AIBU to think this about MN threads asking for emergency medical advice?

[WeBuiltCisCityOnSexistRoles]

Threads asking for urgent medical advice seem to be increasing and some of the replies are irresponsible and downright dangerous...

So AIBU to think these threads asking for emergency medical advice on MN should just be locked with a single standard response MNHQ message pointing them to NHS info?

If people need to seek emergency medical advice the phone numbers are 999 and 111. And people shouldn't need to ask MN to decide which one to use, use their adult judgment and if it's wrong they'll get directed appropriately by professionals.

People need professional advice - not random people on MN who tell you whether or not you should go to A and E. You may as well pick up a Magic 8 ball - except MN will give you 800 different answers instead of 1!

Yes I know the NHS is hugely under pressure and people should use emergency care only in genuine emergencies - but that doesn't make MN the "replacement" for emergency advice - 111 is the place to call if you don't think it's 999.

And if people are posting on MN because they aren't aware of the 111 service - a "standard" reply
MNHQ could advise them - similar to the way there is a "standard" MNHQ reply where people have reported concerns over abuse or wellbeing etc and MNHQ posts with links to organisations.

And I know people panic in a crisis and don't always react as they would normally, or can't think how to react - but that's what 111 or 999 is for.

And yes I also know the "professional advice" can sometimes be a computer logarithm - but that doesn't mean random replies on MN are more reliable to rely on!

Obviously this is a bigger issue in that the NHS should be funded properly so we aren't in the fucking situation where people are so desperate to seek advice they rely on randoms on the internet!

But "I have bad chest pain should I go to A and E?" questions shouldn't be treated like a discussion where User6253 says "yes go but don't ring 999" and User2455 says "no ring an ambulance NOW" and User72636 says "no A and Es are so under pressure...get DH to come home from work and take you" and User485757 says "have a paracetamol and a rest, are you stressed at work?"

It's not fucking helpful. To anyone!

I really would prefer to see them locked with a standard MNHQ reply directing them to the NHS. AIBU?

Fuck me that was long, sorry!

Yes, YABU.

Care to elaborate? Interested to know your actual reasoning!

I must be in one fuck of a grumpy mood today as I've just thought Answers of just YABU or YANBU without an explanation should not be allowed either

We're grown adults and we can decide whether to call 111, go to A and E or post on Mumsnet. It's patronising to think we must be protected from ourselves by a censorship bot. And the advice on MN is generally 'go to A&E' anyway if it's anything that could be remotely classed as an emergency. The hive mind if very helpful at times- I've seen posters come on with potentially very serious issues wondering whether to call 111 or leave it until morning who've been convinced (at length) to head to A and E by Mumsnetters. An automated, 'Here's the NHS website' response would've been nowhere near as helpful.

@WeBuiltCisCityOnSexistRoles

I must be in one fuck of a grumpy mood today as I've just thought Answers of just YABU or YANBU without an explanation should not be allowed either

You should've enabled voting then.

Also, the wait time on 111 can be bloody ridiculous- if it's an emergency you may well seen faster if you post on Mumsnet and then follow advice to call an ambulance than if you sit there on hold for half an hour to 111. We're trained in this country to not make a fuss from childhood, so a lot of people need reassuring that calling for help is actually appropriate.

@WeBuiltCisCityOnSexistRoles
Completely agree with you OP.
Speaking as a HCP midwife previously a nurse I have seen some downright unsafe advice given out by people who are not experts.

It's like me advising on a legal matter on here as it would not be helpful and I wouldn't dream of doing so as not my area of expertise.

Saying all that if you have time to come ask random people on MN then your problem is probably not life threatening.

I agree with thirdelephant. Most posters will reply with an add-on to contact 111 anyway. I have seen very useful replies in those type of threads. The not so helpful replies tend to get pointed out anyway.

This question has been asked numerous times. I think each of these threads should be replied to with @ThirdElephant's responses and locked*.

• Sarcastic, but their responses are spot on.

@ThirdElephant annoyingly setting up voting is not available on the app! (Is that worthy of a complaining AIBU thread )

I totally agree with you that MN hive mind can be very very helpful - I've been on MN since my DC were little and so my default inner answer to tricky questions is ask Mumsnet But that's brilliant for advice such as helping with chicken pox itching to advice on mooncups - but MN is so much bigger now! There are loads and loads of people and some are (quite frankly) thick as fuck.

