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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

What exactly is A&E for?

216 replies

AccidentallyOnPurpose · 06/11/2021 18:27

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 ?

OP posts:
balonsz · 06/11/2021 19:53

I've been to a&e because I didn't feel right, both times admitted straight away. You don't always know you're in danger.

balonsz · 06/11/2021 19:54

I'm in London though & if you don't need to be in a&e you will sit there for hours so I don't know many people who would chose to do that.

abbs1 · 06/11/2021 19:58

@ForkedIt

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.
Same here. I did the EPU during the week but a and e on weekends when it was particularly bad. Each time I went in, I was seen straight away and put in IV Fluids and IV medication. They took one look at me and could see how sick and weak and I was and couldn't be left for hours waiting for help in the waiting area. I felt awful for going to a and e but didn't have a choice to keep me and baby alive. When you cant hold a sip of water down for more than a couple minutes there isnt really another option on weekends.
Lemoncurd · 06/11/2021 20:00

@Justanotherquestioner

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
Similar happened when one of mine was the same age, was very apologetic when calling, not sure whether to even take a GP appointment. The receptionist saw child and said she was glad we came. GP called an ambulance! I felt awful but honestly couldn't tell the difference between this and times we'd been sent away having been told it was just a virus.
Hm2020 · 06/11/2021 20:04

It’s not as straight forward as it seems I always see on mumsnet going to a&e for an ear infection when my ds was small he was neutropenic and any temperature above 38.5 needed admission for iv antibiotics was classed as a medical emergency. I’m sure I got judged lots queuing up with a reasonably well looking toddler saying he had a high fever but they wouldn’t know the history.

Heatherjayne1972 · 06/11/2021 20:13

A+e is for accidents and emergencies

However if you live in a place where there’s no walk in unit or minor injuries clinic
The gp refuses to see you because covid ( even though dentists and opticians have worked throughout)

The pharmacy can’t help and 111 just want you to see a gp
What else is there?

HotMummaSummer · 06/11/2021 20:15

I had a genuine emergency in a foreign European country. DH and I went down to reception and asked for an ambulance and was told to get a taxi as we could be fined if it wasn't deemed an emergency.
My face was swollen and airway closing, although I wasn't struggling for air. DH, who is a doctor, was very concerned. I was seen on arrival and put on a drip straight away!
This country also seemed to have 2 waiting rooms, one looked to be for alcohol related emergencies...

BoredZelda · 06/11/2021 20:19

Our minor injuries unit only operates between 9am and 9pm. It is an hour away. So, according to that post about what the NHS says A&E is for, I should have tucked my daughter up in bed and waited until 9am the next day when she fell off the sofa at 8.30pm and broke her wrist.

And when my husbands elbow became infected and every other time it has led to cellulitis, we’re supposed to wait two weeks for a GP appointment, during which time he will inevitably end up in A&E anyway then spend a week in hospital with IV antibiotics?
Any time we’ve gone to A&E, it has been because it was advised by 111 or the GP, and it has never been for any of those things on the list.

It is absolutely fine for the NHS to write a list like that, but that ignores the fact that the minor injuries and urgent care facilities they say you should go to instead, do not exist in many places.

HPandTheNeverEndingBedtime · 06/11/2021 20:21

We don't have a minor injuries unit, I think I've only ever used A&E for the 4 Bs, issues with breathing, bleeding, burns and bones. Our out of hours Dr's is also located at the hospital so have been sent there when I've rung 111 and an infection has been suspected. Fortunately we havent really used either facility.

Cantthinkofaname21 · 06/11/2021 20:21

I’ve used minor injuries/walk-in centre (we lucky our one has a x-ray machine) for a suspected broken foot and a broken wrist. Once for bad urine infection.
I’ve gone to A&E in an ambulance for a brain haemorrhage. Sent to the a&e dept from a visit from GP - blood clot on my lung and twice for pelvic pain (ended up being a cyst once and infection 2nd time)

I’ve a bit clumsy but for me to go to a&e it has to be an emergency! Blood clot on the lung the GP couldn’t believe id waited to speak to them!! It was during covid and I didn’t want to make a fuss!

