To be annoyed at 111?

[hastingsmua1]

Called 111 at 6pm, as that is the only way to get an out of hours GP appointment. The 111 nurse told me to go to A&E within the hour. I told them that I think that is unnecessary as I don’t feel unwell enough, I just wanted an out of hours appointment. He said that I have to go to A&E as I have been coughing up blood, and an out of hours GP/urgent care would not have the facilities to take x rays etc if necessary so to save time being redirected later I should go straight to A&E.

I have been at A&E for the past 2 hours, haven’t even had an assessment yet. I know I’m at the bottom of the triage list (which is fair enough) but I can’t help but feel like I shouldn’t be here to begin with. I told the 111 adviser that I didn’t want to waste A&E resources as I am not extremely unwell. I also feel like my time has been wasted as I have been wrongly directed to A&E, with very long wait times when other facilities would have been more appropriate. By the time I probably leave A&E, all shops/restaurants will be closed and public transport would have stopped running which means that I’ll have to order food in and get a taxi home which is just unnecessary expenditure for a minor problem.

You do realise that even if you had seen an OOH GP first that it wouldn’t have got you seen any quicker at A&E? 111 done the right thing by directing you to the most appropriate place of care.

If you don’t like it then leave. Nobody is forcing you to wait and be assessed. God first world problems eh that you will be forced to order food in!!

If you feel it's a minor cause for concern, why even ring 111 to get an out of hours appointment? Wait to see your own GP Monday. You obviously think the trained health care person you spoke to is over reacting. You aren't being held in A&E hostage. The doors there.

Op I hope you waited to be seen and that you’re ok. Frustrating as it is, it sounds sinister and needs investigation. Don’t feel bad about being there, you’re only there under advisement

I got sent to out of hours GP with DD once and still had to wait 3 hours to be seen despite having an 'appointment', we were then sent to A&E as she needed an x-ray where we had to wait another 2 hours. You're better off in A&E.

I think a GP could have prescribed antibiotics and sent you about your business. 111 is always overkill.

YABU. Just leave if you don't think you need to be there

I think a GP could have prescribed antibiotics and sent you about your business. 111 is always overkill

I am a doctor and I think you are talking bollocks. The advice to the OP was entirely right (and yes 111 will always err on the side of caution but in this case they were spot on)

Yep. One of those rare times I agree with NHS 111 advice. Unless the OP has carelessly forgotten to mention a nosebleed immediately before, I struggle to think of a cause for coughing up blood that doesn't need A&E.

111 has stringent rules and formulas for a reason- they can't diagnose you- they are not doctors. So based on your answers to the questions they ask- they then give you recommendations based on those answers. They are a recommendation- not an order. If you disagree with it- don't follow the advice. No one forces you. But you're asking people who can't see you, to determine the safest course for you. The constant opinion it's a shite service becomes boring. You dont like it, dont use it- and make your own decisions. I mean that generally as opposed to specifically. The question don't take into account everything- they can't.

mrbob, if you're a doctor, I'm Mother Teresa.
The OP wasn't coughing up blood. She had brown colour in her phlegm following a chest infection. You know as well as I know, that that is not coughing up blood - if you're a doctor that is....

It might be a long waiting time in a&e but you are in an area of safety. If anything happens, if you suddenly deteriorate they can keep an eye on you. If you have been instructed to go to a&e it’s for a reason. They would need to do tests which an ooh gp wouldn’t be able to do.

The OP wasn't coughing up blood. She had brown colour in her phlegm following a chest infection

That’s still blood? Which could potentially be serious.

mrbob, if you're a doctor, I'm Mother Teresa.
The OP wasn't coughing up blood. She had brown colour in her phlegm following a chest infection. You know as well as I know, that that is not coughing up blood - if you're a doctor that is

The Op has said 3 times that she’s coughed up blood. I can’t see anywhere her mentioning a chest infection.

Sorry @AnyWalls- OP has repeatedly stated she believes it to be blood, and told the call taker at 111 it was blood. Was the call taker supposed to shout 'liar'! Down the phone and ignore that the OP described it repeatedly as blood?!

OP how did you get on?

I'm finding it difficult to understand why op waited until 6pm to try and phone a doctor. OOH appointments are for people who become ill, funnily enough, out of hours, not because you didn't see your own GP during their opening hours. If you'd decided during the day it could wait, why did it suddenly become urgent at 6pm?
Incidentally our surgery publishes opening hours of 8:30am to 6:30pm. There are actually doctors there for much longer than that to see people who cannot attend during core working hours.

The OP wasn't coughing up blood. She had brown colour in her phlegm following a chest infection.

Er - the OP stated THREE times that she had been coughing up blood.
Mentions of Chest infection or phlegm = zero.

Reading is your friend, Mother Teresa.

mrbob, if you're a doctor, I'm Mother Teresa

Wow pretty offensive! Clearly you have a medical degree to know I am wrong And yes I am a doctor. Fuck off