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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To say that the NHS a and e team are fucking heroes

103 replies

Ragingoverlife · 04/12/2022 03:32

They all are. But I've particularly noticed how well they cope under pressure tonight. They are so short staffed and receiving so much shit in children's A and E. I feel so bad for them x

Nurses and sisters apologising because their doctors have been borrowed back by another department and not returning for hours..

I've been here since 9pm. 1st hospital turned me away, as I had a child and they had no docs. 1.5 hours to triage into children Been waiting for doc since. (Which is fine) they are mentally busy, and my child has reduced in temp etc. Im happy waiting But wow there is so many upset parents. Waiting hours I can see why they are so frustrated. There is also lots of Strep A panic also I think we've got another 3 hours to go yet, thankfully we have a bed and a chair. Others aren't so lucky. Thank you NHS.

OP posts:
Nat6999 · 04/12/2022 03:39

Last Saturday night my mum was taken to A & E by ambulance after having a cardiac seizure, she didn't see a doctor for over ten hours. They didn't test any patient for covid, many were coughing & spluttering, consequently both my mum & I have tested positive yesterday morning, my mum is recovering from having a pacemaker & I am ECV.

Original poster
Ragingoverlife · 04/12/2022 03:42

Nat6999 · 04/12/2022 03:39

Last Saturday night my mum was taken to A & E by ambulance after having a cardiac seizure, she didn't see a doctor for over ten hours. They didn't test any patient for covid, many were coughing & spluttering, consequently both my mum & I have tested positive yesterday morning, my mum is recovering from having a pacemaker & I am ECV.

Flowers that sounds so stressful. I hope you recover soon.

OP posts:
WhirlyTwirly · 04/12/2022 04:35

Nope. It sounds like your DC isn’t that seriously ill. Try being in the same situation when their life is actually in danger and nothing is done for 9 hours because of their inability to prioritise. Funnily enough they don’t come across as so amazing and caring then.

It was all the “thank you NHS” bollocks that stopped me going by my instincts and fighting for the immediate care that my child actually needed.

Obviously the main factor at play here is the lack of staff and resources however when combined with the arrogant, careless attitude that some staff have developed the situation becomes even more unsafe.

Original poster
Ragingoverlife · 04/12/2022 05:00

There is suitable prioritising from what I can see. My son came in due a temperature of 40.4 lethargy most of the day and calpol and nurofen not touching it. So advised to go to urgent care, who told me I couldn't be seen and to go to A and E. Temp has reduced to a safer level but still there. So therefore my child isn't in immediate danger but still needs to be seen by a doctor. Other parents are in the same boat. The ones that have been seen sooner are ones with potentially life threatening illnesses appendicitis etc.

I'm sorry you had a poor experience of not being prioritised properly. Any parent should absolutely advocate for their children and people would have the right to complain, but I've seen nothing but apologies and care this evening.

OP posts:
ItsBritneyBitch45 · 04/12/2022 05:05

My 7 month old was in A&E on Wednesday night as he wasn’t breathing for about 2 minutes. Arrived at A&E in the ambulance and it was PACKED. Usually the kids A&E is somewhat empty. Triaged quite quickly but because he was a bit more stabilised by the time we arrived, we were told it was a four hour wait. Got seen with 2ish hours however there was no space for us to wait anywhere. We had to sit inside Costa in the main hospital and then be called when they were ready for him.

I think the staff are always doing the best as they can considering the circumstances they’re presented with but sometimes that’s just not good enough. So I totally get the pp comment. My experience with my son in A&E has always been a good one (been three times because he has a genetic disorder). However I can’t ever say the same for the adult A&E

Original poster
Ragingoverlife · 04/12/2022 05:13

ItsBritneyBitch45 · 04/12/2022 05:05

My 7 month old was in A&E on Wednesday night as he wasn’t breathing for about 2 minutes. Arrived at A&E in the ambulance and it was PACKED. Usually the kids A&E is somewhat empty. Triaged quite quickly but because he was a bit more stabilised by the time we arrived, we were told it was a four hour wait. Got seen with 2ish hours however there was no space for us to wait anywhere. We had to sit inside Costa in the main hospital and then be called when they were ready for him.

I think the staff are always doing the best as they can considering the circumstances they’re presented with but sometimes that’s just not good enough. So I totally get the pp comment. My experience with my son in A&E has always been a good one (been three times because he has a genetic disorder). However I can’t ever say the same for the adult A&E

It's not good enough. Which is why strikes etc are happening and why people are fighting to have the right funding into the NHS. My post is more about the staff working in a Job that isn't good enough.

