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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

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

77 replies

ThatThingYouDo · 24/12/2018 08:00

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!

OP posts:

tinkaroo · 24/12/2018 08:30

It may seem like a simple injury but she may have damaged the nail bed which will require a a local anaesthetic procedure to clean and remove. This is usually done by a hands and plastics team at the hospital.
I'd say go and get it looked at.

FBEH · 24/12/2018 08:31

I knew someone would say it was nonense. I was sat next to the guy talking to him. Whilst I was waiting for 9 hrs with a canular in my hand to be admitted too. Not going to provide details as it’s too revealing but I saw this with my own eyes not rumour, news stories etc.

ILikTheBred · 24/12/2018 08:32

I had a similar injury (finger trapped in a car door) at 14 and the nail and top of my finger are now quite noticeably deformed. We were on holidays in France at the time and my parents didn’t bring me to A&E. Not sure if would have made any difference but if I were you OP I’d look closely to make sure underneath the nail is not bulging or a strange shape in any way - if it is get it checked out.

PoohBearsHole · 24/12/2018 08:32

This is exactly what minor injuries is for.

If only those hanging out in a & e used minor injuries the waiting times would halve.

There will still be a queue in mi but much smaller. Go there if you are worried, a more pleasant experience for you and you it dd.

Bunnybigears · 24/12/2018 08:32

My son had pretty much the exact same injury recently. He was actually lifeguard training so lots of first aid types there.
They said cold compress amd calpol was all that was needed.

Mayrhofen · 24/12/2018 08:33

I absolutely wouldn't for two reasons.

I did exactly the same thing 2 months ago, I had a very painful finger for 2 days that turned black quickly, but it was very swollen for about 4 days. The nail is only just now starting to lift off.
DS went to A&E yesterday for a suspected hand fracture after a rugby injury, Turned out he has an infection in the cut and is now on antibiotics intravenously and waiting minor surgery today. He waited nearly six hours to be seen.

Enjoy your Christmas, I am sure she will be fine. I would expect her to lose the nail, but not for a couple of months yet. [FLOWERS]

Raven88 · 24/12/2018 08:34

I wouldn't, maybe put one ice on it and strap it if it's really sore. My grandfather was a painter and decorater and he always had one nail like that.

Original poster

ThatThingYouDo · 24/12/2018 08:36

Unfortunately my GP is shocking for getting an appointment. On busy days they just turn the phone off! 111 is rubbish, they suggest a visit to A and E regardless. So unfortunately where we live any problem or illness is A and E or nothing, which is terrible and not how it should be at all.

OP posts:

2b1c51 · 24/12/2018 08:37

I had exactly the same with my one year old a few years ago (funnily enough on Christmas Eve!). We rang 111 to see if there was a minor injuries to go to, but they told us to go to A&E as minor injuries didn't have x-ray facilities. We were there for 9am, there was no queue and we were out again following x-rays and bandages (she had broken the tips of 2 fingers) within an hour. So if you do go, go early!

EdtheBear · 24/12/2018 08:38

I'd say if its not that sore it will heel itself. But if shes really struggling then its an A&E problem.
My son did similar to his big toe but was in agony and couldn't walk on it. I went to the nurse at GPs, "this is beyond me I'll get the doc". The Doc "we don't have the tools, not to mention it needs x-rays before they burst it in-case of turning it into an open fracture". Sure enough A&E x-rayed before a gadget burnt a hole in it.

fairypuff · 24/12/2018 08:38

Our minor injuries unit is at a&e so it's all integrated. Out of hours GP is based there too. Not sure what impact this has on waiting times but everyone is triaged within an hour of arrival and seen on a priorities basis.

DrCoconut · 24/12/2018 08:41

We don't have a minor injuries unit here. It's Gp or A+E if you need treatment. Not surprisingly the queue at A+E is usually huge.

Hoppinggreen · 24/12/2018 08:42

For all those people suggesting minor injuries unit not all places have them
For us ( large town) it’s A&E or 111 for out of hours and the chance of seeing a GP today is less then zero. There is a walk in about half an hour away
I’m not suggesting OP does go to A&E if her child seems ok but unfortunately there are often no other options
I have a high level volunteer position with our local NHS Trust and I’ve seen statistics that show up to 70% of people at A&E shouldn’t be there at all but we have a lack of alternatives
Our GP surgery is now offering evening appointments at the hospital next door to The Surgery but according to The Receptionist there has been a lack of take up.
Hope your dc is ok OP and you have a lovely Xmas

Punto1 · 24/12/2018 08:46

I had a similar injury when 14. Nail didn't fall off, it just grew in a sort of bump. Nail is detached from finger from halfway up the nail. It was one of the most painful things of my life. Seriously, not joking.

