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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To be mad at people going to a&e

167 replies

Winebomb · 10/09/2017 21:53

So I chopped the end of my finger off, blood pumping every where, so went to A&e...

I was "lucky" enough to be sat next to the triage nurse waiting to be seen. And heard every patient going through, the best was;

I have a bad spot on my bum (not infected, just hurt a bit, husband and wife showed up together)
My eye has started itching
My foot hurts a bit, I dropped the shampoo on it in the shower
I got pissed last night and punched a wall, I have a graze on my knuckles

It just goes on..

I mean really, this is an ACCIDENT OR EMERGENCY service, not a god damn mummy service..

AIBU that people just absolutely feel entitled to waste as much public money they can. why else go to hospital for any of these reasons?

OP posts:
NYConcreteJungle · 10/09/2017 21:55

Wow!

They must have a lot of time on their hands or rarely have a health problem.

ItsAllAboutThePace · 10/09/2017 21:56

spot could be a cyst....happened to my friend

eye could be a corneal ulcer, happened to me!!

both pretty serious and downplayed each time by me and my friend

be more careful with knives, the NHS doesn't have money to waste!

NannyR · 10/09/2017 21:57

It's a bit concerning, from a patient confidentiality point of view, that you were able to hear all that in such detail.

DesignedForLife · 10/09/2017 21:59

I'm thinking exactly what Nanny said. Huge confidentiality issue here.

WorkingBling · 10/09/2017 22:00

I have a friend who is a paramedic. He says the ridiculous things people call an ambulance out for is incredible. People with headaches but no paracetamol in the house. Stuff like that. I do agree, it's ridiculous. Sometimes I wonder if the reason every time I have been to a&he I have been seen fairly quickly (or whoever I was accompanying) is because we only go when absolutely necessary so immediately jump to top of triage list.

Penfold007 · 10/09/2017 22:00

Yet there you were with a self inflicted injury. Hope your all sorted.

Anecdoche · 10/09/2017 22:01

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

LynetteScavo · 10/09/2017 22:02

So people just sit for hours in a&e for fun?

Original poster
Winebomb · 10/09/2017 22:02

Oh god could hear everything! They drew a curtain but I was only save the sight not the sounds!

I found my experience in A&E just bonkers. How the staff managed to keep a straight face with this bull shit comin in I don't know.

I gave a new found respect for A&E workers!

OP posts:
SunnySkiesSleepsintheMorning · 10/09/2017 22:02

The system is shit. We would definitely see fewer people like that if they could access their GP more easily. It'd never stop, of course, but could reduce.

Anecdoche · 10/09/2017 22:03

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

RNBrie · 10/09/2017 22:04

I was in a&e with one of my dc recently and also heard the triage. My favourite was:

Nurse: so this has been a problem for two years? Why have you come to a&e today and not your GP?
Patient: it was a nice day to get out in the car.

Seriously.

Napnaps · 10/09/2017 22:04

I used to take 999 calls for the ambulance service and someone called once because they couldn't remember if they'd taken two or three of their antibiotics for that day Confused

DorisDangleberry · 10/09/2017 22:04

I chopped the end off my finger, felt a right twat when I went to A&E. Never found the end, think it ended up in the sausages I was making.

BackieJerkhart · 10/09/2017 22:05

i wonder if i can set up a boo-boo booth outside a&e and charge people a fiver for a kiss it better 😁

Grin brilliant!

hellohellogoodbye · 10/09/2017 22:05

I've just spent 5 hours in the ER for a fractured foot. I had to wait so long because I was the least serious injury there all afternoon. That's what happens when you pay for healthcare, no going in for spots here.

Original poster
Winebomb · 10/09/2017 22:07

@penfold yes probably self inflicted but an accident all the same, I didn't plan on chopping my finger tip off..

OP posts:
Bobbiepin · 10/09/2017 22:08

Totally agree. Last year I went to a&e struggling to breathe and in severe pain. Turns out I had pneumonia but I still had to wait 2 hours to be seen. My DH called 111 and they were set to send an ambulance but we knew we could drive there just as fast so refused it. I couldn't stand the thought of someone else not getting the care they needed because they gave us a lift. I would have been seen quicker if we'd taken it though.

SellFridges · 10/09/2017 22:09

I took my DH recently as he was very unwell. There was a lady there who had cut her finger severa weeks ago and wanted it looked at. The receptionist noted it had scabbed over and showed no signs of infection but she still insisted on staying. She was still waiting when we came out four hours later.

70isaLimitNotaTarget · 10/09/2017 22:10

The person who dropped the shampoo on their foot might have been a diabetic who might have had a previous ulcer/amputation , so decided (quite correctly) to take themselves and their (possibly neuropathic) foot to A&E to get themselves on an IV antibiotic.

I deal with patients daily who injure themselves , 99.9% of the time its random accidents , things that you or I might go Meh and shrug off.

But for someone at risk, it could be months to heal if they delay.

I ask how the wound/ulcer occured, often its stubbing a toe , they don't feel it (not a good thing) or yes , dropping a bottle of shampoo , which is heavy and potetially cause damage.

BackforGood · 10/09/2017 22:12

I totally agree with you OP. It gives me the rage when I watch something like 24hours in A&E at some of the things people come in with, that ought to be appointments with walk in clinics or GPs or back to their own consultants for on-going issues.
Same with what people call ambulances for...... don't get me started on that!

The issue is, as ever, that the whole system of both Health and Social Care - for they are intrinsically linked - is a) not funded enough to meet the demands of 21st Century (not enough GP appts or walk in clinics) and b) not co-ordinated enough so you get front line highly trained paramedics either queuing in A&E, or doing social work care or basic home help sort of care instead of what they are trained for and c) Mental Health Services are chronically underfunded and too many people who can't cope are left alone in the Community.

Luckymummy22 · 10/09/2017 22:12

Last time I took my youngest to A&E it was completely unnecessary. I knew it was and many times wished I hadn't made the call to 111.
But they told me to go. They couldn't take the chance even though they probably knew as well as I did it wasn't needed.

Neverknowing · 10/09/2017 22:13

I think that you shouldn't be allowed to go to A&E without being referred by 111. (Yes I 100% know this isn't practical and can't actually happen) unless in an actual emergency or you're bleeding everywhere!
I despise that people defend this behaviour on here? It makes no sense ofc it's bullshit to go to A&E for these reasons unless there's a backstory.
I also think the triage nurse should be able to tell people to fuck right off if they are there for a dumb reason.
I think doctors should have the same privileges when it comes to patients who demand antibiotics for colds !
Yes, I agree any of these things could be a real issue but that issue should've been taken to their GP not A&E.

peachandplum · 10/09/2017 22:13

Poor you. Tragic.

Guavaf1sh · 10/09/2017 22:14

YANBU

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