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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To be pissed off with even a discussion about calling 999 in a non emergency.

192 replies

Buddhagirl · 13/04/2013 12:17

There is a serious problem in this country with people calling 999 or going to A&E for medical problems that can be sorted by non emergency services.

It really really annoys me. There should be no debate. The nhs is overstretched, ring nhs direct, call your gp, go to a pharmacy, go to a drop in clinic. If it is serious drive to casualty, if it's life threatening call an ambulance. AIBU to expect people to do this and respect the nhs?

OP posts:
Original poster
Buddhagirl · 13/04/2013 14:04

I'll say again. Ring if you have to or it is really serious. Don't ring if it is not serious or you know you are okay to go to hospital another way.

No one needs to justify their use of an ambulance in a serious situation.

OP posts:
CouthySaysEatChoccyEggs · 13/04/2013 14:05

Actually, going into labour when you have epilepsy and require a magnesium drip is an emergency, to try to prevent seizures caused by the stress of labour and potential death of the mother and baby.

Just satin'

KirstyJC · 13/04/2013 14:06

But the whole point is that how can you tell if it's serious? Some things I would think are, turn out not to be and vice versa. Unless you are a trained medical professional you might not know.

If in doubt, call them out.

Bobyan · 13/04/2013 14:10

If in doubt call NHS direct, because if it was life threatening you wouldn't be in doubt.

hackmum · 13/04/2013 14:11

I do mostly agree with you, OP. Years ago I had a friend who was pregnant and who said that when she went into labour (she didn't drive) she would call an ambulance. I was really shocked, because she was perfectly able to afford a taxi.

I've miscarried twice, and both times it didn't even occur to me to go to hospital - I simply made a GP appointment a couple of days after the miscarriage started. The first one didn't refer me for a scan, the second did. But there was no sense of urgency, either on my part or the GP's.

I also wouldn't go to hospital or even my GP with a D&V bug - I'd stay at home, wait till the D&V had stopped, then drink plenty of fluids, which is basically what they tell you to do.

But then, there are times when I think responsible people get put off going to A&E because they are frightened of being thought of as time-wasters. There was that recent case of a woman whose baby died of pneumonia - the GP had told her over the phone not to worry and it was just a virus. She was quoted as saying after the inquest that she hadn't wanted to take the baby to A&E because she knew A&E was overstretched. The truth is, it's sometimes hard to know (especially with children) whether it's an emergency or not. If you're not a doctor, how are you supposed to know whether (for example) a child with a high temperature and stomach pains is seriously ill or not?

HolidayArmadillo · 13/04/2013 14:33

Couthy, then that wouldn't be defined as 'normal,term, labour'. Emphasis on the word normal.

MrsTerryPratchett · 13/04/2013 14:41

My paramedic friend told me they have been called for 'bad dreams'.

People keep saying that taxis are expensive. Of course they are but we all actually pay for ambulances, which are massively, vastly more expensive. If there is no other option/it is a serious or life-threatening emergency, call 999.

I say this as someone who has called the emergency services at least tens of times (homeless shelters). Waiting ages on a Friday or Saturday night for an ambulance when you know the person you are with could die is horrible. We had a death in hospital (after an ambulance ride) of one of our guys. Would he have lived if the ambulance had got there sooner? I don't know.

crashdoll · 13/04/2013 14:50

In my area, we have the same as HollyBerryBush. A pre-ambulance assessment is standard around these parts. It works really well.

crashdoll · 13/04/2013 14:52

Genuine question (not being snarky) but surely women must make plans for when they go into labour. For those of you who don't drive and don't have access to taxis for whatever reason, do you just plan to call 999 when you go into labour? Obviously I know it might happen unexpectedly, car breaks down and whatnot, I was just wondering if pregnant women plan to use an ambulance.

pigletmania · 13/04/2013 14:55

In the op case on the ther thread 999 should have been called due to her fathers diabetes. Not everyone has a car or can get a lift. Sometimes drugs are needed on the spot to stabilise te person, going in a car might not be the right thing. Taxi does not always take t person, especially if teir is a leakage of body fluids, defending on the condition of te patient.

pigletmania · 13/04/2013 14:56

Meant depending

UniqueAndAmazing · 13/04/2013 14:57

exactly, with someone else , child or not, you do not know whether it's serious or not.

Until it's possible to put yourself into someone else's body or brain, you do not know.

pigletmania · 13/04/2013 14:58

StUpid crank hoaxes aside, if what number to call does require self assessment joe public may nt be from a medical background. If you feel that te situation is serious or life threatening or will deteriorate without medican internpvention fast than 999 should be called

VelvetSpoon · 13/04/2013 14:59

CrashDoll I hoped I would be able to call on a friend for a lift to hospital (I had no partner/family). At the time I went into labour none were available. Hence I was told by the hospital to call an ambulance (not my suggestion, theirs).

I can't believe I would be the only one in that position.

pigletmania · 13/04/2013 15:00

Or you require medical assistance to help the person

pigletmania · 13/04/2013 15:04

Crash even with the best planning in the world sometimes life is unpredictable. You could go into about in the night r the person you rely could be busy at tat moment. Maternity units don't want you there unless you are well on your way to giving birth so I teir is no one 999. It can trn into an emergency (baby distressed, meuconium in waters)

TheSecondComing · 13/04/2013 15:08

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

HorryIsUpduffed · 13/04/2013 15:12

It's easy with fire.

Is there a fire? If yes, is it supposed to be there? If no, call 999.

There are lots of grey areas to 999 ambulance calls, but "bit of a cough since Monday" or "I can't reach to change the lightbulb" are staggeringly entitled and abusive of the system.

givemeaclue · 13/04/2013 15:12

Op yanbu. Well said. The other thread wherein the op was telling people to call ambulances "if you can get away with it" was an idiot

givemeaclue · 13/04/2013 15:13

People are responsible for making their own arrangements to get to hospital when in labour, you have 9 months to arrange it!

givemeaclue · 13/04/2013 15:16

Velvet you should have got a taxi

VelvetSpoon · 13/04/2013 15:18

You do have 9 months to arrange it however babies don't arrive precisely to schedule. It's not beyond the bounds of possibility that your designated driver(s) may not be around at that time.

And as I said upthread, what if you don't know anyone with a car?

VelvetSpoon · 13/04/2013 15:19

Many taxi firms (including ones local to me at that time) won't take a woman in labour, especially an unaccompanied one.

DeWe · 13/04/2013 15:22

When I was pg with dd1 we had moved to the new area three weeks before she was born and knew no one. We didn't have a car. I spoke to the hospital when I registered with them, and they told me that I when I needed to come into hospital, I should phone 999 for an ambulance.

Actually when the time came, I decided that was overkill and went in on the bus. You've never known a bus driver drive so carefully! Poor chap Grin

Sometimes people can be told to phone 999 for something that isn't an immediate emergency.

DeWe · 13/04/2013 15:24

Sorry, meant to say that the hospital said that a lot of taxis companies will not take a woman in labour round here.

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