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Walked out of A and E after 9 hours and only triage completed !!

306 replies

bumblebee1000 · 14/05/2024 22:54

Don't consider myself at all naive but haven't been anywhere near a hospital for any urgent treatment in over 30 years. Rang 111 yesterday due to constant headaches for almost a week, was advised to attend local hospital [london]. Queue out the door, after 7 hours was seen by a doctor for appx 1 minute who said they will want to do blood tests and possibly an mri scan, was told blood tests could be a further 5 hours, a scan possibly a further 7 to 9 hours so in total basically 24 hours. I couldn't wait so told nurse I was leaving and will follow up with GP and a wealthy old friend has offered to pay the £300 for the mri scan which is lovely. I was stunned to see so many people sleeping on floor and who had been there for hours before me. Then a man went beserk and grabbed a fire extinguisher and smashed in the windows of the reception area, coffe machine and a door, police already on site as were with a chap in hancuffs.....awful. I did notice that many names were called and nobody responded so assume they just left without informing anyone, I felt informing them of my departure, was the least I could do so time isn't wasted on no shows etc.

OP posts:
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Mechanicalengineer · 25/05/2024 07:42

Oh wow OP good result! I suffer from hemiplegic migraines which look just like a stroke. If I’m at work I have to beg my colleagues not to call 999 or worse, 111! I don’t want to be sent in, waiting for 24 hours, ignored because I’m 35 & not a priority age group.

its happened 5 times and sometimes I need extra medicine (injections) to control them which unfortunately means calling a GP and speaking to the receptionist - who both strongly urge me to go A&E with my symptoms (because that’s the red flag process!)

I have permanent damage to my right side because I’d rather manage at home than go within a mile of the A&E hospital. It is literally hell on earth.

My routine neurological appointments delayed by 41 weeks ☹️

Anyway, well done!

ouchyoubiteybugger · 25/05/2024 07:49

Headaches for a week, can indicate : brain bleed , cf leak, brain cysts or tumour aswell as many other benign and not so benign things ( sorry op) the thing is the quickest safest route is A&E for bloods and MRI/CT scan. Yes the wait is horrendous but so are possible complications so I would say the op did the right thing attending on this occasion.
I'm not a medical professional but have had brain problems

justasking111 · 25/05/2024 13:01

Didn't someone on Mumsnet have surgery for extreme migraine

Funnywonder · 25/05/2024 13:47

That's great news OP! I'm glad it's something that can be easily treated.

lljkk · 26/05/2024 10:20

thanks for update. I hope you get a chance to come back in 6-9 months, with further update. Hopefully with great news that the osteopath did quick magic.

itsgettingweird · 26/05/2024 10:37

Who says persistent headaches aren't a and e job?

I know someone who saw GP 3 times in a month due to them and was fobbed off.
Saw optician and referred straight away to hospital.

Diagnosed with extremely rare brain tumour and given months. Couldn't walk or talk a few weeks later.

Ok, extremely unlikely in most cases but there is a system that should and will flag up concerns.

What would be better is a system whereby people don't need to go via an and e to get things checked out. Where we can see a GP and urgent referral to a specialist is just that. See someone within a week rather than taking a bed for a week (or floor space in an and e) to be given same diagnosis as you would have done via a better route.

But our nhs is ruined.

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