My Mum was someone that I felt was over protective/worrier and we seemed to spend a lot of time at the GP/a&e when younger- I’m to far the other way! It’s very difficult to find a balance.

itsgettingwierd · 06/11/2021 20:25

@ssd

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

There have been threads before where people have asked MN and been admitted with blood clots, severe gynae issues which turned out to be sepsis and had cancer diagnosis's.

Some people have such a high threshold for thinking they're time wasters they don't attend when they should.

PinkSparklyPussyCat · 06/11/2021 20:27

@CreepySpider

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.

Depends what else you have nearby as we would go to Minor Injuries who carry out X-rays and put on a cast with a follow up, outpatients, appointment at hospital at a later date.

I made the mistake of going to minor injuries after being hit in the face. I queued for ages only to be told they can't do facial x rays (it doesn't say that on the website). I asked if I needed A&E in that case and the receptionist said 'I can't suggest anyone goes to A&E'. I gave up an DP went back to work.
User2638483 · 06/11/2021 20:30

OP you’re being a bit silly imo, I’ve seen loads of threads where the poster is advised to go to a&e.

DroopyClematis · 06/11/2021 20:32

It's really difficult to know what is life threatening or not.
Had a neighbour once , who had a whitlow, in her finger ( please google if you don't know. )
Usually you'd steep in hot salted water and put some germolene on it.

It wouldn't go away. Doctor suggested antibiotics, it wouldn't go away and it got bigger. Neighbour got fed up and went to A&E.
Two operations involving exposing the bone and cutting away of dead tissue later, at a specialist hospital, she was ok, and not before a threat of amputation!

My husband. Felt cold and felt a chill in his tummy. Checked over at GP plus an ECG. All ok.
Cold and clamminess one Saturday and he felt really odd. Decided to go to A&E ... he'd had a heart attack.

The thing is, we're not doctors. 111 generally errs on the side of caution but it's not infallible.
If either of these cases appeared on Mumsnet we'd have been told to wait and see, I'm sure.

If in doubt, check it out and don't wait for MN.

grey12 · 06/11/2021 20:36

My local walk in centres are not open 24hr. If it's urgent I'm going AandE!!!

Example: when DD1 was 2yo and suddenly screaming and crying with ear pain, not going away for a few hours. Where else was I supposed to go?! Hmm

Lagomtransplant · 06/11/2021 20:41

According to my first cousin, who's an actual A&E practitioner in Malmo, A&E wants to see you if:

  1. You're not responsive, not responsive as usual or have not been responsive at some point in the last 72 hours (so stroke, fitting, fainting, intoxication, delirium, hypothermia etc.)
  2. Can't breathe as usual
  3. Have any reason to suspect a stroke or a heart attack
  4. Have produced more than a cup of blood
  5. Can't bring the fever under 38.5°C or fit any other parameters of sepsis
  6. Have an injury/scald/burn/freeze larger than your fist
  7. Have been in an accident strong enough to break a bone
  8. Are under 2 for any concerns whatsoever
  9. Are in the pushing stages of labour
10. A medical practitioner told you to go to A&E 11. An eye injury 12. Have a non blanching rash

I always think of this before making my decisions.

SickAndTiredAgain · 06/11/2021 20:42

These threads make me realise how lucky I am to live near a great out of hours, I didn’t realise how unusual it was! It’s open every night 6pm-8am, and then 24 hours at the weekend, so basically anytime the GP isn’t open, OOH is. It must save the A&E that’s at the same hospital a lot of time compared to people who only live near a minor injuries place that closes at night.