My mother didn't take me to A&E as it was her who had slammed the front (mahogany) door on my finger to stop me getting out. It's a daily reminder of a miserable childhood irrelevant to you I know
I would not go messing with a paperclip!

If you are prepared for maybe a 6 hour wait, they might see you. But mine was a bit worse than your dd's, so not sure if there's even anything they could do.

ADastardlyThing · 24/12/2018 08:50

I'm with you op, id feel awful taking up a much needed slot in a and e for a trapped finger.

www.nhs.uk/using-the-nhs/nhs-services/urgent-and-emergency-care/when-to-go-to-ae/

ADastardlyThing · 24/12/2018 08:50

(unless it was worse of course!)

C8H10N4O2 · 24/12/2018 08:53

GP surgeries are all open as normal today.

Ours isn't. Its on "Christmas timetable" until Jan 2nd. So no clinics, and reduced GP surgeries, appts booked weeks ahead.

I don't know where these mythical areas are that have GP appointments always available, walk in units and the raft of other services but around here (urban area) its GP or A&E and nothing in between.

Shortage of GP services means A&E for issues which could be dealt with more locally.

AnchorDownDeepBreath · 24/12/2018 08:55

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.

When was that?

I've done this three times; the first time they drained the nail but twice since (a few years ago and in January) they haven't. They try to treat the infection without breaking the nail now; here at least, because introducing a hole to the nail bed is risky. It does hurt A LOT more without it being drained...

I'd see how she goes. If Calpol is soothing it and she's using her hand; it might look worse than it feels.

Orchiddingme · 24/12/2018 08:55

fairypuff I wonder if you live near me. We have an integrated minor injuries unit and you can see a nurse pretty much immediately after a short wait. Triage sends patients there, and others into another door which is A & E.

Great system, as everyone ends up with the right type of professional. Waiting times are around an hour or less if you have an urgent problem (I've been in lots of times unfortunately)

Our GP also does triage via phone calls and can deal with much over the phone, with appointments on the day if not.

I feel really bad for people who don't live in an area with this service. We even have a weekend NHS walk-in dentist! £21 for pretty much most patching up til you can see your own dentist (so does prescribe antibiotics, fills teeth temporarily).

This is often quite quiet (dentist) and I think it's because people don't know about it or where to phone to get put on the list (we do as one of my relatives has a LOT of health problems).

People often don't know about the services on offer which is why if they can't get to a GP they stream into A & E. Or they don't exist. Not sure why they are good in our part of the country and not elsewhere.

Prometheus · 24/12/2018 09:00

Nothing A&E can do. My mum had this exact same injury over the summer. It stayed black for months before the nail eventually fell off.

Papergirl1968 · 24/12/2018 09:07

God help me, I’m just about to take dd2, 14, to A&E as her knee dislocated last night. This happens with her knees from time to time and it’s swollen and painful.
I’m the world’s worst parent for not taking her last night, apparently, and for suggesting that we see how it goes with rest and painkillers.
Just hope I’m back in time for my turkey collection slot at the supermarket...

Pigflewpast · 24/12/2018 09:09

My dd did this when she was around 8yr. She normally has a very high pain threshold but she was screaming and screaming. Minor injuries xrayed and then made a hole in the nail. She had been crying her eyes out until the pressure was released when she was immediately calm. She had fractured the top of her thumb, so still in some pain but nothing compared to before the procedure.
OP so if it needed draining you would know! The fracture left her a slight bump despite being bandaged etc.

costacoffeecup · 24/12/2018 09:13

I've never been to a minor injuries unit, I don't know what they are. Do you have to get referred or can you just pitch up? They sound very handy anyway.

As others have said doesn't look like an A&E job but can see why you've got the twitch just in case you need to go tomorrow!

Beamur · 24/12/2018 09:13

Happened to my DD's toe a couple of years ago. Hurt a lot but I didn't take her A&E. About a week later it started looking red so went to a minor injury unit who refused to treat it and referred us to A&E. At the hospital they were incredulous that the minor unit hadn't treated it.
It was x rayed and then a small incision made in the nail bed, which let out the accumulated blood and fluid about 24 hrs later. Nail came off too but regrew without problem a few weeks later.
It's painful but not serious.

C8H10N4O2 · 24/12/2018 09:15

We have an integrated minor injuries unit and you can see a nurse pretty much immediately after a short wait. Triage sends patients there, and others into another door which is A & E.

We used to have one of those. It was a great idea which reduced visits to A&E and GP call outs.

It was closed to cut costs. Result is increased total costs as more people go to A&E and try to call out GPs but on paper, for that one unit, its a saving to that parochial trust.

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