OP posts:
gbconfused · 04/12/2022 05:25

My son fell at school and hit his face on a metal scooter handle with no rubber around it. His lip had a significant cut his chin had a large wound and his teeth had moved. There was obviously a lot of blood too. This was a week day afternoon so we went too our local hospital. We waited 6 hours to see a doctor whilst I held paper towel against my 6 year olds face. There was no doctor available to see any of the children in a&e during that time. The doctor we eventually saw was not a children's doctor, knew nothing about teeth and couldn't do stitches. He rang a different hospital for advice and sent us there instead. He even asked why my son hadn't had anything to eat!! To be clear there is no food outlet at a&e , you can't leave in case you get called and ds had a significant trauma to his face. Luckily his teeth were fine but his chin is covered in scars due to the poor healing process.

FallingsHowIFeel · 04/12/2022 05:25

They all are.

Well no. Some of the staff are shit and rude even when you’re polite, just like in any other service. Saying they’re all heroes is silly.

I’m glad you are happy with the care you are getting for your child and I hope they are feeling better and are home soon.

Original poster
Ragingoverlife · 04/12/2022 05:27

Yes the A and E I'm at doesn't have any access to water - machine or fountain so people are being given out bottles for now. Managed to get some m and ms and had packed some food incase of the wait thank goodness.

OP posts:
Ozgirl75 · 04/12/2022 05:33

It seems like there needs to be more “intermediate” care in the U.K. (I’m in Aus so forgive me if I’m wrong). So the person who had a cut chin and wobbly teeth - here they would probably be sewn up in a GP centre and the teeth would be seen by a dentist.
My son fell at school and cut his head badly and the GP sewed it at the surgery which is more like an intermediate care place, they do all sorts of minor surgery things there.
My other son fell awkwardly and his finger was bruised and swollen. We took him to A and E and after waiting for 45 mins they said it would probably be quicker to go to a private x Ray place 5 mins away although we were welcome to stay and have it done for free, but there would be a long wait. $60 to be reassured it was just badly bruised. Well worth the money, he was back at school half an hour later!

Original poster
Ragingoverlife · 04/12/2022 05:33

FallingsHowIFeel · 04/12/2022 05:25

They all are.

Well no. Some of the staff are shit and rude even when you’re polite, just like in any other service. Saying they’re all heroes is silly.

I’m glad you are happy with the care you are getting for your child and I hope they are feeling better and are home soon.

I meant all departments midwifery, cancer care etc not just A and E. There's obviously shit and shocking staff in every department in every job.

OP posts:
Ozgirl75 · 04/12/2022 05:34

Having said that, when we were in the U.K., my son had a bad eye infection and was seen in the ophthalmology dept within an hour of seeing an optician and the care was amazing. No complaints at all.

Tonsiltrouble · 04/12/2022 05:36

The permanent stand off between primary and emergency medicine doesn’t help. Sort primary care and far fewer people will need ED.

Northernsouloldies · 04/12/2022 05:36

High time all this NHS heroes and angels rhetoric is dropped. The staff are people with the same characteristics as any other human whether good or bad.

FallingsHowIFeel · 04/12/2022 05:36

Ragingoverlife · 04/12/2022 05:33

I meant all departments midwifery, cancer care etc not just A and E. There's obviously shit and shocking staff in every department in every job.

Show quote history

I don’t understand. The staff make up the department. And some will always be incompetent and rude because that’s people for you.

Original poster
Ragingoverlife · 04/12/2022 05:36

Ozgirl75 · 04/12/2022 05:33

It seems like there needs to be more “intermediate” care in the U.K. (I’m in Aus so forgive me if I’m wrong). So the person who had a cut chin and wobbly teeth - here they would probably be sewn up in a GP centre and the teeth would be seen by a dentist.
My son fell at school and cut his head badly and the GP sewed it at the surgery which is more like an intermediate care place, they do all sorts of minor surgery things there.
My other son fell awkwardly and his finger was bruised and swollen. We took him to A and E and after waiting for 45 mins they said it would probably be quicker to go to a private x Ray place 5 mins away although we were welcome to stay and have it done for free, but there would be a long wait. $60 to be reassured it was just badly bruised. Well worth the money, he was back at school half an hour later!

Technically we do.

  1. We have pharmacy's, GP, out of hours/urgent care and accident and emergency.

The issue is.

