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?

YANBU

YABU.

YABU. Sometimes people hold off getting seen and need a firm kick up the backside.

Like when ms DC2 was ill at 3 months with RSV/bronciolitus, I’d seen a GP, got sent home, sat cradling him, my mum video called and told me to go to A&E and I’m very glad I did. He was on oxygen and feeding tube an hour later, in hospital for 3 days.

As I said on the other thread my mum started fainting. Three times that I I knew of, I suspected many more. Being of the type to never want to cause a fuss one of these episodes was casually dropped into conversation one night. I told her to immediately book in with a GP.

A few weeks later it happened again. She called me after getting herself up and sitting down for half an hour to compose herself. I called for an ambulance.
I got there at the same time as the paramedics who were telling her off for not calling immediately. The paramedic told her he needed to take the stats immediately after her collapse and not later on when she'd come round. She was ordered to dial 99 straight away if it happened again.
The final time she did call for an ambulance and they could see straight away it was a heart issue. She was taken straight in and had a pacemaker the following morning.

Had she not been stoic and not wanting to waste time they might have solved the issue weeks before, but her refusal to bother the GP or the ambulance service meant that she'd had several smaller attacks which weakened her heart. Three months later she collapsed and died with a massive heart attack. I cannot help but wonder had she sought medical help from the start if the outcome would have been different.

Do you never think posters post on here because they know how bad the NHS is at the moment & they want reassurance that they don't need to bother 999, 111, A & E or out of hours? I had to use 111 a few weeks ago, from ringing the first time to getting to speak to a doctor took 9 hours, it would have been quicker to go to out of hours or try to get an appointment at my doctor's. We are still in a pandemic, still getting told to not go to A & E or dial 999. My mum collapsed & had a seizure due to a heart problem, she was adamant that we didn't need to dial 999, we insisted & she was admitted for two nights where she had a loop recorder implanted in her chest so they could monitor her heart remotely & put on betablockers, she was told she could have had a stroke or heart attack if we hadn't have rung. Very often poster's are wanting reassurance they have done the right thing & now when visiting is restricted they can't get to speak to their relatives doctors to find out what they want to know. Mumsnet is a very diverse site, would you say the same about someone who had a legal, tax or welfare benefits question? I have a HMRC & benefits background & I have answered lots of questions, there are doctors & nurses on here who do the same.

Threads where there are ops talking about suicide or self harm are reported to MN and I think they contact them.

General threads- when it's obviously doctor quick time that is what is overwhelming response.

I was on one recently and OP was trying to get GP appt the vast vast majority of advice was forget that do this or that all good options.

I haven't seen one where obvious emergency have majority saying forget it just sit on arse.

I cannot imagine an OP with chest pains getting strong response to do nothing or wait till doc appt etc.

Women (and men but this is about MN) often have internalised to not make a fuss. Don't waste others time. Etc.

A bunch of posters saying nah just go it's the right thing can and does give them the 'permission' to act.

How to police it OP?

MN is not pre moderated. Depends on reports.

MNHQ, the night watch are really good imo. The traffic on here how would such threads be filtered? And where's the line?

And if feel don't want to make fuss, not sure, certain MH issues. Getting a ring 111 or 999 is just. Not going to help and could mean further delay.

I've also heard 111 is shit.
And 999 obv is only for desperate emergencies. I can't imagine many people in 999 situation are on here in reality.

I have been given a ton of crap (and on one I assign potentially life threatening) medical advice by medical professionals. I decide where I get my medical information, advice and options. I don't need to be patronised and "directed" anywhere.

Part of the problem is not bring sure how "serious" it is

I had covid and was struggling to breathe oxygen at 92-94% chest pain and heart racing

Phone 111 as I was worried I had a secondary infection and they called an ambulance for me (which I didn't think I needed- but I must have answered the script wrong)

Paramedics rang back and said I didn't need an ambulance, I couldn't see an out of hours gp/nurse (Saturday night) so I should ring the gp on Monday morning

Rang GP on Monday and they wouldn't see me as I had covid and I should ring 111

I've read MN and other info and I now know its "normal for covid" so whatever....but when I was struggling and I had brain fog it took MN to say ring 111 as I was so confused and poorly

@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.

I know, I was a bit shocked at a 'HCP' saying that 🤔

@TrevorFountain

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?

Either these are trolls pretending to be HCPs or HCPs who shouldn't have our lives in their hands

Plenty of people who claim to be eg HCPs, lawyers, police etc are telling porkies. In general.

I think a warning on the thread with relevant links is helpful, but don't remove women's ability to discuss their symptoms with those that will take them seriously, they don't always get the chance.

And I don't believe a single person who claims that they are a hcp and never dial 999. I dialled 111 with mild chest pain after coughing and they called me an ambulance.

There is a warning at top of health topic or whatever it's called im sure.

Agree with you OP. Im a nurse practitioner and most of the answers to medical type threads are incorrect. I dont know what prompts people to answer if they have no medical training but ive taken to calling it out when I see it. It can be dangerous and needs to stop.

I'm not an HCP but have never called 999!

I'm not sure what that 999 point is meant to be?

Although I agree, I see dangerous advice given around a range of topics.

@NiceGerbil

I'm not an HCP but have never called 999!

I'm not sure what that 999 point is meant to be?

Heart attack, stroke, and similar.

Honestly, I think any advice if someone is wondering whether to ring 999 is dangerous.
I know a paramedic socially and he says that he will go sometimes to call-outs of someone saying their child cant breathe, and he gets there and the child is running about and shouting and playing. And then he goes to a call out of someone who is feeling a bit faint and unwell and finds out when he gets there they were discharged home two days ago after having a heart bypass and cant stand up because of dizziness and breathlessness.
I always say just to diall 111. Because that person who sounds like a time-waster on MN may reveal a medical history to 111 that means they are at grave risk and need to get to hospital now.

But surely loads of HCP haven't had situations where people having heart attacks etc.

I mean in their general non work lives. Or have I misunderstood? (Probably!).

@TrevorFountain

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

If you read the OP this thread is about urgent medical advice not run of the mill aches and pains. I stand by what I say and MN should not be your first choice to obtain advice on a medical emergency.

I agree MN is not the place to ask for urgent medical advice.
Its the place to ask for things like - my DC has chickenpox spots, what can help relieve the itchy pain? Or does drinking cranberry juice reduce incidences of utis.
Too many people spout dangerous rubbish on MN.

@EgonSpengler2020

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.

Bloody hell, this is really shocking .

Someone ought to leak those instructions to a national newspaper and hold the government accountable.

I suspect some people want a bit of reassurance that they are not being a time-waster, while others need a bit of a handhold while they try and get through to more qualified options.