To advise people not to be afraid to go to hospital if you need to

[Yordy]

Just really posting this here to reach a bigger audience! Because it seems like a lot of people are afraid to go to hospital presently because of "overwhelming the NHS" or the risk of Covid.

I got a sudden onset blinding headache on Saturday, so bad that I was vomiting and had to lie down in a dark room without moving for hours. For context, I'm not a person for headaches at all, so it's very unusual for me!

111 advice was rest at home, don't seek further attention unless it is unbearable. But by the next day it really wasn't better. So I went to the local hospital UTC/A&E, fully expecting to have some painkillers chucked and me and to be sent on my way with some words of reassurance (or exasperation!).

In short, they couldn't have been more attentive and lovely. I was admitted overnight for observation because of the small risk that it is a minor bleed on the brain and now waiting to have spinal fluid taken so they can ascertain what exactly is going on.

At no point did I feel like I was wasting time or unnecessarily taking up resources. It was a bit scary to know that it could potentially be something a bit serious, but I am happy to know that I am in the right place and that they are investigating thoroughly.

So the point of this is just to say... if you think something is wrong, YANBU to use the NHS, Covid or no Covid!

I'd like to be able to agree but DP presented at A&E because he was as yellow as Homer Simpson. He got sent away without any tests being performed. Turned out he had bile duct cancer.

@bloodywhitecat that’s disgraceful . So sorry to hear it.

That's awful. I'm so sorry

Last summer my husband had something in his eye and had to go to a and e - all fine.

This January, elderly neighbour fell and broke her hip. A few days in hospital and she contracted covid. There’s no need for her hip to be worked on now, because she’s dead. Having shielded so carefully it was the nhs we are all protecting that didn’t protect her.

@bloodywhitecat

I'd like to be able to agree but DP presented at A&E because he was as yellow as Homer Simpson. He got sent away without any tests being performed. Turned out he had bile duct cancer.

Is that because a&e isn't equipped for oncology testing? Or the time of day?

Why did they say to leave,

@Fridainexile

I wouldn’t be afraid . But with a sudden blinding headache and vomiting, did you do a covid test before presenting at a&e, or did they request you did one?

Nobody is going to do a covid test and wait for results before presenting as an emergency, that is ridiculous.

A&E is equipped to test for jaundice, he'd been told to go by the Liver Trust because no-one would see him. Instead he was left with dangerously high bilirubin levels and very sick.

Nobody is going to do a covid test and wait for results before presenting as an emergency

Got to say, it wasn't number one thought that came to my mind, but I didn't think for one moment that I could have had Covid. (And, as it happens, I didn't have Covid..)

I'm booked in for the dentist in a few weeks and honestly, I'm nervous. I keep thinking of all the patients in there with saliva flying around. But life goes on and my tooth hurts, so I'm going. At least I'll have had dose 1 of the vaccine by the time I go.