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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

When is it right to call 999?

210 replies

CanadaMoose91 · 31/12/2017 00:14

Let me preface this by saying that obvious time wasters (scraped knee, runny nose) need not apply.

But I've seen so many people say that only cardiac arrest, stroke, or issues breathing are acceptable. This worries me, as I haven't got a car, and wouldn't be able to drive myself or my family to A&E if anything happened.

For example, a few weeks back I was having severe pains in my back and stomach - a pain so intense that I was writhing, was vomiting, and couldn't keep anything down. It took over 5 hours of this pain to actually call 111, who told me I should have called earlier and sent an ambulance. It was diagnosed as kidney stones, and was told it would pass. The crew left immediately. I felt so awful and felt I had wasted money and resources on an already crumbling NHS.

The thing is, what is someone supposed to do in that situation? I don't want to cost the country a fortune, but what if it was something as serious as it felt? I don't want to be goady, I really just want to know if there is an alternative to 111, 999 or A&E if breathing is ok.

OP posts:
RB68 · 31/12/2017 01:22

oh and onset isn't necessarily over time can be 20 mins after eaten a trigger food or just because

crunchymint · 31/12/2017 01:25

Batshite Many GPs have opted out of providing 24 hour care, but your Trust then has to provide it. Unless you are very rural hospital should not be your only option.

Basically with medical care in most places you have the option of:

  • pharmacist - minor illnesses, nearly all have a room you can get private advice in
  • 111 for medical advice and advice about where to go
  • GP
  • out of hours GP service
  • in some places walk in and/or minor injuries. These are good for things that aren't very serious like heart attack, but can't wait. So great for sprains, breaks, injuries, etc
  • A&E with or without an ambulance

But generally if you are unsure where to go, ring 111

Imaginosity · 31/12/2017 01:26

Ambulances are not just for life threatening emergencies.

My son pulled a cup of just boiled water down all over himself. I rang the out of hours GP who immediately said they'd send an ambulance. I had a car but was in a panic unsure how to help my son - and he was hysterical and couldn't have easily got in a car. The ambulance arrived quickly and the paramedics immediately started applying a burn gel. If I had tried to drive him in it would have been dangerous managing him in the car and it would have taken longer for treatment to start.

crunchymint · 31/12/2017 01:27

When I was a carer for a relative, a GP on a home visit treated gall stone attack by giving pain relief that was injected. Might not happen everywhere. So I would always ask what would be best option. Sometimes you can wait a long time in A&E when you would have got much faster treatment elsewhere

Charmatt · 31/12/2017 01:34

When our son had his first bout of croup, I had never experienced it before and rang 999. The paramedics said it was the right thing to do. The numerous other times he had it, we took him to A&E ourselves until we could persuade the GP that we recognised the point at which he required the steroid and were able to get it prescribed in case.

BuffysFavouriteStake · 31/12/2017 01:51

Feeling like I should NC to 'liveintheassendofnowhere' Sad Local GPs and pharmacists close 5.30 or 6pm. Out of hours docs pretty much 111. 1 car between us, and if had a beer in evening even that's out. Man I'm starting to Envy you guys with better/closer facilities Grin

IceBearRocks · 31/12/2017 05:25

Buffy we live in the arse end of nowhere. We've waited over 45 minutes while DS was blue and in seizure. This is life threatening !
If you can't drive ...call a taxi or a neighbour or a friend...the NHS do not offer a free taxi to hospital!

harrietsoton · 31/12/2017 06:35

If you call your GP now, you’ll get an answer phone message with the details of local out of hours services

RadioGaGoo · 31/12/2017 06:47

I phoned my Dr clinic just now to check the out of hours number. It told me to phone 111.

dottycat123 · 31/12/2017 06:55

As a nurse I am well aware of the pressures on front line health services but whilst the OPs symptoms may have been related to kidney stones there is no examination a paramedic can carry out at home to be certain of this. The paramedic can make an educated guess in this situation. Kidney stones do not always pass easily and people frequently do require further assessment than that which could take place at home.

