To think this is why our A and E are failing?!

[DaisyLilyFlower]

Currently in A and E with suspected ectopic pregnancy (told to come here from 111) and current wait is around 4 hours, already been here two.

I’ve been sat by triage next to the reception desk, so not deliberately being nosy but in the last hour two patients have come in with

One with an ear infection
And another with a ingrown toenail

Cannot believe it! Reception asked them both if they’d been to see GP or rang 111, tried overnight pharmacy etc and both said no!
I do not doubt that both of those conditions are extremely painful, but I sort of can’t believe that people turn up to A and E without trying other methods first?

I’m probably just being wingy as I’m in pain and the wait is long and ABU, but I guess my question is,

What’s the worst thing you’ve seen at a and e?

Also Name change as don’t want this linked to my other posts but reg poster.

[quote JakeChambers]@bruffin I don’t expect he could have done anything to prevent the convulsions. I was explaining how minor things like ear infections ended up with A&E trips in my case. However if he’d shown even a single sign he gave a shit, I might have felt able to call the surgery instead of an ambulance. It might be nothing to you if you’re experienced with them, but at the time I was young, it was the first time it had ever happened (and still is) and I was terrified.[/quote]
I still dont get what you think he did wrong. He gave you medication, he did his job. I know how scary they are but your post made out that it was the doctor was negligent

Just caught up with the thread - sorry to see you had to have an op. Hope you feel better soon x

I think the issue, in some places, is access to GP/adequate out of hours provision. You hear, even in non covid, of people unable to get GP appointments for weeks, unable to get out of hours provision, taking an age to get through to 111 etc.

They shouldn't use A&E as a viable alternative but I think for some, they become so utterly frustrated that they go to A&E.

@ArabellaScott

YANBU. I have a relative working in A&E. People come in with slight headaches looking for paracetamol.

Much of this is problems with GP surgeries, some, like mine, are virtually impossible to get an appointment at.

The worst problem, though, is booze. Especially at the weekends.

Pharmacists are a good source of advice on simple things, they'll advice you to go to A and E if it's more serious.

@BuggerBognor

The problem is that gps are not open for long enough or at weekends

Cognitive dissonance here. We don’t have enough GP’s and yet more than half of those at our practice work 2 days a week? That’s massively fucking inefficient.

GPs and Dentists have come through Covid very nicely, working a minimum and being well paid for it. Our NHS dentist is still not doing routine check-ups but if you want you teeth veneering they're there with the financial wheel-barrow.

@DotBall

I was in A&E in a cubicle in agony with a bowel blockage waiting for morphine (ultimately resulted in emergency stoma surgery) when a woman was brought in overnight absolutely pissed and totally off her head, abusing the paramedics and hospital staff (who dealt with her with unfailing professionalism) and all I could think was for her noise to stop and to chuck her out.

Still have little sympathy with those who deliberately poison themselves.

Hospitals and Police Stations need to have a drunk-tank, chuck them in and have one person there to keep an eye on them. We pander so much to drunks etc., I recall my local newspaper praising the police on the drunk patrol for carrying flip flops for the girls who could no longer teeter when they were falling over paralytic.

My husbands ingrown toenail grew through his toe and out the other side. The gp refused anything other than telephone consults, was adamant that there was no way the NHS would treat it, and prescribed antibiotics. After 4 rounds of antibiotics, and finally being unable to walk on it (pretty essential given he's a stay at home parent with a 2 year old to look after) we took out a credit card to pay for it to be fixed privately. I can see why someone might end up in a&e with one. Not saying that should be the first port of call, but it was pretty extreme and we're now paying off a debt we could have avoided...

On the flip side 2 weeks ago immediate family member called 111 for severe chest pain, continuous coughing and fever and struggling to breathe.

Told they'd get a call back.

Nothing for 7 hours.

For worse and worse.

Called 111 back who immediately called an ambulance and blue lighted in.

Had litres of fluid on chest that needed draining and still in weeks later.

So people who genuinely need a and e can't get in because our local one you have to go through 111 and it the triage system doesn't seem to be working.

I do think people need educating on where to go for what. And that includes NHS24 knowing where to send people for what.

But ultimately some long term changes are needed to the NHS, to ensure people can access appropriate care.

To often people are fobbed of with pain killers without getting to the bottom of the issue. We all know of people whos serious illness was found far too late.

