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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Piss take waiting in A&E for an very very long time,

379 replies

SubwayAllTheWay · 24/10/2012 15:57

I had a very sore neck, couldnt move it and was getting shooting pains every 5 mins. As I was near the hospital, I went in at 11am today. I was seen at 3pm. So i had to wait for nearly four hours with shooting pains to the point I had to leave the A&E reception to shout out my pain.

AIBU that this time takes the mick? I know ambulances have priority but If it takes that long, I would have phoned for an ambulance because then atleast i would get seen early.

It took the piss because there were people who seemed to be happy, able to walk but a sore wrist and they got seen after an hour of being there.

I didnt go to the doctors as i was in so much pain i thought i might faint and A&E seemed better idea as they could do a scan and find out the cause.

OP posts:
FlaminNoraImPregnantPanda · 24/10/2012 16:42

So after waiting for four hours, would posters actually wait for another 2 to 3 hours for a scan? So that total time spent in the hospital was 7 hours? Would no one loose their patience?

When I tripped over a paving stone in the town centre I was taken to hospital by ambulance with a suspected broken ankle in excruciating pain (turned out to be badly sprained). In total, waiting for xrays, doctors, bandaging etc I was there about 8 hours.

On the other hand, my husband burnt his index finger at work, waited 5 minutes to see the triage nurse and was taken straight in, seen and treated immediately. The hordes in the waiting room must have been pretty frustrated. But apparantly noxious chemical burns could result in loss of use of fingers so to those that know is extremely urgent.

I have had a trapped nerve in my neck though, so I can sympathise with your pain.

Original poster
SubwayAllTheWay · 24/10/2012 16:43

Just in case some saintly posters didnt read my earlier post, I will post it again. Would these saints have acted differently had they had a 2 year old child in tow? Just wondering.

p.s MN is the last place i would come for sympathy!!

*To thoes that were asking if i took any pain relief, Of course i did before i went. would have been a bit of an idiot if i went to A&E just for 16p paracetamol. I thought i was having a stroke, thats why i went. Not because i fancied staring at grey walls for 4 hours.

And I had my 2 year old daughter with me the whole time. She was irritated, I was irrritated and i just wanted to know what was wrong with me for being in such excrutiation pain.

And no, i live far away from my family and no one was around to look after her*

OP posts:
CailinDana · 24/10/2012 16:43

When I had a TIA they took one look at me and took me straight in, no waiting. That's how it should be. I was a genuine emergency, and if someone had gone ahead of me for trapped nerves I could have died.

Alibabaandthe40nappies · 24/10/2012 16:45

If it was bothering you that much, then you would have waited.

As it is, you have wasted the time of several HCPs who could have been treating somebody who was actually an emergency.

Selfish, selfish, selfish.

CailinDana · 24/10/2012 16:45

When I had a TIA they took one look at me and took me straight in, no waiting. That's how it should be. I was a genuine emergency, and if someone had gone ahead of me for trapped nerves I could have died.

ExitPursuedByAaaaaarGhoul · 24/10/2012 16:46

But you didn't mention your DD in your OP. And I don't think you would be treated quicker just because you had a child with you.

It was not an emergency.

CailinDana · 24/10/2012 16:46

Subway you just shouldn't have been there love, you were wasting their time and yours. You can't blame the A and E people for your bad choices or for the fact you had your DD with you.

I'm not sure what else anyone can say to you.

Sirzy · 24/10/2012 16:46

You are treated in order of medical need having a child with you makes no difference.

But hey perhaps my two year old should be left to struggle breathing so yours doesn't get bored

Original poster
SubwayAllTheWay · 24/10/2012 16:47

Just wondering if the saints would have replied any differently if i had added the following to my first post

To thoes that were asking if i took any pain relief, Of course i did before i went. would have been a bit of an idiot if i went to A&E just for 16p paracetamol. I thought i was having a stroke, thats why i went. Not because i fancied staring at grey walls for 4 hours.

And I had my 2 year old daughter with me the whole time. She was irritated, I was irrritated and i just wanted to know what was wrong with me for being in such excrutiation pain.

