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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:
Jobjobjob · 31/12/2017 08:31

But that's NOT available Cherrycoke so what's the alternative now?

My point is that 999 is not only life threatening situations.

Cherrycokewinning · 31/12/2017 08:32

Job I think you’re misunderstanding me. I’m not suggesting there is a current alternative

Jobjobjob · 31/12/2017 08:34

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

^^thats what you posted

Merryfeckingchristmas · 31/12/2017 08:35

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Cherrycokewinning · 31/12/2017 08:35

And it’s true. The carers could’ve picked her up. But they won’t.

Jakie7700 · 31/12/2017 08:35

A few years ago my DS had a really bad cold and generally unwell. During the night he got worse had calpol etc He all off a sudden had a convulsion and was floppy and in and out of consiousness. First time I have ever called 999 to be told yes a emergency but we have no ambulances available. They sent a ambulance car to stay with him while a hour later the ambulance arrived. Paramedics apologised for the delay (not there fault obv) and said they were previously attending a known regular caller that makes illnesses up as hes lonely but they had to attend as he said he had chest pain. Theses are the sort of people who waste the nhs money and time which can be life threatening to others.

Bodicea · 31/12/2017 08:36

I have given up with 111 for a lot of things, they can diagnose v little over the phone so inevitably send an ambulance who generally take you to a&e anyway - surprised they didn’t.

In your case an ambulance was prob necessary as you don’t drive but I would have gone straight to gp in office hours or a&e out of hours.

If my little ones are sick these days I either go to gp in hours but only I think they won’t end up in hospital. If I think they will I always go direct to Childrens a&e otherwise you are delaying the inevitable.

Pengggwn · 31/12/2017 08:39

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Cherrycokewinning · 31/12/2017 08:42

No of course about it- they might need an ambulance but it’s not automatic at all Hmm I’ve sat through enough Sunday league games to know the majority don’t call ambulances to breakages. Go to any A&E on a Saturday or Sunday afternoon

Jobjobjob · 31/12/2017 08:43

And it’s true. The carers could’ve picked her up. But they won’t

No they couldn't, due to my mothers stroke and the ability/training of the carers.

My point is that it is not for people to just decide the availability of 999 only being for life threatening situations. The OP was thankfully not in that situation but she was unable to diagnose herself. In too much pain to drive etc, took the correct steps.

If 111 are sending ambulances unnecessarily, then that's to be addressed.

Having said that, I read a heartbreaking post on her that 111 had diagnosed nothing and no action and a child had meningitis. It resulted in the poster reviving her child in the back of their car and they suffered brain damage?

This 111 system is not working well is it?

I was involved with the pilot and really could not understand how it could work...

Cherrycokewinning · 31/12/2017 08:48

Again you’re missing my point. They could. They just don’t need to be trained properly by the care company because the ambulance service will do it.

And the result is often elderly people lying in cold awkward positions for many hours because the ambulance service can’t prioritise them.

And the post of mine you posted is referring to 999 calls but you’re talking about 111. That’s different. 111 have a variety of options and a trained person will decide which is suitable. It’s not the same as a member of the public tying up 999 resource.

Bbbbbbbb2017 · 31/12/2017 08:50

My 15 month old seems to have a crappy pair of lungs. Has been on 10 cpurses of steroids in a year and 3 in the past month alone aswell as reliant on two different inhalers so breathing problems are quite the norm to deal with.

I rang 111 two nights ago suspecting his bastarding chest infection was back. They rang back 2 hours later. Decided he need to see a GP urgently but had no gp OOH appojntments left so they sent an ambulance. I was told to wait foe said ambulance as me driving him the 6 minutes to a and e was too risky apparantly. 4 hours later the ambulance arrived.. by this point i had managed to calm his breathing down and the calpol/neurofen had finally brought his temp down so he presented as a normal sleeping baby.. i wasnt allowed to cancel the ambulance when the situation started improving and it still took me taking him to the gp at 9am for his nasty chest infection to be confirmed.

Massive waste of resources

ImSoExhausted · 31/12/2017 08:50

The only time I've ever phoned 999 was when my DS snapped his penile frenulum (cough or 'banjo string' as it's colloquially known)
He was just 3, I was home alone, he suddenly grabbed his crouch and started this blood curdling scream. When I took his nappy off the tip was swollen to the size of a tomato and there was some blood. To this day I don't think I've ever been more scared.
DS is also severely autistic and completely non-verbal. I had no idea what to do and had to ring an amublance, they arrived within ten minutes and took his straight to Alder Hey.
Took four doctors to pin him down to look at what had happened, ended up giving him oxygen, pain killers and numbing cream whilst it healed.

