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

[Buddhagirl]

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?

[WafflyVersatile]

How does a non medical professional decide what is life threatening?

The last two times I phoned 999 for an ambulance neither was life threatening. both involved finding someone unconcious/near unconscious in the street. Neither through drink.

Another time my ex seemed to be having a seizure (a 1st as far as anyone knew) while stopped at the traffic lights at a busy junction.

Another when I was quite young I came home to a flatmate in serious mysterious pain. In that instance I wouldn't have if my car-driving flatmate had also been home and after panicking I realised I shouldn't.

In none of these instances were they life-threatening and only in the last one did anyone suggest an alternative course might be better.

[EMUZ]

We follow a triage system that's used all over the world and have training on that and on instructions to give. We are also all CPR and defib trained. With the triage we have to recertify every 2 years and all calls are recorded and we are also audited on calls

[EMUZ]

This explains the triage system a little www.eemec.med.ed.ac.uk/wiki/wikinode.asp?id=13965&wiki=1271

[EMUZ]

Unconscious will be classed as life threatening
And a seizure in someone that's never had one before is the same. Over a certain age a seizure is a cardiac arrest until proven otherwise. Can also be sign or preclude to a stroke

[Pobblewhohasnotoes]

WafflyVersatile
How does a non medical professional decide what is life threatening?

But there's a difference between that and calling an ambulance for a broken fingernail or similar.

[Sirzy]

Insey - you did the right thing. My DS has had a lot of respiriotory problems (over 20 hospital trips, time in HDU etc) but the only time I have called an ambulance is when he had a croup attack.

It was the first time he had one and hearing him was terrifying, we sent for a neighbour who is a paramedic and he told us straight away to call an ambulance.

[featherbag]

www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk/about/whatisnhsdirect/choosewell

[Pobblewhohasnotoes]

Insey, no you weren't wasting peoples time. What you are describing is respiratory distress, where babies use their muscles to help them breathe as its hard work for them. Croup can be serious. Any baby with breathing difficulties should go to a&e. Babies can deteriorate very quickly without warning. They compensate very well, than suddenly they crash. You did the right thing.

[freerangeeggs]

I had some burst stitches and went to my GP. I was sent to A&E because apparently the doctor 'had seen too many emergencies' that day. I was there for four hours, must have been seen by about four people, and the end result was the equivalent of a big sticking plaster. I was rather pee'd off.

[41notTrendy]

Unless I've mis-read, the OP hasn't set out a list of when you should or shouldn't ring for an ambulance, only that some thought should be given to whether another part of the NHS may be better suited to your needs.
To tell the OP to F off or make snidey comments is unnecessary.
We also seem here (Notts) to have a system where a paramedic turns up first. When DH bumped his head a paramedic came first and called an ambulance as he realised it was a fracture. When my DGdad dialled 999 the paramedic realised it was a call for attention rather than a medical problem. He checked him over, made him a drink and called my mum. Would be interested to know if this was just in a few places around the country as it seems to prevent the ambulances being diverted away from the greatest need.

[41notTrendy]

Xpost baby

[EMUZ]

41notTrendy - depends what is available. Usually rapid response cars go to the more serious incidents as they can get there quicker. But if its all that is available they may go and see whether they can treat at scene and what's actually going on

[Sirzy]

The OP has suggested that only life threatening things should use an ambulance when they obviously isn't the case. There is a wide spectrum between time wasters and life threatening which should use an ambulance.

It is also a thread about a thread where it was certainly a case for an ambulance

[ElBombero]

No rhinestone that's the point you very much needed the ambulance. The thread is about those who don't.

[Buddhagirl]

I've always been told to use an ambulance in life threatening situations. Not just 'if you can get away with it' or if you feel a taxi is too expensive

[Sirzy]

There is a wide range between life threatening and people calling because a taxi is too expensive. Surely after everything that has been said on this thread you can see that?

[ElBombero]

??? OMG uniqueandamazubg VERY wrong. I am in the medical profession. What a load of rubbish. I'd like to have a discussion with the doc who supposedly "royally" told you off. If in doubt call an ambulance. That is a very dangerous and wreck less thing to say. It could cost lives

[ElBombero]

The ambulance service is not an emergency service????? WTF? Where did that come from?

[EMUZ]

It's true. It's an essential service not an emergency one
epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/3825

[redwellybluewelly]

I'm sadly on first name terms with many of the paramedics in our area.

Dd has has seizures since six months old, we have taken her in by car on a couple of occasions to be checked out after a seizure but the more severe ones have required urgent treatment and oxygen. From the moment I place the call to 999 operator they keep me calm and the second I see the blue lights I feel like I can breath again because someone is here to help dd.

And yet. When you are told at 11pm at night that yours was the only 'real' emergency of the day it makes you so cross on their behalf. We once waited 35min for an ambulance when dd was very very poorly, she was cold, grey and limp after a seizure, paramedics didn't hang about getting her straight into the ambulance and then beginning to help her as the fast response car (whoch had been held up on its way to us) cleared the country roads. The team were amazing, both were working their notice because they couldn't cope with the constant cuts and pressure on the services.

So maybe this thread should also recognise that not only is there undue pressure on the paramedic ambulance service due to people abusing 999 but also the financial restrictions which are being placed on the paramedic service by the NHS. And the knock on effects of a&e wait times on the queues of ambulances unable to unload and then unable to get back out to help more people.