Best time for xray in A & E??

[aandexrayhelp]

Is there generally a better time to head to A & E for xray after a fall for shorter wait? Not sure I can sit on a chair for hours. Tonight or the morning or 5am??

It's swings and roundabouts. There will probably be less patients now and at 5am than there will be in the morning but also less radiographers.

If I got there at say 6am would I at least be nearer the front of the queue for radiographers arriving at 8 or 9 or is that irrelevant if triage dont give me high priority and i would still wait 12 hours. I just cant face it but am in such pain.

Try 630/7am, when the night chaos has settled but before 8am handover. Alternatively, and possibly better for a simple fall, head to a minor injuries unit about 730 and be at the front of the queue at (usually) 8am opening

Some emergency departments also don't do x-rays on simple stuff overnight, and will either make you wait, book you into the minor injuries or ask you to come back the next day. In some areas 111 will book you a minor injuries appointment which may reduce your wait.

The quietest time in A&E is usually first thing in the morning around 8am.

Do you have a walk in centre or minor injuries unit (with an xray dept) nearby? I broke my ankle at the weekend and went to the walk in, which opened at 8am - only one person in front of me so was seen pretty quickly. On another occasion I went in at 10am and was seen in 2.5hrs. Good luck!

Our local minor injuries do xrays during office hours, like 9am -4pm.Then refer on to eg fracture clinic.

A and E, yes I agree 7.30-8am is the quietest time. But, more urgent things, like acute chest pain, will still be ranked as more urgent. So you will wait.

What kind of injury do you have ? Not idle enquiry, I do have some triage experience.

Have you tried 111? They may have the best idea of where to direct you in your locality.

Best of luck.
But no, A&E overnight is only for those who have no choice.

I dont think we have local minor injuries clinics and walk in clinic has definitely been closed down. GP this afternoon recommended A &E as all they can do is refer to radiology and it takes at least 3 weeks for an appointment. I have osteoporosis and fell very hard on my hip on ice.

@aandexrayhelp
Sorry this is hard for you.

Whats your injury?

Sorry, just seen your update.

You have two alternatives:

1. If your pain is insufferable, call an ambulance. You may still queue to enter A&E, but it will be quicker than walking in, though you'll probably still spend the night on a trolley. If you are ambulant, this is probably not appropriate.

2.A&E at 7,30-8am. If you can, send someone to an open pharmacy for codeine, I'm so sorry there's not a better way. Best of luck.

thanks for this. pain is bearable hence the question on time for a&e rather than going direct. I still have some mobility so presumably cant be a very bad break but it was a very nasty fall and combined with the osteoporosis from years of high dose steroids the GP thought it should be checked as i dont want long term damage as i need to work and look after 4 kids.

Hi @aandexrayhelp
Yeah, A&E breakfast time tomorrow sounds like your best bet.
Don't chicken out; you need that xray. it's not worth risking longer term consequences of not getting it.
Can you arrange transport ok? Worth booking a taxi if you have to.
I'm sorry the system is somewhat broken.
Best of luck tomorrow.
Take snacks, drinks, and a good book.

thanks that is the advice i needed as I am so likely to not go tomorrow if i can move at all! Gutted as i am so careful now with the osteoporosis and auto immune and dont join in any fun potentially risky things with the kids as i inflame so easily. Last visit to a&e was very traumatic and mistreatment left my mum paralyzed so I am very scared to return

I'd aim for 7am - before rush hour accidents or carer visits to clients who have fallen over night etc.take a book, drink, hot water bottle to relieve pain and possibly a cushion if it helps

I don’t mean to worry you but I know someone who walked around for several weeks on a broken hip before it was diagnosed. I’m surprised your GP can’t refer you for an x-ray but it does sound as if you need to get one done and your hip checked out.

OP: if you go to A&E at 7am, who will look after your kids?
Can you wander around or stand instead for spells?

GP can and has referred me today but they said at least 3 weeks before i will receive an appointment based on their other referrals and they recommended a&e if i was concerned at the delay (as i had then asked them to refer me privately but they said they couldnt)

OP, Can you check if you have a minor injuries unit at a feasible distance? Ours asks patients to make an appointment now, but otherwise people appear to be triaged as proper life-threatening (in which case theyre immediately sent to A&E), or can wait in linevwith the time you arrive. Ours is open 8am until 10pm.

@aandexrayhelp
Sorry to hear about your mum.
Knowledge is power. Getting an xray will give you knowledge about what's going on.
You can accept , or decline, whatever treatment is offered.
You can go home, think about it, then decide what to do.
You are in charge of your own medical decisions.

But, without an xray of the possible bone damage, you're driving blind.

Your expectations are appropriately low.

Get the xray.
Then make your own decisions.
But, with possible orthopedic damage, time is of the essence.

if you don't get an xray promptly, you may shut off some possible treatments.
Don't delay. You can't afford that.
I'll be thinking of you.

no problem re kids at 7am, eldest can help. i just need the courage, feel sick at the thought hence wanting shortest wait

according to google, our minor injuries unit was our walk in which is now closed otherwise just the a&e. however i was at our GP this afternoon at their minor injuries/muscular/skeletar clinic and outcome was referral for xray as above