You call 111. They advise you what's on the NHS website. GPs aren't available when needed, so this falls on urgent care. My local is only 12 hours opening times and don't have doctors past 6pm on a weekend. And close at 10pm so any issue then gets bypassed to A and E (even by NHS 111)

OP posts:
Ivyblu · 04/12/2022 05:37

Nat6999 · 04/12/2022 03:39

Last Saturday night my mum was taken to A & E by ambulance after having a cardiac seizure, she didn't see a doctor for over ten hours. They didn't test any patient for covid, many were coughing & spluttering, consequently both my mum & I have tested positive yesterday morning, my mum is recovering from having a pacemaker & I am ECV.

The hospitals can't keep faffing with covid. Because in the situation you are saying what would the staff do with the positive covid patients?

I have no idea of each hospital policy and how A&E manage. But usually before a patient is admitted to a ward they are covid tested.

FallingsHowIFeel · 04/12/2022 05:37

Northernsouloldies · 04/12/2022 05:36

High time all this NHS heroes and angels rhetoric is dropped. The staff are people with the same characteristics as any other human whether good or bad.

Exactly. Most staff are doing their job to a satisfactory level, a few go above and be young and show genuine care. And then some are crap and rude.

FallingsHowIFeel · 04/12/2022 05:38

beyond

Mybestyear · 04/12/2022 05:42

Nat6999 · 04/12/2022 03:39

Last Saturday night my mum was taken to A & E by ambulance after having a cardiac seizure, she didn't see a doctor for over ten hours. They didn't test any patient for covid, many were coughing & spluttering, consequently both my mum & I have tested positive yesterday morning, my mum is recovering from having a pacemaker & I am ECV.

It’s a shame that happened to you and your mum but it could have been you that took it into the hospital and infected others. Also - even if they did test, what difference would it have made? They’d Still be there coughing and spluttering! That’s the reality of a&e in the winter months.

I had it last week and had no symptoms- so I was working during that time , with elderly patients. I only found out because my work decided to do a random run of tests on people.

We are just going to have to really learn to live with covid as it ain’t going anywhere.

MissyB1 · 04/12/2022 05:48

No wonder they are leaving in droves. A lot of comments on this thread show complete and utter ignorance of what it’s like to work in the war zone that is the NHS at the moment.

Onceinnever · 04/12/2022 05:56

I don't understand this 'thank you nhs' rhetoric when what we are getting is absolute substandard care due to a lack of - everything!
Why are we grateful for this ?! Why should the staff have to work in this ?

Original poster
Ragingoverlife · 04/12/2022 06:07

Onceinnever · 04/12/2022 05:56

I don't understand this 'thank you nhs' rhetoric when what we are getting is absolute substandard care due to a lack of - everything!
Why are we grateful for this ?! Why should the staff have to work in this ?

Most people wouldn't work in it and aren't. The thank you is for putting up with all the shit thanks to government cuts and mis management. A 23 year old nurse isn't at fault for the chaos of the NHS. But helping people who are absolutely exhausted and fed up of a crap system and taking it out on the people they see in front of them is just one of the extra things many will have to deal with.

I could have started my post complaining of my 9 hour wait. Told I shouldn't be there... Probably would have been met with people telling me to move to America then and pay for private health care. Can't ever win on here. I've been awake 25 hours and I'm exhausted.

OP posts:
FallingsHowIFeel · 04/12/2022 06:21

Ragingoverlife · 04/12/2022 06:07

Most people wouldn't work in it and aren't. The thank you is for putting up with all the shit thanks to government cuts and mis management. A 23 year old nurse isn't at fault for the chaos of the NHS. But helping people who are absolutely exhausted and fed up of a crap system and taking it out on the people they see in front of them is just one of the extra things many will have to deal with.

I could have started my post complaining of my 9 hour wait. Told I shouldn't be there... Probably would have been met with people telling me to move to America then and pay for private health care. Can't ever win on here. I've been awake 25 hours and I'm exhausted.

Show quote history

Then tell the staff who have been great, that they are great. Find out who they report to and send an email praising them. Support strike action. Campaign for better conditions and pay. Don’t vote Tory.

And get off mumsnet and rest. 😉

Hope your child is feeling much better soon.

L0stword594858547 · 04/12/2022 06:24

After our 7 hour wait Thursday in A&E for my daughter to be admitted I agree A&E staff are hero’s however it’s unforgivable what the Tories are doing to the NHS.