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?

@MattHancocksSexTape

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

No maybe it could just be "self policing" (for want of a better word), people could just report to MNHQ the way we do now if we see someone vulnerable who could benefit from it?

And maybe a stickied MN post at the top of relevant areas like Health -the way this used to happen on the MN classic site (I don't know if it's still a thing as I use the app now)

Thoroughly unreasonable. It's far better to be able to reply 'put a plaster on it' when a MNer asks if they should go to A&E with their 3 fingers in a bag of frozen peas after a small mishap with their DMs ancient meat slicer.
Please note, not a serious answer....just in case someone starts.

I agree overall, especially when you see people using the opportunity to to prove what a good protector of the NHS they are -
'what! You want to take your child who banged her head and lost conciseness to hospital?? When my DD had a freak accident and chopped her head off she simply popped it under one arm and we waited for the next GP appointment'

On the other hand I have personally benefitted from a thread here when my daughter was a baby. I found an old thread which told me what her condition was, two doctors dismissed me and that thread gave me the courage to take her to A&E. She was admitted immediately for IV antibiotics as waiting any longer would have led to to sepsis and meningitis.

@Bigfathairyones

Thoroughly unreasonable. It's far better to be able to reply 'put a plaster on it' when a MNer asks if they should go to A&E with their 3 fingers in a bag of frozen peas after a small mishap with their DMs ancient meat slicer. Please note, not a serious answer....just in case someone starts.

You're being a little harsh there. You need to establish if they have a manual or automatic car, and if it is the latter then they can drive themselves to a&e.

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.

That's a long time to wait if a woman actually has a pulmonary embolism (it's happened here) or a developing sepsis (it's happened here). You'll know how high the death rate is for undiagnosed pulmonary embolism, being a paramedic.

Both categories of poster would be capable of posting and responding for a while, but they'd both still be in need of immediate emergency care.

So I don't agree with the mantra from people who say they're HCPs that "if you can type on MN you don't need to dial 999". A lot of women, socialised to not make a fuss, actually need to be told that they bloody well should seek urgent help.

Some posters have already called GPs or 111 and are awaiting call backs (for many long hours) and are worried sick as their symptoms get worse or the pain is unbearable. They often have children to care for. They might have no-one else and desperately need support and human contact of some sort. Why would we lock their threads?

Sorry EgonSpengler2020 - what on earth was I thinking! The engine type is a crucial part of the decision making process.

Absolutely, I’ve seen some terrible advice on here.

its the frequent posts of grainy photos of pregnancy tests that wind me up.
FFS - if you can't tell from loooking at the actual thing in a decent light, WTF post a shit photo of it and expect other people to tell you?

You are right @WeBuiltCisCityOnSexistRoles.

You're being a little harsh there. You need to establish if they have a manual or automatic car, and if it is the latter then they can drive themselves to a&e.

Surely they depends on which hand they've lost the fingers from?

@vastgrandupgrade

Absolutely, I’ve seen some terrible advice on here.

My favourite was the poster who told a woman with a broken foot that she could drive herself to hospital or easily get a taxi and hop into A&E, like she herself had once done previously.

Obviously the OP didn't do that. Posting for medical support doesn't render an OP's brain inactive.

Given the wait times, if I wasn’t sure I might post while on hold to 111, or while waiting for a callback. I wouldn’t let it overrule other advice, but if nothing else I can imagine it might be reassuring if you were waiting. Plus, depending on what the issue was, people may have advice that might ease discomfort, while still saying something needs to be checked out.

My favourite was the poster who told a woman with a broken foot that she could drive herself to hospital or easily get a taxi and hop into A&E, like she herself had once done previously.

When I broke my foot, that is exactly what I did (partner dropped me off outside, but a taxi there would have been the same). I could still put weight on the heel of the foot I broke, so was able to limp into the department.

@ThinWomansBrain

its the frequent posts of grainy photos of pregnancy tests that wind me up. FFS - if you can't tell from loooking at the actual thing in a decent light, WTF post a shit photo of it and expect other people to tell you?

Don't go on the Covid board then. Plenty of LFT test photos there.

@XenoBitch

My favourite was the poster who told a woman with a broken foot that she could drive herself to hospital or easily get a taxi and hop into A&E, like she herself had once done previously.

When I broke my foot, that is exactly what I did (partner dropped me off outside, but a taxi there would have been the same). I could still put weight on the heel of the foot I broke, so was able to limp into the department.

Yes I got a taxi with a broken foot. It was at uni, a friend came with me and helped me from the taxi to the waiting room. An ambulance didn’t occur to me at all. I actually wasn’t sure it was broken and thought I’d be ok to leave it, but the friend who took me was a medical student and insisted.

My favourite was the poster who told a woman with a broken foot that she could drive herself to hospital or easily get a taxi and hop into A&E, like she herself had once done previously

You really have no idea of the state of A&E or three ambulance service at then moment. As a paramedic I spend many hours parked outside A&E (7 hours with my last patient) and as a consequence get caught up dealing with the many very ill self presenting people. They stagger or shuffle or are hauled out of their cars into wheelchairs or onto hospitals trolleys straight into resus or whatever space can be found. These are patients having strokes, heart attacks, life threatening overdoses, massive gynae haemorrhages, traumatic back injuries with neurological deficit, I could go on.

A broken foot in all likelihood could and should wait until the minor injuries unit opens up (unless there is obvious deformity rather than swelling or neurological deficit).

I don't think I've quite done the thread justice and I can't find it now, but it was a fairly long solo hop involved.

Should have read obvious deformity rather than just swelling, or neurological deficit

To be fair most of mumsnet are probably youngish and v unlikely to be suffering from a disease about to kill them in next 12h. Even if they do have a PE or sepsis.

Medical advice on mumsnet is then irrelevant as most would phone 111 or GP anyway.

Very few if any need a 999 ambulance to a and e

This week I’ve seen a poster being advised not to seem medical advice for chest pain but to have a drink, take paracetamol and do a LFT. Luckily they ignored that, sought real life medical instead and was sent to hospital.

I agree with you, OP.

I think add a MN post and then the thread to continue.They manage for posters that mention suicidal thoughts so are obviously watching to some extent (or maybe the word suicidal flags on the system.)

@CorrBlimeyGG

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.

Better than most on here I'd say.

Had to reply to a post the other month where a poster who was anxious about the size of her baby and had previous quick labours was being advised to go to the maternity unit and lie about having reduced movements.She was then advised to do this three times and that they will book you for an induction!!! Funnily enough the advisor has posted on this thread.

This is a huge intervention in an otherwise normal pregnancy which could have resulted in all sorts of further interventions.

People who are not qualified should not be advising on serious health issues.

Maybe people do need additional advice sometimes. Last week I did a online 111 application as it was the weekend I knew I needed antibiotics. Spoke to a nurse 1 hour later she said I needed antibiotics. Said a Dr would call me. Dr called 9 hours later at 4am. Prescribed antibiotics to send to a nearby pharmacy. Then said I didn’t exist on “the spine” whatever that is so she couldn’t do it. Asked if I had moved house. I’ve lived here 30 years. Then said couldn’t get any help. Advised me to contact GP after the weekend or go to a and e, what sort of 3rd world service is that it’s a simple prescription.

With the NHS in a state of near breakdown you shouldn't remove the little bit of help that is actually available to people. Just put a warning at the top of that kind of thread. Someone may be able to help you with first aid advice, etc. It's awful having a medical condition you don't understand, or your child having it, and you can't get through to NHS help.