AIBU to not go to A and E on Xmas Eve for this?

[ThatThingYouDo]

My daughter shut her finger in a door yesterday. The nail has turned black but the finger is warm and she can move it. Says it hurts a bit so has had calpol.

In two minds whether to take her to A and E.

Firstly I don't think it's an emergency, and especially with skeleton staff we could be taking up the time they could be using for actual emergencies.

Secondly (and probably selfishly) I don't want to spend Christmas Eve in A and E!

Anyone whose children have had similar injuries did the nail just fall off and grow again? I'm not actually sure what can be done anyway. Thanks!

I can't see any reason to takeover to a and e.

I wouldn’t go anywhere for the injury you’ve described , provided it’s warm at the tip and has sensation .

I wouldn't go unless it gets very painful in which case there could be a haemotoma which needs draining. I would ice it and keep taking the pain killers.

My DS had this exact injury. I didn't take him straight to a&e as he was ok with a bit of calpol and could move his finger. HOWEVER, the next day he was in total agony and we ended up at a&e anyway. They used a hot pin type thing to make a hole in his nail to drain the build up of blood and took and x-ray. It wasn't broken and the draining helped with the pain. The nail fell off (and grew back) in time.
Long story short, take her to a&e today or u might well end up spending xmas day there anyway.
Hugs to ur little one and have a lovely xmas. X

Of course you don’t go to a&e for that. The ridiculous part is wondering if you should. It’s a totally minor injury.

I wouldn’t go toA&E for that on any day of the year unless it was swollen, oozy or painful. A pharmacist would likely be my first option.

But having an injury which requires draining is quite rare. For every nail which does need draining there will be 99 which don't. Plus there's no point going before it's really painful because they won't drain it in case it gets really painful the next day. If it's not really painful now there's nothing to drain.

Ps if medical treatment is needed this is a cottage hospital (minor injury unit in local hospital) or gp job NOT a&e

Definitely go to A&E, the pressure of the blood under the nail can become sheer agony.

I was an adult when I did the same thing, I swear to god it was beyond painful.

Call 111. They'll probably suggest a walk in clinic over a&e.

Thanks for all your responses. She's happy and can move it. I'll leave it, but if it gets more swollen and painful I'll take her. Thanks!

I wouldn't - she can move it and it's warm so should heal on its own. Nothing A&E can do.

Do you have a minor injuries unit near you? Ours is next to the GP's and we can just turn up without an appointment. Designed to keep minor injuries out of A&E (this is not an A&E injury)

Flowerpot2005 Ridiculous. A&e for that! Things like this is why people with heart attack’s get left waiting for hours (seen it personally so don’t tell me it doesn’t happen).

Escalation of injury would be:

Pharmacy (not suitable here as might need pressure releasing)
Gp or out of hours gp
Minor injuries
Then and only then if none of the others can help do you go to A&e

I trapped my ds1's fingers in the car boot when he was around 18mths. He had 2 fingers looking like that. The nails fell off and grew back normally. I did go to minor injuries mainly because he wouldn't stop crying (understandably). I felt awful but he was fine no lasting damage.

Definitely not appropriate for A&E. Just because something is very painful doesn’t mean you need to go to A&E. Calpol and ibuprofen for the pain and if it did get to the stage that it needed drained, see GP once they reopen. Pharmacy is also a good suggestion!

Keep a close eye

I recommend soaking it later in cooler boiler water and tea tree oil as it’s a super disinfectant

You made the right call OP

Good luck !

Just get a paper clip, straighten it out and heat it in the flame on the cooker.
Hold hand steady and gently touch paper clip to the nail where the blood has collected. Paper lip will gently create a hole on the nail to release the blood. Pain is gone instantly. Nail will lift as healing occurs

I would go a&e anyway. Minor injuries unit if you do end up going anywhere

Interesting variety of responses. The doc I saw at a&e said I was absolutely right to have taken my DS to have it drained as it can be excruciatingly painful and not heal as well.
And to the pp who said that this is why people having a heart attack lie waiting to be see, that's utter nonsense!!! They do triage patients as priority! We had to wait whilst a drunk man was taken care of before us.
OP, I hope your DD feels better quickly.

GP surgeries are all open as normal today.

A&E is for life threatening illness only! (I know you know this OP, I’m just reiterating for anyone reading).
Out-of-hours GP or 111 for something like this, but be aware they may just tell you to go to A&E as sometimes they’re useless, but in an ideal world they would get your DD in to OOH GP of minor inj unit.

I hope she’s feeling better soon

It's a normal day today so GPs are open, not OOH.

Not that this needs a GP appt either.

Minor injuries unit at best