I was a little frustrated when the drunk guy with a torn ear from being in a fight at the pub was seen before me. I had a bleed in my skull, it was agony. I think a torn ear is very horrible and serious, but at the time, I was cross that him being a pisshead trumped my pain! 🤣

I’ve had a few A&E visits. Cellulitis in a big way, a dvt after an operation.

My friend was in with her son, another parent said they didn’t have any calpol so brought their child to a&e. No doubt they passed a pharmacy and probably spent more on the hospital car park than a bottle of kids paracetamol

I wasn’t just upset by the abuse of A & E facilities but also the waste of police time. They could have been out dealing with crime instead of pandering to their prisoners.

You clearly have zero idea of the implications of someone dying in custody. Do you think police officers want to spend hours in hospital guarding prisoners? Jog on.

@Bellringer not always. I had sciatica and ended up in a&e because I couldn't manage the pain on codeine, naproxen, diazepam and paracetamol. They added oral morphine to see if I could cope or needed to be admitted for pain relief
It was sciatica yes, which turned into needing emergency spinal op. The physio stopped treating me and sent me for another MRI because she was so sure something was underlying the sciatica

Also there will always be time wasters. But there's people who look fine but really aren't
I've walked into a&e looking fine and sat playing candy crush, I had a broken ankle and foot. I've also paced outside vaping because it was the only way I was coping with pain and couldn't sit down

@Lockdownbear

I do think people need educating on where to go for what. And that includes NHS24 knowing where to send people for what.

But ultimately some long term changes are needed to the NHS, to ensure people can access appropriate care.

To often people are fobbed of with pain killers without getting to the bottom of the issue. We all know of people whos serious illness was found far too late.

I know where to go in theory. That doesn't change the fact that due to systematic underfunding over ten years the services are inadequate.

But ultimately some long term changes are needed to the NHS, to ensure people can access appropriate care

Not changes but a 10 to 20 year plan to increase staff numbers.
Over 100k vacancies in the NHS, huge waste on agency staff.

MSM lets johnson get away with lying (again) when he says He has reintroduced the Bursary, when is has done nothing of the sort.

While some people will exaggerate to get seen in A&E other people will down play it especially to reception staff.

Watching one of the A&E TV shows and a man came in saying he was a bit sore after falling down the stairs. The nurse asked him if he was hurt anywhere else other than the obvious head injury and he lifted his top to reveal that the whole of his left side was a solid bruise (possible broken ribs).

All he had said initially was that he was a bit sore! We were half expecting him to pull up his trouser leg to reveal his foot hanging off he seemed so stoic.

Hope you get better soon OP. Sounds horrible.

[quote QueenPaw]@Bellringer not always. I had sciatica and ended up in a&e because I couldn't manage the pain on codeine, naproxen, diazepam and paracetamol. They added oral morphine to see if I could cope or needed to be admitted for pain relief
It was sciatica yes, which turned into needing emergency spinal op. The physio stopped treating me and sent me for another MRI because she was so sure something was underlying the sciatica[/quote]
My DH has crippling sciatica. This is the third week he's been off work in total agony. He can't sit or stand. He's not left the house for 2 weeks.

He's rung his GP and 111, who've not been helpful. He's had the exact same drugs as you! His diazepam have now run out as the repeat prescription wasn't completed in time.

He had a steroid injection in 2015 and it's lasted until now, But this time it's much worse.

I think we're going to A and E tomorrow first thing as he's worried something else is going on. He needs to be examined as this pain is out of control now.

Sending hugs and hoping you are seen xx

@BG2015 definitely a good idea
Watch out for any saddle numbness, changes to bowel or bladder
Mine (cauda equina) was very subtle, I was in bed and I had a sensation of water running down my legs but nothing there. Packed a bag, drove to a&e and said I think I have cauda equina
Because I had walked in, everyone was a bit confused, went for MRI number 3 and then suddenly they were calling my neurosurgeon (my surgery was booked for the next day!)
5hr op later and all sorted

I wouldn't judge, really. Not everyone is able to devote an hour at 8.30am to securing a GP appointment and ironically it's often people who are unwilling to declare themselves in need of a same day appointment ('I'm not an emergency') that end up being one for unlikely reasons.

Both conditions you mention in the OP can be surprisingly serious and eventually urgent as can and infection if left untreated.

any