Quick question for A&E/Hospital staff/paramedics !!!!

[Quickquestionmate]

Do you ever get annoyed at patients for coming in with the same things?

I take part in a dangerous sport (eventing) and have been sent to hospital in an ambulance several times especially for cross country accidents. The staff have always been lovely to me but I was just curious if it gets frustrating seeing patients continually come in with injuries from dangerous sports?

5 a&e trips last year (either from being kicked by my horse or thrown off). It’s not because I’m a hopeless rider- cross country is extremely dangerous and I was also rebacking an ex racer which was challenging to say the least, hence the higher than usual number of injuries! Like I said, all the staff were lovely, but I was just curious from the POV of those staff about if it gets frustrating to see someone do a dangerous sport and continually end up hurt and do they see them as timewasters having to go to hospital so often? Eg other potentially dangerous behaviours like trampolining or drinking excessively, do staff feel annoyed or frustrated at patients for that?

just being nosey here on the POV of people dealing with this.😀

Anyone would judge in this situation.

as an ex policeman’s wife, o hated him being stuck for hours after his shift because some repeat drinker was in A&E and he had to sit with them. They’d still be expected on shift at the same time next day and have to drive home exhausted. poor sods. .

Sorry, that was a reply to @XenoBitch

We took ds once with a broken nose as a result of a rugby injury. The Dr was professional but gave us a huge lecture about the dangers of rugby, that his dc weren't allowed to play it due to the risk of serious injury, and made us feel like the most irresponsible parents in the world. There was quite a lot of judging going on and I don't think it was appropriate. Sometimes I think doctors and nurses pick the people they think will be polite and professional to vent their frustrations rather than to vent at the sort of people likely to give them a mouthful back.

Wow, I think maybe working in mental health isn’t for you 🤔.

But it wasn’t like this pre covid. Now a&e is full of parents who want their children ‘treated’ because life is busy and they haven’t got time for them to be ill. It’s busy all the time, there is no quiet time anymore, and we haven’t got the staff to support it. Of course we see every child and don’t want to miss the sick ones, but it’s relentless and staff are burning out. And no, we don’t get given more nurses or doctors to help manage.

Google compassion fatigue, and then think carefully about what you wish for. Because if @Stompythedinosaur leaves mental health she will be just one of many to do so who will not be easily, if ever, replaced.

I just wanted to clarify, I don’t usually end up with so many a&e visits and have ridden for 20 years with barely any injuries, but for some unknown reason I’ve just been incredibly unlucky over the last year! I was badly kicked in a stable after a horse spooked, and another time I was dragged after a fall after my stirrups failed to release. I also wasn’t told that the horse I was schooling was dangerous and had nearly killed all its previous riders, unfortunately I had to learn this myself after a particularly bad fall where I knocked myself out completely.

I promise I’m not just a bad rider! Just been incredibly unlucky over the last year or so.

I also always wear the appropriate safety equipment and take all necessary precautions. I never ride without a hat or airvest/body protector if I’m doing XC.

like I said, the paramedics and hospital team are always lovely and have never once showed any annoyance towards me, but they’re only human so I was just curious if they ever felt annoyed at injuries from dangerous sports like eventing, rugby, and so on.

I definitely don’t just go to hospital for peace of mind to get checked out and if it were up to me I wouldn’t have gone at all but the first aider and medic insisted each time and when I had to use an ambulance I was completely out of it when it was called, although I was extremely upset when I came to and found out as I didn’t want to go to hospital never mind in an ambulance! I kept apologising to the paramedics for wasting her time and insisting they could leave me, meanwhile they were peeling me off the ground and trying to work out what and how many bones were broken.

Sure, weve definitely got enough staff to get rid of people for sometimes feeling irritated.

@Stompythedinosaur is getting a hard time here, unfairly. I'm sure people just like to play the victim. She said she is irritated by people who self-inflict in ways such as drink or drugs. I don't know why so many people are offended by that. I get pissed off with people who can't handle their drink either, or indulge in drugs, and take away valuable support from people with genuine MH needs who need that nurse. Stompy didn't say anybody with MH needs irritate her, only those who take the piss, presumably without MH problems who get directed to her when pissed up and acting the fool because there's a pathway that has to be followed.

So many people just love to be offended and dramatic - "Oh, I won't get any help in the future then if this is the attitude" 🙄

I also think Stompythedinosaur is being given a bad time. They have been around for a long time and have given good advice over the years. We don't necessarily agree but I think someone's honesty about what they feel rather than what they show should be respected.