CocaColaTruck · 31/12/2017 06:58

Of course your life doesn't have to be in danger to call. I fell over and broke my leg - I felt it crack. Was I supposed to crawl to the car so my DH could drive me to hospital?

As it happens I had to have on the spot emergency treatment before they could put me in the ambulance because there was no pulse in my foot.

RestingGrinchFace · 31/12/2017 07:04

Well to be fair you could have been on the very of a Burt appendix and therefore needed to be rushed to hos

trinity0097 · 31/12/2017 07:07

Anyone else concerned that the paramedics ‘diagnosed’ kidney stones? I’m pretty sure that is something that should be diagnosed by a doctor and needs some tests/scans?

lljkk · 31/12/2017 07:29

111 sent the ambulance. I could not feel guilty about that.

rcat · 31/12/2017 07:33

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Cherrycokewinning · 31/12/2017 07:40

999 is a threat to life, limb or property, or a crime in progress.

It’s not about your ability to be transported it’s about your need for immediate medical attention prior to, and during the journey to hospital.

I don’t even think it’s changed- I’ve always understood this (from a emergency services family though) I am gobsmacked at some of the educated and frankly pathetic reasons people call 999 on here and in the general public.

I also doubt 111 are constantly telling people they “should’ve” called and ambulance. They’ve got you, they’ve called the ambulnece, why would they constantly impart this critical feedback on the patients prior decision during the call? Bollocks.

Cherrycokewinning · 31/12/2017 07:41

111 sending an ambulance is totally different to the patient calling 999 themselves. That’s their call.

tapdancingmum · 31/12/2017 07:52

I have just checked my surgery and our advice is to call 111. We used to have an ooh service called Harmony who you could phone direct and request to see a Dr but now it's 111. At least with them you are triaged over the phone so if they feel you need an ambulance you get an ambulance.

Our local hospital doesn't have a&e either so it's always a toss up as to which hospital to go to. The one only with MIIU or the one with both. Fortunately I live sort of half way between the two but for others in the region it's a nightmare if they choose the wrong one.

Cherrycokewinning · 31/12/2017 08:06

111 can make an OOH GP appointment for you though. That’s what they do. Ours is at a central place at the local hospital.

Most situations really aren’t as dramatic as the patient thinks.

Lovestonap · 31/12/2017 08:16

There's a lot of guilt and worry about being a time waster in here. It's true, the time wasters are bringing the NHS down, but time wasters are not people in agony, or with broken limbs or with breathing difficulties, or even frightened and unwell people who don't know what to do for the best.
The time wasters are the people who ring 20 times a day, or to use the ambulance as a taxi, or make crank calls.

OP you called 111 which is what you're supposed to do. No need to feel guilt about their decision and I'm sorry the paramedics made you feel bad.

Buffy, I'm a bit critical of your attitude though, if you live so rurally, perhaps it's your responsibility to have a little money tucked away for a possible taxi to hospital. If it costs you more to get to medical help then it costs medical help more to get to you.

Jobjobjob · 31/12/2017 08:17

OP, despite what a PP said you followed the right procedure. Dialled 111 took advice and followed it. 100% correct.

My mum (now passed away) had suffered a strike and was attended by carers 4 times a day. Twice she "slipped" and ended up on the floor, the carers called an ambulance each time. They attended and picked mum up and settled her back in her chair.

That's not life threatening but what options were available?

Cherrycokewinning · 31/12/2017 08:21

Picking up elderly people is killing the ambulance service. There should be an alternative and hopefully there will be one in the short term because it’s desperately needed

Jobjobjob · 31/12/2017 08:25

Cherrycoke, I'm taking about the here and now! (Or rather a few years back), what's the alternative?

And I don't think that this is single handedly killing the NHS.............

I can think of lots of other things that are a burden, don't think it's just picking up the elderly.

Jobjobjob · 31/12/2017 08:25

Sorry killing the ambulance service

Cherrycokewinning · 31/12/2017 08:29

A large % of calls attended are to pick up elderly people. They don’t need further treatment, just picking up.

In my simple mind a mobile service provided by the NHS to do this would be a good solution, freeing up paramedics to attend only if further treatment is required.