Has anyone ever called 111 and NOT been told to go to A and E?

[riotlady]

I know they need to stay on the safe side but i feel like it’s their response to everything, which sort of defeats the purpose a little bit.

Yes. Unfortunately it was when a family member turned out to be seriously ill (hours away from meeting their maker). They said to see a doctor within 24hrs (which would of been a Sunday....) i drove the 40 mins to their house to get them And 40 mins back to take to a&e and they had emergency surgery. Nightmare!

I think it’s important to note that the Scottish 111 service is different to the English one. The English one have ‘Health Advisors’ answering the phone who I believe use algorithms to triage patients and only escalate to a nurse if necessary (happy to be corrected if I’m wrong if anyone in here works for them).
I work at the Scottish 111, more commonly known as NHS24. Its Call Handlers who answer the call and although we use an algorithm to see where the call will be directed (ie serious & urgent needs to speak to nurse now or can get queued for nurse callback) we never give medical advice unless advised by a clinician. (With a couple of exceptions ie ear pain, UTI, throat pain).
I’d say A&E was not the most common outcome in our case. I think majority would be OOH appointment or self care. Still plenty of referrals to A&E and lots of ambulances called. Would be interested to know the actual statistics.
Hope that makes sense!

The only time I wasn't told to go to A&E was when I called years ago because I had something or other wrong with me and co-codamol wasn't helping.

They told me to take paracetamol as well.

I ignored them.

Yes, I was told to take my 5 year old with a rash to a walk in centre where I would get seen at 8.45pm (it was about 2pm when I rang). I went to a&e instead. We got sent home after several hours but ended up being admitted and diagnosed with HSP the next day. I'll just trust my instincts nect time after that. As if I was going to wait till 8.45 to get my 5 year old seen.

We didntb after my dds second jabs. Temp of 39.2 and screaming. Just told to give her calpol.. And strip her off which we did anyway. Just after call she settled and cooled a bit.. We had gp next day anyway for something different and he said they should of sent us to hospital because of her age. And next time don't bother with 111 if it happened. Her next lot were fine

the two times i have called they made an ooh gp appointment within the next hour or so in a lovely clean empty hospital. no waiting, no fuss, prescribed antibiotics. fantastic service.

I have been sent to a&e, but other times not.. the gp out of hours service is very good where I live so use that at weekends instead

I think it must vary regionally. I have called twice in the last 4 years and both times they sent an ambulance unnecessarily, I asked for an OOH and advised I could drive DC to A&E, both times they were sending an ambulance anyway. Off we went in an ambulance. However, when it was NHS Direct it was a really good service, I got phone advice OOH and GP referral. I don't think I would use 111 again, it's nothing or ambulance. It would be more sensible to just drive my child to a&e if they are too ill to wait for Monday. It really does seem to be nothing or a&e here.

I had HG and hadn’t eaten or drunk anything for 48 hours, 111 told me to make an appointment with my GP. I called my GP to make an appointment and the receptionist put me on hold, spoke to the GP who said to go straight to A&E.

So the one time I actually needed to go to A&E they didn’t tell me to go.

I haven't used them much but have found them to be very good when I have.

I used them in summer when my Nan was unwell and they sent an ambulance which arrived within ten mins. It was absolutely the right thing to do as it turns out she has developed diabetes and had we not got to hospital she could have died!

I used them earlier this week as I had felt unwell over the weekend and eventually realised I had a UTI but was also being sick/developed back pain. I had tried to get a same day appointment at my own GP but got a really awful receptionist who wouldn't listen and just said there were no appointments. Spoke to 111 to try to get an OOH for later in the day. They were brilliant - said it couldn't wait that long and asked me which practice I was with. Told them and they said they would ring back. I got a call back withing 15 mins and an appointment had been made at my own GP surgery! Turns out I was right and needed a strong antibiotic.

So, I don't think they just send people to A&E. I do think there are occasions (not always!) Where people exaggerate their symptoms and then get sent to A&E unnecessarily. Similarly, they may occasionally say A&E when it could have been OOH but it is very difficult to assess over the phone.

I have been sent to a&e once (good as I was having an asthma attack) and the other time a doctor called me back and prescribed steroids (again for asthma) based on what I said

Yes - we got an ooh appointment once and another time they sent an ambulance to me. I was on my own, parked up in a layby unable to drive due to excruciating pain and very frightened.

Another ooh GP appointment -2-3 days post discharge after hysterectomy, UTI, weekend.

I have to use the 111 NHS service frequently as it's the way of accessing OOH care in my DM's area. Sometimes A&E is advised and an ambulance is dispatched but more often a Paramedic Practitioner is sent. DM has complex medical needs and dementia so treating her in familiar surroundings make a real difference to her wellbeing.

I’ve been sent a prescription, to pick up at a pharmacy of my choice, for UTI. Fantastic service. This was OOH, and pick-up when pharmacy opened.

Oh yes

• advice given on medication - ie whether some OTC medication could taken with prescription medication

• out of hours appointment

• emergency interim medication over the weekend

• arranging appointment at non local gp surgery when away and needing medical help

• ambulance & paramedics for onsite treatment

Over many years, I would stress , and not all for my self!

Honestly not a nuisance caller to 111

I think I've phoned it 3x and each time been given an out of hours appointment with a doctor or with my own Gp in hours. Never told to go to A&E but if you are presenting with chest pain etc they have to cover their backs. We live in a litigious society and you are always aware as a healthcare professional you could be called to court to answer for your actions if something went wrong. Plus symptoms can change quickly, what starts off like cold symptoms can develop into hundreds of different things, some benign, some could be fatal. It's a telephone triage service, they have to be extra cautious. It's the worst feeling ever if you feel you have missed something and caused harm to a patient. No one wants that.

Yes, I've phoned a few times over the years for me and my daughter and never been told to go to a and e. Often given advice on treatment/waiting and when it would be appropriate to go to a+e. Once they sent out a doctor to my house at night when I had really bad cystitis.

DH was given a phone appointment with the out of hours GP.

He had sun stroke and they recommend some pills for the sickness. I was very pleased with how they handled the call.

I was told to see my midwife in the next 2 weeks when I rang them with migraine and constant vomiting at 32 weeks pregnant.
Lucky I didn't listen as I was seriously ill with sudden onset pre eclampsia and both me and ds would have died that day if I had waited.
Yet I know people who have been told to go to a and e with obviously minor ailments so I have no idea what's going on with them

I got an OOH docs appt when I rang 111. It was at 1am. But was miles better than waiting in A&E

Yes, the first time I did. Luckily I live near a pharmacy.

@swingofthings the NHS website?

“Always get medical advice if:
your baby is under 3 months old and they have a temperature of 38C (101F) or higher”

www.nhs.uk/conditions/pregnancy-and-baby/treating-high-temperature-children/

@riotlady, I wasn't thinking of a newborn.

I've never been told not to take further action. Once they booked us in to the out of hours GP at the local hospital though instead of going to the GP. We've also been told "don't go to A&E but see a doctor within 2 hours" so we went to urgent care.