I don't think people necessarily need protecting from themselves and taking stupid advice etc, but I think we all sometimes need basic straightforward reminders (especially in stressful situations) that not all advice is worthy and here is some help, the way MNHQ post details of women's aid.

Maybe a flagged response from MNHQ and then let the discussion continue, perhaps? As a sort of compromise?

Saying all that if you have time to come ask random people on MN then your problem is probably not life threatening.

^^ This is why HCPs don't always know best.

And yes I also know the "professional advice" can sometimes be a computer logarithm

What on Earth does this mean?! A race to the worst advice...?? The mind boggles.

People are in a vulnerable place when they're asking for emergency medical advice for themselves or someone. I think a range of views (which is always the end result on these threads) doesn't help with decision making. A flagged up point to a "neutral" source of advice surely could only be a good thing?

@ThirdElephant

Also, the wait time on 111 can be bloody ridiculous- if it's an emergency you may well seen faster if you post on Mumsnet and then follow advice to call an ambulance than if you sit there on hold for half an hour to 111. We're trained in this country to not make a fuss from childhood, so a lot of people need reassuring that calling for help is actually appropriate.

Yes, this. A lot of women have it so ingrained into them not to make a fuss and Mumsnet is good at making people take potentially serious symptoms seriously.

Yes there are idiots with no qualifications giving terrible advice but that also would happen if the posters just discussed it with their mum or their best mate instead and at least on Mumsnet you are likely to get a whole bunch of people saying if the advice is nonsense.

Where do you draw the line? Can't ask advice that should come from a lawyer? Or a builder? People are sometimes after experiences, any fool can follow shit advice from Google or a Facebook group

Yabu to rant at adults.
Yanbu for the others.

Oh I totally agree about women being socialised not to make fuss and minimise things - hence we rarely seek advice when they should, or we seek advice but not in the relevant place as it's not "worthy" enough.

So a neutral reply giving the NHS options is surely a good idea (as also, ironically, those of us providing the advice to said people are also socialised into not making a fuss)

And sorry I can't link back up thread but the poster about "logarithms" I am referring to the scripts used for NHS 111 responses.

YANBU

So do you expect MNHQ to pre-read every thread and add this onto those relevant?

@DickMabutt73962

Where do you draw the line? Can't ask advice that should come from a lawyer? Or a builder? People are sometimes after experiences, any fool can follow shit advice from Google or a Facebook group

Quite. There’s a lot of terrible relationship advice given out on Mumsnet (as well as spot on brilliant of course), should we ban that?

Saying all that if you have time to come ask random people on MN then your problem is probably not life threatening

Oh give over

I'm not saying MN isn't great for advice! It's fucking wonderful for advice. Just not in immediately possible life or death situations.

I have had loads of fabulous advice over the years here, it has been literally invaluable. I rely on it a lot. For parenting and childcare and education and style and beauty and Litter Tray advice and lots more. And lots of medical advice over the years, breastfeeding nipples and itchy chicken pox spots and moon cup issues etc etc.

But advice in an immediately urgent medical situation is different.

I see the points about useful posts shouldn't be deleted or disallowed and that they could benefit someone in similar situations so perhaps the MNHQ post should just be posted and stickied with discussions continuing? I'm really thinking of the same thing as the MNHQ posts on relationship threads with useful links - just the same but for the NHS info.

Paramedic here. If you are well enough to spend time typing a post and reading replies on Mumsnet then don't dial 999. Either dial 111, take yourself to minor injuries unit when it opens in the morning or call your own GP at 8am Monday to Friday.

And currently in many regions of the UK even 999 is a back up option over a first/best choice of getting a family member or neighbour to take your straight to ED.

If you new what the "floor walker" advanced paramedic practitioners in the control rooms are expected to "no send" during the busiest spells, then you would be truly terrified (cardiac arrest where the nearest available vehicle is more than 20 minutes away, no point sending an emergency response patient is going to be dead anyway!!). I really fear for parents of young children who don't have their own transport this winter, it's scary times.

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