And no, i live far away from my family and no one was around to look after her

OP posts:
whathasthecatdonenow · 24/10/2012 16:48

YABU to go to A & E for a trapped nerve and then complain about the wait. Do you not have a GP? Last time I ended up there was in an ambulance after getting a taxi to the GP because I was hallucinating and vomiting. I ended up being kept in for 5 days. I still had to wait, in the back of the ambulance, because other people were fighting for their lives. I understood, even when in such a bad state that I thought I was 17 again (turned out to be a huge disappointment that I wasn't!), that I was less entitled than them to immediate care.

BionicEmu · 24/10/2012 16:48

The longest wait I've ever had in A&E was when I was brought in by an ambulance. I'd had an accident at work and they called an ambulance who strapped me to a spinal board as they were concerned about a neck injury. Arrived at A&E, was duly triaged and then left for 4 hours. Fair enough, at that point I was strapped to the board and so couldn't make my injury any worse. It wasn't pleasant, but then I was no longer an emergency.

I've taken 2 year-old DS in a few times (he has severe reflux and has had a few oesophageal tears, he also has constipation which has lead to bowel impactions) we've never really waited. Been triaged and then taken to a cubicle. But then I guess a 1 year-old who is vomiting blood and screaming in pain is actually an emergency? Or maybe we're just very lucky with our A&E department? To be honest I think it would have taken the piss more if DS had been kept waiting while the doctors dealt with somebody's sore neck, which was evidently not an emergency, and had not been caused by an accident. (And yes, I know how painful it can be and more - don't get me started on the absolute agony I can end up in due to my spinal conditions.)

Tiredmumno1 · 24/10/2012 16:48

OP I am afraid I will have to also echo YABU.

Yes I have also had a trapped nerve in my neck, I was in absolute agony, I went to my doctors and as soon as I walked into his room he knew what was wrong as I could barely move, he gave me a prescription, and that was that.

Maybe at the time you thought it was a good idea, but I can honestly say it never crossed my mind to go to A & E. No point in complaining about it, it is a very busy place to be, if you choose to go there then I am afraid you have to endure the wait.

ExitPursuedByAaaaaarGhoul · 24/10/2012 16:48

IT WAS NOT AN EMERGENCY

No one is adopting a saintlike stance, just common sense. In the face of everyone saying YABU, do you not concede in anyway that you should not have gone to A&E?

fuckadoodlepoopoo · 24/10/2012 16:49

Emergency my arse!

What a spoilt baby you are! Oh wah wah wah, people with life threatening conditions were seen before you!

Your comment on how you should have called an ambulance makes you a disgrace! That ambulance coming to you with neck ache could have resulted in someone dying you selfish moron!

Angry
Original poster
SubwayAllTheWay · 24/10/2012 16:50

Exit

Jeez, i think you need to take a chill pill.

Everyones entitled to their opnion.

Thanks for everyones thoughtgful and insightful posts. Will definately think twice about going to A&E next time.

OP posts:
missymoomoomee · 24/10/2012 16:51

I wouldn't have replied any differently at all. If you have a small child with you and its not a genuine emergency then its even more reason to make a doctors appointment rather than go to a&e.

ObiWan · 24/10/2012 16:51

Saying you thought you were having a stroke it utter tosh. If you really thought that, you'd have called an ambulance.

Especially if you were in sole charge of a child.

fuckadoodlepoopoo · 24/10/2012 16:51

No, your childcare issues do not mean someone else should die Hmm

Tiredmumno1 · 24/10/2012 16:51

Also if you had added that part in your original post, I still would have said the same to you. Actually having a young one with you, then you definitely would have been better off going to the GP, if they thought it was anything other than a trapped nerve then they would have phones an ambulance for you.

ExitPursuedByAaaaaarGhoul · 24/10/2012 16:52

Why is the OP picking on me? That is twice she has name checked me.

Original poster
SubwayAllTheWay · 24/10/2012 16:52

fuck no need for name calling!
This isnt a playground

OP posts:
ExitPursuedByAaaaaarGhoul · 24/10/2012 16:52

Should I go to A&E for my Chill Pill?

Tiredmumno1 · 24/10/2012 16:53

phoned

Ephiny · 24/10/2012 16:54

It's nothing to do with being a 'saint', why do you keep saying that?

GhostShip · 24/10/2012 16:54

Should I go to A&E for my Chill Pill?

:o

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