What exactly is A&E for?

[AccidentallyOnPurpose]

Inspired by a current thread , but this has been bugging me for a while.

No matter how serious the situation or symptoms, there are always plenty of people telling OP she's a time waster, she's fine,her kid is fine etc. To stop being so silly and just wait for the GP or ask a pharmacist. If they're feeling particularly generous maybe ring 111 but God forbid they take it seriously and send an ambulance. Then you're the reason an old person is lying on the floor for hours waiting for help and a father of 4 died of a heart attack.

Fainting, bleeding, high fevers, sudden or continuous increased pain etc none of them are good enough. I'm surprised no one suggested to put a wet paper towel on it. It works in schools.

So what exactly is the A&E department for ?

I think if you need to go to A&E you don't ask mumsnet.

This is what the NHS says on its website. Pretty clear, really. Accidents and emergencies.

I think if you need to go to A&E you don't ask mumsnet.

Can you elaborate? Some people genuinely don't know where to go.

An A&E department (also known as emergency department or casualty) deals with genuine life-threatening emergencies, such as: loss of consciousness. acute confused state and fits that are not stopping. chest pain. breathing difficulties.

NHS website

I called the gp at 8am once and firmly requested to be seen immediately. As in....the very first appointment of the day. They understood I was being serious.
GP saw him. Called an ambulance for him there and then. We were taken into resus.
I totally and completely misjudged it and still feel awful. He was only 2 then and is now nearly 5

I’ve always thought when it’s life threatening/unexplained

but acknowledging that many services (out of hours, walk in centres etc) are patchy in provision and many people don't really have a choice.

However the 45 year old man with an ingrowing toenail who came at 3 am because he was off work and thought it would be quiet...I was not happy to see.

If it's something or you aren't sure if it's something that could kill you but isn't a pre existing condition.

@cowburp

If it's something or you aren't sure if it's something that could kill you but isn't a pre existing condition.

Shortly. Not like you think you have something that will kill you in a year

Accidents and emergencies

but the reality is most people don't know what an emergency is because there is no definitive answer

ive had to call a fair few ambulances one for my nan who had a fall she was taken in my son had a fit he was checked over but not taken in and a friend of mine who fell and couldn't get up (recently had hip surgery) she didn't need to go in every time we have had an ambulance within an hour and first class help and support but I was surprised that people had a fit at me because I called for help getting my friend off the floor she is three times my weight and potentially dislocated her hip who else was I supposed to call? similar with my son and the fit 111 sent an ambulance I was criticised because I didn't call the flying doctor out do people not know you cant just call the flying doctor out?

No one really knows who to call and what to do these days 😕

If you go by Mumsnet it's for Accidents, Emergencies, out of hours, can't get an appointment with the GP, have seen the GP and been referred but want a quick 'in'

Realistically though, it is supposed to be for life threatening cases.

The problem, as ever, is funding across all levels of the NHS.

Broken bones and dislocations.

Lost count of how many times I dialled 999 when my DD was alive and she was admitted to resus in A&E each time. She had her first seizure just before her 2nd birthday and lived until she was 22. Sadly medication failed to control her epileptic seizures. But then we never had to queue up and wait as it was an emergency.

Minor injuries can do straightforwards breaks, cuts and infections. A and E for potentially life threatening conditions, acute medical care, serious accidents, complicated fractures, head injuries etc

I had HG in my pregnancies and had to be admitted for rehydration multiple times. I would either be admitted onto a ward for a night or two, or would just have fluids in ambulatory care then go home.
As I suffered mainly in the first half of my pregnancies, maternity weren’t interested in me. I was sent by my midwife to A&E the first couple of times but soon learnt when it was bad enough for hospital or when I could try and rehydrate at home.
It’s a very specific example, but it’s not on the list shared above and I was always triaged very quickly (much to the chagrin of others in the waiting area) so I think I was pretty justified in presenting to A&E.

@Hairbrush123

I’ve always thought when it’s life threatening/unexplained

So where you you go with a broken arm or a dislocation? They are often not unexplained and certainly not usually life threatening but I would sure go to A&E with either of those.

@foolonthehill

An A&E department (also known as emergency department or casualty) deals with genuine life-threatening emergencies, such as: loss of consciousness. acute confused state and fits that are not stopping. chest pain. breathing difficulties.

NHS website

I've recently seen a thread where OP had suffered one of those and debating A&E and still being told that it would be inappropriate ,a waste of time, hogging services and just ring the GP instead.

I don't think it has to be life threatening. I'm off sick at the moment with a fractured shoulder after falling off my bike. Of course i went to A&E, which stands for Accident and Emergency. What had happened came into both categories, even though I wasn't going to die.

Here it’s the usual serious life threatening issues but also broken bones things that need stitching etc as we literally have no walk in clinics it’s either go out of hours or accident and emergency and as the gps won’t stitch or deal with broken bones
I have called a ambulance many times for two of my DC one is type 1 diabetic and has had many seizures for hypos needing a glucose drip and the other DC had brittle asthma
You do get the idiots abusing it but on the whole it’s people who need to be there as the other services have been closed down

I've only ever gone to A&E following being sent by 111. Out can be hard to know when to go as we're encouraged not to waste NHS time and money.

@Eltonsglasses

If you go by Mumsnet it's for Accidents, Emergencies, out of hours, can't get an appointment with the GP, have seen the GP and been referred but want a quick 'in'

Realistically though, it is supposed to be for life threatening cases.

The problem, as ever, is funding across all levels of the NHS.

It was the GP that suggested A&E for me for a "quick in". I was a "good ,brave girl" and asked for the referral instead . That was in may. I'm still on the WAITING LIST to get an appointment. Meanwhile I hobble along, take painkillers , pray to God I don't do more damage and check my savings and what's available to go private if I still don't hear anything.

@bigbluebus

Lost count of how many times I dialled 999 when my DD was alive and she was admitted to resus in A&E each time. She had her first seizure just before her 2nd birthday and lived until she was 22. Sadly medication failed to control her epileptic seizures. But then we never had to queue up and wait as it was an emergency.

So sorry bigbluebus

@bigbluebus

Lost count of how many times I dialled 999 when my DD was alive and she was admitted to resus in A&E each time. She had her first seizure just before her 2nd birthday and lived until she was 22. Sadly medication failed to control her epileptic seizures. But then we never had to queue up and wait as it was an emergency.

So sorry for your loss.

In my area there is no minor injuries units so anything needing xrays for suspected breaks or stitches go via a and e to.

Things I’ve been to A&E for

-DD2, multiple times for stitches, head wounds. She is fearless and clumsy, fantastic combination.

-I woke up, confused, agitated, talking nonsense and with a raging fever. ExDP called 111, who sent an ambulance when he mentioned I’d started a new medication a few days prior. I was in resus for a while as my BP was high, HR all over the place. Serotonin Syndrome. Spent a few nights in hospital with that.

-Swine Flu. 3 days in ICU. I was 22 with no pre existing conditions.