Can I just turn up at a and e?

[fastnfurious]

Posting for traffic... my son has an injury I think needs to be looked at at the hospital, I'm unsure if I can just turn up at a and e or do I need to call 111 first? Thanks

In my area they are urging people to ring 111 first to be signposted to the correct place. As some injuries and ailments are being sent to minor injuries etc.

I am sure they wouldn't turn you away though if you needed to be seen.

I would go to A&E if it is convenient for you. Our nearest A&E is quite far away so the local minor injuries unit is set up to do x-rays when required.

I'd just turn up to A&E with my kids if something is obvious (fall causing pain (accident, will probably require x-ray) or more recently foreign body in nose - best dealt with by pros with the right toys).

I felt totally embarrassed rocking up at A&E with a crestfallen but otherwise well normally sensible 5 year old who had stashed Lego under her pillow and was playing with it after lights out before absent mindedly going to pick her nose without letting go... The Dr said that we did exactly the right thing because most "self help" attempts are unsuccessful and just make the dr's job much more difficult.

111 is much more use for illness or where description of symptoms is more important than x-ray or palpation...

@SorryImKnew

Even if the do start the calling 111 first nobody will be denied access to A and E if they just turn up anyway.

But I think they'll be put at the end of the queue after those who have an appointment? Or that's what I understood from my reading of it. Maybe triage will advise them to ring 111 while they're waiting.

I wouldn’t think you would be put to the end of a queue regardless of what you were presenting with.

It’s because they do have data and evidence to show that people attend A&E who could be treated elsewhere or over the phone / online. By triaging them out we relieve the pressure on A&E, and, reduce risk of Covid transmission. If nothing else we have to increase space in clinical settings to allow for infection control processes

MomToTwoBabas
🙈 why would you call 111 to go to a&e. Made me chuckle. Hope your son is ok OP.
Because its been on the news that that's what they're proposing well have to do very soon. As pp said some places are already trialling it

The OP is obviously very switched on and listens to the news @MomToTwoBabas

Obviously the aim is to prevent people turning up at A&E if not necessary. Clearly they're triaged in A&E and prioritised. But it's the ones who don't need to be there at all that they're trying to target I'd say.

@PurpleDaisies

There are some areas piloting calling 111 before going to A and E.

www.google.co.uk/amp/s/www.bbc.co.uk/news/amp/health-54185453

If you’re not in one of those areas, just go.

Jesus, I missed this completely. What is the point? They're never staffed by qualified personnel, just people tick boxing from a screen

They usually get a clinician to call you back Thisismytimetoshine. That can take hours though.
The staffing levels throughout the NHS is just too low.

But I think they'll be put at the end of the queue after those who have an appointment? Or that's what I understood from my reading of it. Maybe triage will advise them to ring 111 while they're waiting.

We’ve been advised to go to A&E a few times after calling OOH and once when the GP phoned ahead? makes absolutely no difference to when you’ll be seen. They don’t make an appointment for you. You’re booked in and triaged like everyone else.

Hope your son is ok and hasn’t broken his heel.

@startinganew123

Just turn up. Why would you call 111?

Cos you are in Warrington (or one of the other trial areas) which is trialling a new scheme which encouraging people to call 111 to get an appointment for A & E?

If you don't live in one of the trial areas, you just rock up at A & E.

MintyMabel

From the article linked by the OP

"This trial scheme, which seems likely to be adopted at hospitals across England, will see big changes to what people are familiar with at A&E.

People who are not seriously ill will be actively discouraged from arriving at emergency departments without an appointment.

They won't be turned away, but they have been warned there could be even longer waits than before.

On the other hand, those who have called NHS 111 first and been directed to A&E will get a confirmed time to see an appropriate clinician.

They could just as easily be directed to an urgent treatment centre or a mental health professional.

There's the understandable aim of cutting unnecessary visits, so reducing overcrowding in waiting areas at a time when hospitals want to reduce the risk of Covid-19 transmission."

I'm dreading the winter months if I need A&E. There are about 20 seats in majors, and every year, they are full, so you've people standing or sitting on the floor in the corridor as there are no seats left. With half of those seats out of action, it's going to be utter mayhem.

I've been to a&e twice this week! This morning I got there at 7.45-ish and I was the only person there (until 8.10, when 2 other people arrived, and then I got called in anyway)

Yes. I fell this week and thought I was ok just bruised. Didn’t really hurt, but Went to urgent care outside and e and they took me straight in to a and e and bone broken and need surgery. They were excellent.

A&E now.
The potential for fractured ribs/pneumothorax is a risk.
Ignore the armchair medics on MN who only advise A&E for decapitation. And then you must drive yourself there.

Take him to A&E now.

The people who 'do the right thing' will call 111 but they are also the people who won't turn up at A&E for worms (yes really) in the first place.

If you've ever run 111 and been stuck on hold waiting for someone to answer your call because the lines are all busy...

...only for someone to tell you the bleeding obvious and you've already googled and know anyway.

I can catergorically say that if I need to go to A&E I need to go to A&E.

If I am phoning 111 its cos its not A&E level urgent in the first fucking place.

You are not going to deal with the stupid factor with this trial. You will just endanger the health of people who do try to do 'the right thing'.

@Dominicgoings

A&E now. The potential for fractured ribs/pneumothorax is a risk. Ignore the armchair medics on MN who only advise A&E for decapitation. And then you must drive yourself there.

Take him to A&E now.

This, and have them check his pain responses.

With this scheme, I'd get in the car to go to A&E first and get someone else to try and call 111 on the way or when I get there, so at least I'm in the right bloody place to begin with without the beaucracy.

Apart from this who the fuck knows that they should call 111 instead of going to A&E? Its not like they are publicising the scheme...

...you'll get those who pay attention to the news (by default those more educated and interested in current affairs) looking like they are 'queue jumping' to every one else in the waiting room.

Or the only people aware of the scheme the ones already sat in A&E having just found out...

Utterly pointless bullshit.

@MintyMabel

But I think they'll be put at the end of the queue after those who have an appointment? Or that's what I understood from my reading of it. Maybe triage will advise them to ring 111 while they're waiting.

We’ve been advised to go to A&E a few times after calling OOH and once when the GP phoned ahead? makes absolutely no difference to when you’ll be seen. They don’t make an appointment for you. You’re booked in and triaged like everyone else.

It's not always true that they don't make appointments/priority for seen straight away. They did with my dc's case. Once by 111, we were seen straight away as soon as we arrived at the a&e reception, since they have informed them we were coming. Once by GP, also we went to straight to the children's unit bypassing a&e.

He's at a and e now. Will update as soon as I know what it is.

This trial scheme, which seems likely to be adopted at hospitals across England, will see big changes to what people are familiar with at A&E.

But isn’t in all hospitals across England.

And if you turn up with blood spurting out of a jugular vein, they won’t put you in a queue behind someone with a broken finger because you didn’t call 111. They will still triage.

Well obviously Minty.

He's been seen by a dr, she thinks he's damaged the soft tissue around his heel and she said his breathing is perfect so even if he has damaged his rib they wouldn't do anything so should all heal up in a few days fingers crossed