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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

to hate a and e?

271 replies

Fuckingforriner · 22/04/2014 15:53

I'm waiting at the a and e in at the moment and I hate it.
I have a toddler who loves to scream all the time and I have everyone looking at me as if I can stop the toddler from screaming.

I've got an earache since Friday and when I tried to get to my GP today I was offered a telephone appointment. My phone rang three times and they hanged up as I was picking up the phone.

I'm in a lot of pain and when I get to the reception I found a rude woman who happen to be a nurse. I might be wrong but I noticed she was friendlier to other patients, maybe she didn't like my face, but I can't help thinking it's because I'm a fucking foreigner.

OP posts:

ICanSeeTheSun · 22/04/2014 17:00

No doubt a&e did tell her to come in as it cheaper than a potential compensation cliam.

beershuffle · 22/04/2014 17:02

I bet everyone else in there has an earache too if your toddler wont stop screaming. What is it that you imagine a and e can do for you non-accidental non-emergency?

FraidyCat · 22/04/2014 17:07

I disagree with nearly everyone, I think this level of pain is an emergency.

FraidyCat · 22/04/2014 17:10

And every A&E should have a 24-hour a day GP service that "time-wasters" can be routed to. If someone is willing to sit around for four hours in a miserable waiting room just to see a doctor, then they deserve to see one, even if they're the worlds biggest hypochondriac.

MorrisZapp · 22/04/2014 17:10

I think it's an emergency too, sorry. As for what does she want them to do, I guess she wants to explain her symptoms and get advice or treatment.

If you're in utter agony, get help. They're hardly going to let her waltz past somebody in mid cardiac arrest.

ExitPursuedByABear · 22/04/2014 17:13

Sirzy · 22/04/2014 17:18

They're hardly going to let her waltz past somebody in mid cardiac arrest

The problem is though because they can't leave people waiting forever, and have the 4 hour rule then it does mean that someone who is in need will end up waiting longer than they would have been if it wasn't for time wasters who haven't tried to access other services properly before deciding A and E is the easy option.

KatoPotato · 22/04/2014 17:19

OP you must feel bloody miserable, I hope you feel better soon.

Totally agree with Fraidycat's 24hr GP idea!

candycoatedwaterdrops · 22/04/2014 17:20

People really think a probable ear infection is an emergency? Flaming hell, no wonder A&Es are full to bursting!

Unless the OP is going to drip feed that she has a serious condition/illness, there is no need to rush to A&E and then whinge that she wasn't welcomed with open arms. I had a double ear infection a few weeks ago, it was very very painful but not hospital worthy!

themockingjay · 22/04/2014 17:22

Having worked in an a&e I've seen lots of patients admitted for ear infections, if the pain is as severe as op says it is then she has every right to be there imo.

I know it may seem like its rubbish waiting but try to remember the a&e department deals with people having heart attacks, major trauma patients, adults and children with life threatening injuries and illnesses like meningitis, pnumonia etc as well as people with fractures threatening their circulation. In the scale of things going on in the department at the moment your ear pain, though major to you,may be minor to them.
I think sometimes people get so focused on their own injuries they can't imagine what is going on behind closed doors.

It must be difficult trying to keep your toddler entertained when you are feeling rubbish. Could you ask the receptionist for some scrap paper /pen or whether you can use a few of they toys from the children's area maybe?

I would be quite surprised if the nurse was being nasty due to your race tbh as if someone didn't like dealing with the general public why go into nursing?

Maybe she's had a really bad morning and her tone with you was off, maybe she realised this and perked up for the next patients?

I hope you get sorted soon

kelda · 22/04/2014 17:24

This is the problem with the system.

If people cannot get to see their GP because the GP is too busy, then I understand why they end up at A&E.

An ear ache probably isn't an emergency, but the OP feels like she has no choice but to go to A&E, and I sympathise.

candycoatedwaterdrops · 22/04/2014 17:27

Those who can't get through on the phone to their GP, do you try popping down there, if its possible? At my previous surgery, their phone system was appalling but it was close by, so I used to go in and usually could get seen it if was an emergency.

FabULouse · 22/04/2014 17:27

This reply has been deleted

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beershuffle · 22/04/2014 17:27

But she says she can only take paracetemol. Are the dos in a and e going to give her magic paracetemol or something?
But its her atyitude thats the real problem: so my kid screams what do want me to do about it + theyre being mean because they are racist....wtf is all that about?

themockingjay · 22/04/2014 17:29

couldn't agree with you more fab. I hope to God none of them are actually nurses

TheVioletHour · 22/04/2014 17:33

of course yanbu to hate a & e. it's grim. but like other posters have said up thread, it's set up to deal with life threatening emergencies, rather than be a pleasant quick place to get checked over for a non-life threatening problem with toddler in tow. Hope you get seen reasonably soon.

OP may need antiobiotics, or strong prescription only painkillers, none of us, OP included, can do more than hazard a guess as to what a doctor may recommend.

FabULouse · 22/04/2014 17:33

This reply has been deleted

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coldwater1 · 22/04/2014 17:35

Flipping hell, i do everything in my power to prevent going to A&E, even begging my work not to call an ambulance when i was on the floor crying with chest pains and pregnant... They ignored me of course but i hate hospitals, esp A&E. Go there with one illness and come out with norovirus.

CinnabarRed · 22/04/2014 17:38

They can give her antibiotics. It sounds quite possibly bacterial now.

And pain is easier to stand when you know an end is in sight.

Coconutty · 22/04/2014 17:41

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

IamInvisible · 22/04/2014 17:42

If we all rocked up to A&E when we were in pain, there would be no time or staff to treat the real emergencies.

If I had been in the OP's shoes I would have either gone to the Pharmacy first for advice, or physically gone to my GP's surgery. No way on this earth would I be in A&E!

MorrisZapp · 22/04/2014 17:43

Why does the OP have to say what she expects them to do? I rarely see my doc but when I do, I expect them to offer advice or treatment options. What with them being medically qualified etc.

I had no idea that a and e don't give people antibiotics. Why don't they? I'd be prepared to beg if I was in agony.

My DP went to a and e with a sore elbow, ended up hospitalised on a drip for two days with bursitis. I'm not a doctor, I don't know what the treatment options are and I guess OP doesn't either.

slowcomputer · 22/04/2014 17:45

If the nurse is pissed off with you for any reason it is because you don't have an accident or an emergency. Go to a walk in centre if you can't get to see your GP.

NurseyWursey · 22/04/2014 17:45

A&E do give antibiotics.

themockingjay · 22/04/2014 17:46

To everyone saying she shouldn't be in a&e do any of you work in one or just guard the entrance via mumsnet?

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