this is not an online hospital

[tobi21]

Everyday on here there are multiple posts asking about medical advice for children. Most of the time blatantly obvious that the child needs medical attention. Strange to me that MN is some peoples first stop when concerned about a poorly LO.

YABU - there's some validity getting the opinion of MN users
YANBU - people with concerns should speak to a healthcare professional not strangers online

I imagine some people are finding it very hard to actually speak to healthcare professionals at the moment, so I'm not surprised there are a lot of posts asking for advice just now.

Some people would turn to a friend or family member to ask advice.

Some people don’t have friends or family - that’s me and I use mumsnet in place of that.

Panic and worry make people turn for advice first sometimes as they can’t face the thought of medical help immediately, it takes a little while for it to sink in.

Some are asking for advice while getting medical attention.

And some people out right make things up.

Sometimes you just want to talk things over. Not everyone has family/ friends they can call on when they need a bit of moral support, validation or advice, it doesn't mean they haven't or won't consultant a HCP too.

I agree op
I find it absolutely terrifying the way pp post about obviously concerning issues, the overwhelming response is a&e and they come back and respond to the one suggestion of time wasting or with another issue.
Perhaps MN should include the advisory post at the top throughout such threads.

A lot or women are dismissed by healthcare professionals multiple times before they are taken seriously so posting on here can be validation that there is something wrong with them

YABU if it’s something like the best way to ease chickenpox itching, or bland food ideas for an upset stomach. But broadly yes, some of the medical advice on here is shocking, both understating and overstating.

There was a thread a few days ago about a child with a raging fever where taking them to A&E was a bit complicated (rural area, multiple children and a partner working late, I think) & it got a bit chaotic, with the poster reluctant to even call 111 at some point. I did wonder why they posted!

YABU

Most of the time the responses from others seem quite helpful in encouraging OP to get medical attention ASAP. I remember so many threads where the OP was hesitant and then later came back to thank everyone as they'd gone to A&E and it turned out to be something serious and had now been treated.

To clarify I'm not talking about someone's child having chicken pox or an upset stomach. I'm talking about obvious signs they need medical attention. A quick look on the NHS website would tell them to go to urgent care/A&E in lots of cases I've seen on here

Could be because there's a 20-hour wait in A&E at the moment, a 6-hour wait for an ambulance, 111 gets you a promised call back that doesn't happen, and the local GP just goes to answerphone (experience trying to get help last week for elderly parent).

People understandably try everything for advice while waiting.

YANBU

but many on here seem socially isolated and/or awkward so irl most people would check with their friends or family, an online version of a usual human interaction.

Standard responses for Mumsnet posts could be

1. LTB
2. Plan to LTB
3. Ring NHS 111 NOW
4. Go to A&E NOW
5. Yes they're horrid, walk away from these people
6. No it's not normal.
7. You should have used protection, contact the local STD clinic
8. Get a GP appointment (Please try 3 if this doesn't happen)
9. Tell him to leave. He's a cockwomble.
10. She's a CF

YABU Some people don't have family or friends to get advice from.

I see two sides. Yes some people have nobody else to ask (although in the real world most people do but hey).

what gets me is even after being told to seek medical opinion, they dither and ignore.

I post about medical issues sometimes. If it's clearly an emergency I'm not going to do that, but those are rare.

Dealing with any medical facility is such hard work atm that it's helpful to have "chatted" it over beforehand to help think about the right questions to ask and what kind of response should be expected/is reasonable.

I think it's also on posters to remember that ultimately there's very little advice that can be responsibly given from strangers on an Internet forum.

I often see "DD has a temp of 40° and XYZ symptoms, should i call 111" and posters will just say "oh well that wouldn't worry me at all, just wait and see" without any further information. But you haven't seen that child/person so aren't in a good position to advise; what if the child got really poorly because someone delayed taking them in?

exactly what I'm talking about

Done to death, this topic.

YABU

At least one person has been saved by posting on here and I also got medical help I didn't know I needed after posting on MN.

Many posters bang on about how over worked the doctors are so it has almost become a situation where people dare not ring the surgery so coming on here is the next thing some people think of.

YABU and judgemental. Voting is no ton?

YANBU, it's not a hospital, it's clearly the passport office.

YANBU at all. It’s ridiculous. In the time that people spend typing out their (often convoluted) medical history, and then the time it takes for complete strangers to respond, they could’ve just called 111.

There may well be considerable wait times for a return phone call but, to the best of my knowledge, that inevitable queue has never been jumped because someone on MN told them
they need to see a doctor.

If said poster is being honest about needing medical advice, they’re just delaying the inevitable by posting.

Are you quite wealthy and can afford private care whenever you ultimately might need it? Because I don't feel like you're even living in the same country as anyone like me waiting weeks in pain on NHS waiting lists at the moment.

How can you assume that reams of strangers posting to randoms on the internet is a life choice? It's obviously because they can't get to a doctor.

This hits the nail on the head; and it is easier to get an audience with the Pope than it is to see a doctor at my local surgery.

@Knittingchamp I'm neither wealthy nor in a foreign country. Very sorry to hear you're in pain, but I'm talking about people seeking medical advice for their children if you read my post. I'm obviously aware of how stretched NHS services are, but my post is about people coming to strangers online for medical advice regarding their child, when it's clear they need to see a medical professional.