To wonder when ringing the Drs for an appointment what it means when it says press 1 for emergencies?

[Mexicantortilla]

What do they class as an emergency and surely if it was an emergency you would go to A+E/call an ambulance? Has anyone ever told Drs it’s an emergency and what kind of thing was it for (genuinely not being nosey)

To me an emergency Drs appointment would be if you found a lump and suspected cancer or any other symptoms that could indicate cancer, ie blood in urine, which would need urgent referral to the hospital.

Also infections that would require antibiotics, like ear infections in children or tonsillitis.

I’m thinking chest pain, lots of blood - basically a safety net for anyone who hasn’t called an ambulance.

I would assume press 1 for emergencies would divert to 999. Ours has a recorded message saying for emergencies hang up and dial 999.

An emergency appointment and a medical emergency are not the same thing. So emergency appointments are kept by for things that need to be seen on the day, urgently, but not medical emergencies (threat to life, broken limbs, serious wounds etc) / I wish surgeries could be clearer in their terminology when it comes to emergencies.

To add to my post as well, when my child once had an ear infection and had been up all night crying with pain, when the receptionist asked if it was an emergency I said yes, as it was obvious my child needed antibiotics that day.

I used to have this problem and never said it was an emergency. Until my DH pointed out what they really mean (since it isn’t A&E or ambulance level) is, is it urgent? Do you need to be seen quickly? So a UTI causing kidney pain whilst likely not serious if treated, would be serious without quick antibiotics.

At our gp an emergency appointment is a same day appointment, so basically something that needs to be seen asap.
There's an automated message when you call that says "if your call is for something life threatening please hang up and dial 999"

Usually the options are - call 999 for emergencies
or do you need a same day appointment
or do you need an appointment sometime in the next month

So anything like a child is ill now, I think I have an ear/throat infection and I think I need antibiotics is same day.

I'm having a heart attack - call 999.

I want to talk to someone about getting a coil/I noticed this mole a couple of weeks ago what do you think? is non-urgent.

I can’t imagine doing anything other than wait for the triage to pick up (after 45 minutes) for an ear infection. If we all did that it would just be another triage.