it was a call from somebody who wasn't a doctor telling me that I would get a call from a doctor at some time but she didn't know when. I think 111 is actually a pretty good service and our local ED does a fantastic job, but they just don't have enough staff to cope with the demand. The problem with 111 being under such pressure is that it will result in more people turning up to ED because they haven't been able to get through so haven't had the advice as to whether they should or not.

DilemmaDelilah · 04/12/2022 09:18

It's now 12 hours since my first phone call to 111 and still no call from a doctor.....

pukkapine · 04/12/2022 09:47

I'm worried about this too. 111 is broken as well as everything else in the health service.

Three weeks ago I called 111 at 9am on Sunday morning. Took an hour to get through. Sats 82% and struggling to breathe but home alone and have a medical phobia so was desperate to avoid A&E. When they answered they said a call back was urgent and I'd get a call within an hour but "it might be a little more as we are very busy". I was called back at 5.45 pm and immediately sent to A&E. in A&E it was heaving and triage took 45 min. Then it was action stations! Had 3 nurses and a RAP doctor working on me. Once I was breathing better they said it was an emergency but was now well enough for chest X-rays etc. But I didn't get that sense with the 111 wait so just hadn't gone to A&E - I also, of course, felt dreadful so wasn't thinking straight. I had pneumonia and an asthma like reaction. Ten days in hospital. Very scary. I know I needed to advocate for myself better but when you are really unwell it's impossible to.

It's worrying that even 111 can't cope and yes, I suspect this means even more people just landing in A&E. it took me 1h and 20min in a queue to get through to my GP last week and by then there were no appointments left. Even the duty doctor phone list was full. Fortunately, whilst I was on the phone my GP must have been in the system at the same time as the receptionist said "Oh, you've just been moved onto a callback with Dr X".

I hope your DH is doing better this morning?

It feels terrifying that even accessing urgent medicine is at risk of such delays. MIL was left on the floor for 7 hours waiting for an ambulance and then in the ambulance for 6 hours at A&E in March.

AlphaAlpha · 04/12/2022 10:02

Unfortunately with the rise in covid/flu and general illness as well as the worrying strep A, calls to 111 have literally gone through the roof - they were already overwhelmed. There has also been a spike of paediatric conveyances to hospital (this does not mean these pead cases are gravely unwell, just a spike in paediatric calls on the 9s and subsequent conveyance to hospital)

DilemmaDelilah · 04/12/2022 12:55

Now 15 hours since my call to 111 and no call from the doctor! On the upside... I'm no better, but also no worse so I guess I'm probably not dying.

Teder · 04/12/2022 12:58

That’s so worrying. I hope he’s doing ok. I don’t know if it’s helpful in retrospect but moving forward, if he’s prone to infections, can he have a “rescue pack” of antibiotics at home? Although with those symptoms, he’d need to be seen anyway. My quality of life has improved since I start antibiotics immediately and then I still seek medical attention but at least I’ve had some medication in me.

Orangesandlemons77 · 04/12/2022 14:37

This is worrying. Not sure if my help but my DH also is immune suppressed and during the pandemic found got a quick response bu calling the GP and asking for a phone call back. Not sure how this is now though :-(

Orangesandlemons77 · 04/12/2022 14:37

Or also the IBD nurses are good as well, does your DH have nurses for his condition you can call

stillvicarinatutu · 04/12/2022 14:46

I've only ever called 111 once in my life - last weekend . I have to say they were fabulous. They sent an ambulance within 2 hours, but I was struggling to breathe , no history of asthma but operator could hear me wheezing and I was struggling to get a sentence out . It was funny as I posted here , got lambasted for using 111.
Can't be that bad if you're in mn etc etc.
ambulance came , put me in a nebuliser, treated at home but they would have liked to take me to a&e but it was 4am, at the weekend , I couldn't get hold of anyone to see to my dogs and I live alone , so I didn't go and said I'd call gp first thing next day .
Then got lambasted for not goi g with ambulance.
But by the by - first time I've ever used the service - if it hadn't been there I do t know what I'd have done, I also work in emergency services, and was glad of the help that night .

mamabear715 · 04/12/2022 14:49

It's all very worrying. :-(

Longestnight · 04/12/2022 14:49

The last time I rang 111 there was a message saying, there was an ‘outage’ and the call might take longer to answer. I waited so long I gave up and took dc to A&E myself. When I got to the reception they asked if I had an appointment via 111 and I had to explain no because I couldn’t actually get through.

There was one doctor in children’s A&E and after several hours he announced that there was a nine hour wait and no doctors available to help and if you felt you could take your child home, please do so and see your gp in the morning.

I have also experienced the call in the middle of the night from a non-doctor who looking back gave outdated advice re covid.

All very worrying and I thought of this with the current scarlet fever scare. I expect it is chaos and I hope there are back-up staff to help.

Orangesandlemons77 · 04/12/2022 15:13

Would recommend Benenden health, it is only around ten pounds a month and gives access to GP call back and quicker referral for tests etc if waiting list over 3 weeks with the NHS

Original poster

Suseal · 04/12/2022 17:06

Very worrying times. We will enquire about a rescue pack, thanks.

He has nurses he can call and leave a message for, but only during working hours, so unfortunately no use at the weekend, which is when he always seems to fall ill typically.

OP posts:

DilemmaDelilah · 04/12/2022 18:12

Now nearly 21 hours waiting for a doctor to call.....

Original poster

Suseal · 04/12/2022 18:16

Oh no @DilemmaDelilah that's terrible

OP posts:

Auntieobem · 04/12/2022 18:18

@DilemmaDelilah have you called them back? If you're no worse do you think the wait has harmed you? Were you advised to call back if your symptoms worsened?

DilemmaDelilah · 04/12/2022 18:55

@Auntieobem I was advised to call back if my symptoms worsened yes, they haven't worsened but neither have they got any better despite taking additional medication. So I contacted them again about an hour ago. I am still on the list....... I have had tachycardia since 8.30 yesterday morning, together with some atrial fibrillation. The AF is largely (but not totally) controlled by the additional meds, the tachycardia isnt. I haven't been able to do anything all weekend due to breathlessness. It's a bummer but I'm assuming that I'm not a priority because they don't think I'm about to cark it. I am worried though.

DilemmaDelilah · 06/12/2022 00:07

In case anyone is interested.... Still no call back from the out of hours doctor this morning so I rang to make a GP appointment today. 111 rang about 2pm (not a doctor) to say I was still on the list. GP rang 5.30, advised to go to the Medical Assessment Unit at the hospital. Given a bed and just had a chest x-ray. Hopefully they will get me sorted and I can go home tomorrow morning!

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