DD punched a wall and is now in agony and can’t move her pinkie, will A&E see her?

[riannonmas]

Had a row with her BF on phone and unfortunately punched a concrete wall not considering consequences. Is now in agony, can’t move her pinky finger and her hand is visibly not right. Ordinarily would take her down straight away but the hospital is a major city university hospital and I imagine (Well, also know based on what I’ve heard through social media) swamped with CV. The walk-in minor injuries centre near us is also now focused on CV and telling people not to come in and only go to A&E if it is life threatening, which DD’s situation isn’t. Otherwise they seem to just want you to suck it up. Don’t want to unnecessarily risk exposing her or our family to CV, especially if A&E won’t see her for the hand injury. She is 17 so I’d only be dropping her off as I doubt they’d let me in. Really I want to take her but DH is against it as is terrified of CV and wants me to look up how to treat it at home.

Go. You won’t be ‘laughed out of the department’. You can not assess and manage a potential fracture at home. And, as previous posters have experienced, there can be long-lasting problems if not managed properly.

Reassure your husband that A&Es are being split into Covid and non-Covid areas that are completely separate and you are directed to the appropriate one straight away.

Please report back on here. Too many people are avoiding A&E when really they need to attend.

Best wishes for your daughter!

There is a headline article on bbc now where health officials are urging people to seek treatment if they need it. I agree this is A and E worthy as she will likely need an x-ray. Your DH sounds lovely.

Definitely items go to A&E!

Just drop her outside.

@Runkle. I'm not sure if you've heard but 111 are a tad overwhelmed right now and about as useful as a chocolate teapot. When we rang them when my dh was very sick with covid19, it was 12 hours before we got a call back. Op's dd can be seen and treated faster than ever at A&E right now. There's been a lot in the news about the dangers of deliberately avoiding hospitals, for all sorts of cases. Even, tragically, some children dying.

It needs x-raying and then treating.

I had my hand and arm in a back slab for 6 weeks, and then some physio appointments. luckily didn’t need surgery.

The A&E will be divided and completely segregated into ‘non Covid’ cases.

Minor injuries more appropriate but yes a&e will see.

Had to take Dd a couple of weeks ago. In and out in 20 minutes. No one else there.

If there is a minor injuries unit locally, that would be more appropriate than A&E.
You could be on hold to 111 for hours as and they're likely to tell you to go to A&E or minor injuries anyway so would be a waste of your time and their resources.

She needs to go to A&E for an x ray, and subsequently will need to see a psychologist regarding anger management. Punching a wall is not normal behaviour.

Have you treated it all? I too think you should just drop her off whilst you wait outside.

Not sure I'd recommend 111 at the moment.

A friend had COVID symptoms and pain breathing. After several hours in the 111 queue they told her to phone her GP. The GP said it was too serious for them and told her to phone 999. The 999 operator told her it wasn't an emergency and to phone 111.

Punching a wall is not normal behaviour.

It’s not an uncommon form of self harm.

Good Lord ,she will be in a lot of pain! (Never a good idea to argue with a wall!) Of course you must take her .Your DH sounds scared to me and is maybe not thinking straight .Many people feel the same ATM .However she needs to be X Rayed and treated by medical staff!

Your DH is talking nonsense. As everyone says, broken bones in the hand left untreated can have serious consequences. When I broke a finger it had to be splinted and kept absolutely straight for several weeks, followed by physiotherapy, and I was told that if that didn't work it would need an operation to avoid losing the use of that finger.

I am sure your DD will be seen quickly - A&Es round here are like ghost towns (very central London teaching hospitals) - I’m sure the ITUs are super busy but A&E attendance is down to 1/3 - 1/2 usual and doctors are worried about who we are missing (people like your DD I imagine!).
Is your DH in a particularly high risk / shielding group hence his concern? He might be happier if you observe extra distancing within the household for a week or so after the hospital trip, but not getting a likely hand fracture which may need cast / physio / surgery seen in a timely manner is poor form and would likely raise eyebrows if presenting late, especially in a young person.

They will be glad to see her.! I heard a Dr from A&E say on tv how quiet it is just now as everyone thinks they are only seeing Corona victims but as someone on here pointed out they are seeing them separately. Of course other things need to be seen. It must be refreshingly free of "I have a splinter in my finger and should be treated as a priority" types at the moment which is very telling!

111 isn’t helpful in a case like this as you need to be able to see the hand. I would never ring them for a physical injury as all they can do is advise you to seek help.

Good job for listening and taking her , let us know how she gets on. I work at a big university hospital and I can reassure you that we are ensuring covid patients do not come to a&e, we have a special pop up ward/entrance for them to be tested in first.

Definitely go. I lost the use of a finger aged 13, because an adult at school told me the accident wasn't serious and I should go back to class. I was more compliant than I should have been. I only had it x-rayed a week later, because it was getting worse instead of healing. I ended up having multiple operations and a metal pin put through it, but I've never been able to move it since.

Hers might not be anywhere near as bad as that, but these things can happen if left untreated.

I knew as soon as I read the OP that some sanctimonious little turds would pipe up and say "get anger management". She didn't hurt anyone but herself, bursts of anger are completely normal and you're a ridiculous shot stirring drama queen if you think one incident requires anger management.

Anyway MIU's don't tend to treat broken bones AFAIK as they don't have x-ray facilities, A&E is best place for her. Why does your DH think you'll be laughed out the place?

If you haven’t set off yet please go to A&E they will see you. They have hot zones for Covid patients and cool zones for other injuries. The cool zones are quiet due to no drunken idiots on the streets and people off the roads.

Personal knowledge here, larger major trauma city hospital.

I knew as soon as I read the OP that some sanctimonious little turds would pipe up and say "get anger management". She didn't hurt anyone but herself, bursts of anger are completely normal and you're a ridiculous shot stirring drama queen if you think one incident requires anger management.
It is not normal, she is only 17 and to recognise that she is either self harming or is potentially in an abusive relationship is fucking important. Don’t be so dismissive.

I'm glad you are going to A&E. She does need to be seen.

Or she just had a bit of a self indulgent tantrum (like a typical teenager) and is now facing the consequences? Typical MN jumping to the "anger management" or "self harm" claims of someone they don't know in circumstances they only have half the facts on.