SickAndTiredAgain · 06/11/2021 20:45

Are under 2 for any concerns whatsoever

That can’t be right, some parental common sense must be expected, surely. I can’t believe A&E want to see every small child a parent has any concern at all about.

grey12 · 06/11/2021 20:45

@Lagomtransplant

According to my first cousin, who's an actual A&E practitioner in Malmo, A&E wants to see you if:
  1. You're not responsive, not responsive as usual or have not been responsive at some point in the last 72 hours (so stroke, fitting, fainting, intoxication, delirium, hypothermia etc.)
  2. Can't breathe as usual
  3. Have any reason to suspect a stroke or a heart attack
  4. Have produced more than a cup of blood
  5. Can't bring the fever under 38.5°C or fit any other parameters of sepsis
  6. Have an injury/scald/burn/freeze larger than your fist
  7. Have been in an accident strong enough to break a bone
  8. Are under 2 for any concerns whatsoever
  9. Are in the pushing stages of labour
10. A medical practitioner told you to go to A&E 11. An eye injury 12. Have a non blanching rash

I always think of this before making my decisions.

Most of those I would call an ambulance!!! Confused

But I would still go to AandE if it is a very urgent matter that I need to see a GP. Walk in centres are not 24hr even in London

BeyondMyWits · 06/11/2021 20:45

I walked about 3/4 mile from a cafe in town to a and e once and was told there couldn't be much wrong with me.

I had a bit of shoulder and jaw pain and was actually having a heart attack, but what made me go was the unabiding feeling of dread, that I was going to die, that something was really, REALLY wrong. I felt a bit like people were humoring me, going through the steps, that nobody took me seriously until the enzyme result came back showing that yes, I had a heart attack. Then they got busy quickly.

NoDecentHandlesLeft · 06/11/2021 21:00

A+E is for accidents and emergencies. The problem is, it's hard to know what an emergency is. I may have (for example) a stomach ache that's from eating something dodgy, or it may be because I need serious attention right now. And so on and so on. Nobody can tell from an internet post, you need to see a qualified doctor.
In my area, there are no minor injuries either, OOH GP is actually in the hospital, next to the A+E but to get to them you need to book in and be triaged first, you can't phone for an appointment, which is plain daft! (I assume it's so seriously ill people aren't waiting in a long queue to see a GP).

ablutiions · 06/11/2021 21:00

I had to go a few weeks back - told to by 111 as having breathing issues and covid symptoms. I had to queue for an hour in the car park just to get to reception. All of the people in the queue in front were all standing up, not doubled in pain, no obvious injuries or bleeding (ie not looking in need of urgent care), no limbs hanging off GrinOnce I got to the front of the queue I was taken from the car park straight into majors, bypassing triage altogether.

I'm still mystified as to what all the other people had wrong that necessitated A&E, but assume it's because they couldn't get a GP appointment.

I think A&E should be for serious injuries, serious mental health crises, acute symptoms and extreme pain, strokes, heat attacks, copious bleeding, passing out etc, not for trivial stuff. But a lot of people can't get to see GPs so go to where they can see a medical person I guess ?

BoredZelda · 06/11/2021 21:01

OP you’re being a bit silly imo, I’ve seen loads of threads where the poster is advised to go to a&e.

But those threads are always also full of people saying anything less than 20 seconds from death makes you an A&E timewaster.

NoDecentHandlesLeft · 06/11/2021 21:02

@Lagomtransplant

According to my first cousin, who's an actual A&E practitioner in Malmo, A&E wants to see you if:
  1. You're not responsive, not responsive as usual or have not been responsive at some point in the last 72 hours (so stroke, fitting, fainting, intoxication, delirium, hypothermia etc.)
  2. Can't breathe as usual
  3. Have any reason to suspect a stroke or a heart attack
  4. Have produced more than a cup of blood
  5. Can't bring the fever under 38.5°C or fit any other parameters of sepsis
  6. Have an injury/scald/burn/freeze larger than your fist
  7. Have been in an accident strong enough to break a bone
  8. Are under 2 for any concerns whatsoever
  9. Are in the pushing stages of labour
10. A medical practitioner told you to go to A&E 11. An eye injury 12. Have a non blanching rash

I always think of this before making my decisions.

Would A+E really be the right place if you are in active labour?
frumpety · 06/11/2021 21:03

That can’t be right, some parental common sense must be expected, surely. I can’t believe A&E want to see every small child a parent has any concern at all about

Staff in A&E would rather be right about you being wrong than the other way around, especially when it comes to little ones.