Thank you @TokenGinger, you have expressed what I meant more clearly. I am not irritated by substance misuse as part of a mh problem, I am sometimes irritated by spending time assessing people without mh problems who are just off their face on drugs. Particularly when it isn't the first time when it has happened, we are short staffed, and it means that other patients receive less care.

I appreciate this means I fall short of some people's expectations of healthcare staff never having a negative thought, and being perfectly angelic and self-sacraficing. I guess I will have to live with that.

@Stompythedinosaur you've had a hard time on this thread. Apparently the public expect us to have to mo opinion at all

Most health professionals feel irritated by patients at times. I can guarantee once a shift I will think 'ffs'. We aren't robots or superhuman. As long as we internalise these feelings and act caring and compassionate (most of the time, sometimes tough love is needed) then what does it even matter? Its like the general public want something else to hang us for.

@Steelesauce totally agree. If only we could have saved those claps eh?

It doesn’t matter, I was only asking because I was curious, that’s all. I’ve said a few times that the staff were so patient and helpful and didn’t show any annoyance but that I fully understood they were only human and I would have understood if they were annoyed. I was just curious from their POV that’s all. Absolutely not meant as ‘something else to hang us for’ and I’m sorry if you felt it was that

I also think @Stompythedinosaur has had a bit of a hard time on this thread. Unfortunately, even though substance misuse/not taking treatment may well be considered signs of a mental health problem, to suggest that the person is then automatically unable to make their own decisions (albeit unwise) is incorrect. Having a mental health problem does not automatically mean you lose capacity to make decisions. You can choose to make unwise choices regarding your mental health, just as much as people do their physical health.

Sounds like a rough patch 😣. I went through the same and after a particularly bad fall (from a delightful Welsh Cob who bronced like a rodeo bull!) that left me with a bad shoulder and a lovely concussion I decided to call it quits. Miss it loads but I got really sick of being hurt! 😕

But sure, risk serious injury or neurological damage as long as its a sport.

It's obvious from some of the posts on this thread that many in the UK don't play sport or have anything much to do with sport. I would far rather see people playing sport, even with its injuries, than living a sedentary lifestyle - which is likely to bring other health related issues in due course. Where I come from sport is a way of life.

Incidentally, you risk serious injury or neurological damage every time you go onto the road, either in a car, on a bike, or even just walking.

No I don’t want to pay for your repeated accidents so I suggest you give up and stay home.

Ok….not really what I asked though was it? Perhaps try reading the post before commenting, it might help.

I can sympathise with this: for years I was "the girl that doesn't fall off", until I went through a rough patch with a particular pony that has serious trust issues and a seriously quick drop-shoulder-and-spin...I had a few A&E visits in quick succession at the time, with none before or since (I seem to be back to "doesn't fall off": knock on wood). The pony had an unexpectedly successful career, and now has a lovely retirement. How does one measure a pony's life versus a few X-rays, or indeed other consequences? Not sure there's a NICE formula to cover all the subtleties...the pony seems happy, and has given many people joy in various ways...

No. You should engage with services, cut contact with with poor influences, and work hard to improve your life. You shouldn't use someone's judgement as an excuse to disengage. You already know people judge you. Yup its hard. Yup you still need to do it.

I don't think so. I had spinal surgery (not horse related!) and afterwards I asked when I could ride again
After an eye roll and pointing out I was still in recovery the surgeon told me (in as many words) I could ride again because I might get hit by a bus tomorrow, and if I fucked up my back he would fix it and to go away and do what I loved. He actually has a photo of me in his office of me riding 10 weeks post op

My dad had a complete tantrum over me riding after, I asked how many injuries I had where I didn't know what caused them (2 broken ankles, 2 broken feet, cellulitis from a shaving cut and a herniated disc) and how many riding accidents I had that needed a&e (1 broken foot)
He shut up then

Ita very much nir a choice.thats the whole point in mental health and what so many are trying to help people learn.if it was a choice they sure as hell wouldn't do it.its so complex and nuanced but it's never a choice they feel they have between harming themselves or not.wht would they want to cause other grief it's he'll to feel they are taking people's time.
Like a physical illness or ailment that grows,hurts,happens a mental health insurance is just the same with no choices involved.

I'm well aware that any sport risks injury and that's balanced against the physical and mental benefits of being active. However I don't think thousands of people are in A&E five times a year due to everyday sporting activities.

I personally haven't been to A&E for myself since I was a toddler so five times in a year seems crazy to me. My adrenaline junky, extreme sport-loving brother who has had concussion many times hasn't been to A&E for years, let alone five times in a year. The OP has from the sound of it just had a bad year but that many injuries that she finds serious enough for urgent medical attention in one year is alarming.