GreatDuckCookery6211 · 31/12/2017 08:53

How did the crew diagnose kidney stones?

ZoopDragon · 31/12/2017 08:54

I think best to call a taxi if it's not life threatening. I would call an ambulance for severe chest pain, unexplained seizure, breathing difficulties, severe bleeding that won't stop with pressure/elevation, broken bones where the skin is broken/blood supply compromised, or a very young/elderly person if I was worried they were deteriorating rapidly. Anything else I'd take a taxi or ask a friend to give us a lift. Obviously would call an ambulance after a serious fall (eg down stairs) if I suspected neck/spine/pelvis fracture as could be risky to move them.

Foreverhopeful22 · 31/12/2017 09:02

Sorry ambulance in my mind and that of my husband who is a paramedic

Ambulance is called for a threat of life. If there is an alternative eg go to a&e via taxi then that should be your option

My husband has been called out to ridiculous situations eg water infection patient who was prescribed antibiotics the day before but wasn't happy as they were not working. Unfortunately due to this time wasting the paramedic has guidelines they must do all checks which means at least an hour with the patient checking vitals.

Another having a cardiac arrest apparently well enough to open door with a cup of tea and a bacon sandwich on the table . They had heart burn

Ambulance is not a taxi and you don't jump the que because you have gone to hospital via ambulance.

In your case you should of gone to out of hours service via taxi . Every area has one .

Rebeccaslicker · 31/12/2017 09:13

I've only ever called 999 once, when the kitchen in the restaurant next door to my office went up in flames, so we called the fire brigade for them. Otherwise I would agree with trying 111 first if it's not obviously bad - they will advise if they think an ambulance is needed, or suggest a taxi to a&e.

Pengggwn · 31/12/2017 09:15

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

OhYouBadBadKitten · 31/12/2017 09:15

I don't think people are reading the op properly or understanding that in some areas the ONLY way to see OOH is to phone 111.

Cherrycokewinning · 31/12/2017 09:17

But why is that a problem? 111 isn’t the emergency service. Why shouldn’t people call 111? I don’t understand your point kitten

Discusting · 31/12/2017 09:20

You rang 111, the advice line for this situation. They sent the ambulance. No need to feel guilty! You were assessed by a medical professional on 111 who deemed it appropriate for the ambulance!

Always 111, they will advise whether to use GP or not.

LaurieFairyCake · 31/12/2017 09:23

If I was writhing on the floor with my pain level at 10 I wouldn't know whether it was gallstones/kidney stones/burst appendix/ruptured ovarian cyst as im not a medical professional - so I'd call an ambulance or someone would call it for me - if I couldn't move/her up/walk

Same with losing all feeling on my right side and slurring because I'd had a stroke like the poster above - you're supposed to call an ambulance for stroke !

BigGreenOlives · 31/12/2017 09:25

In our area there are minor injuries clinics and urgent care centres as well as A&E.

Thurlow · 31/12/2017 09:30

I agree, Merry. I called 111 last Christmas as my 8wo was wheezing and breathing from his ribcage. He obviously needed to see a doctor but it wasn't an absolute emergency at all. 111 went an ambulance, which we clearly didn't need when it arrived. Now I'm not complaining that they have very good protocols around hearing that a small baby has breathing difficulties, its great that they do. But the protocols overrode everything I was saying. The paramedics were lovely and took us to hospital as they were there, but we did have an interesting chat about how 111 send more ambulances out than are often needed.

It's a bit of a no win situation though. I suppose it's better to be safe than sorry.

Chaosofcalm · 31/12/2017 09:32

Our minor injuries unit now closes over night and 111 is our access to out of hours GP care.

I have rang 111, welly husband did because I was too ill to talk, I refused an ambulance but in retrospect I would very wrong to do so.

If you are ill and/or in lots of pain it can be difficult to make a logical assessment of the situation so if in doubt ask the professionals eg 111 who to see. Obviously if it is small issue or you are not in extreme pain and pharmacists are available they are also great for lots of issues.