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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

111 is non functioning

104 replies

Wronglane · 04/12/2022 21:50

Spoke to them at 8:30 this morning about my sick son. Had a callback 3 hours later from a nurse who said we needed to speak to a doctor who would phone us. Heard absolutely nothing back since. 111 is no longer a functioning service is it?

OP posts:
swg1 · 05/12/2022 09:22

Stressedbeyond · 05/12/2022 01:46

I am a call handler for 111. The calls waiting today were triple what I have ever seen (post Covid)

The amount of common sense in this country seems to be zero right now. Sure, call if your young child is ill but the amount of people who call us with injuries resulting in suspected broken bones is unreal. What do you expect us to do over the phone when you need an X-ray?

Are you not still wanting people to call in for appointments to be seen in A&E if they can? As this was indeed previously the advice rather than heading straight to A&E...

swg1 · 05/12/2022 09:26

holdingoutforagptiltheendofthenight · 05/12/2022 06:54

I think 111 is useless. I’ve called them probably ten times in 5 years for 2 of my children and for me. They’ve been crap.

on a similar note though, people need to stop going to walk-ins and a and e when they don’t actually fucking need to be there. If your child has a cough/cold it’s winter that’s fine. A and e is for croup or coughs so bad they can’t breathe and need help. Don’t take your child with a sick bowl in to a walk in (yes, I’ve seen this). If they are so unwell with vomiting that they need a drip, that’s a and e. don’t take your child with conjunctivitis to a walk in - go to the pharmacy.

there appears to be 0 common sense. The govt would be better off airing a weekly show on illnesses and how to manage at home/when to go to a doctor.

...I mean grumbling appendix is going to mean a kid turns up with a sick bowl but doesn't necessarily need a drip yet. I successfully ignored a grumbling appendix for about 4 weeks in my twenties with the help of a lot of painkillers (this is stupid, do not do this, but I was convinced I was having some weird really prolonged period cramps) and it did not hit the point where it hit A&E levels of pain until just before it burst.

Stroopwaffle5000 · 05/12/2022 09:27

I had a really positive experience on Friday night. My daughter had a fall at gymnastics and hurt her knee, so I completed the form online. I got a call back 45 minutes later with advice on what to do. I hope your son is feeling better now.

Treeeeeeee · 05/12/2022 09:36

Completely disagree! Called 111 over the weekend and had an appointment at the local hospital 2 hours later

HappinesDependsOnYou · 05/12/2022 09:37

It wasn't functioning this weekend. I did an online form as their phone line directed me to due to wait times and I received my call back 30 hours later. In that time I had been to urgent care and was seen in 2 hours but people were moaning in the waiting room it took so long. Rather 2 hours then 30!

MadameMackenzie · 05/12/2022 09:41

I refuse to call them unless I need an emergency dentist, have a prescription emergency (I'm on controlled medication) or need an appointment with the OOH GP service (in our area at least, you can only access this via 111), as they just send an ambulance, regardless of symptoms! Even if you have your own transportation available

ArseInTheCoOpWindow · 05/12/2022 09:42

I was told I’d be called urgently within 2 hours.

12 hours later…..

111 is crap. It was loads better when it was staffed by nurses instead of call handlers.

MadameMackenzie · 05/12/2022 09:49

Also, I once ended up with my door being caved in by Police due to a 111 error!!!! I'd called about severe chest pain & palpitations. No call back by 1am and the pains had subsided completely and I was back to 100%. Panic over! So I called them and said don't worry! I'm fine now and I'm off to bed. The man said yep! Ok no worries at all I'll pass that on, thank you.

Next thing I know, I'm woken up by my front door being rammed by Police and a first responder & ambulance is outside, alongside a Police riot van & a police car. They'd rung my bell (which clearly had a sign on saying it was out of order!) and had no response so called police. The stupid idiot at 111 hadn't passed my message on to say I was fine! 111 panicked when they couldn't get hold of me (phone was on silent) so they called an ambulance and they'd only rung my bell and not bothered banging on my door! They presumed I'd had some kind of cardiac arrest or something.
I was bloody terrified, as was my baby. Front door was destroyed, my neighbours were furious and I got given an eviction notice by my landlord, after having been a perfect tenant for 6 years previously.

SeenAndNot · 05/12/2022 09:57

They are snowed under. We called yesterday 9am for a worrying infection, it took 2 hours to get through, eventually got appointment at 10pm. During that wait DC deteriorated rapidly- fever of 40.9, shaking violently and pinprick rash (not a strep like one). We still had 4 hours to wait so I panicked and took them to A&E. We sat in A&E for 4 hours (thankfully dc perked up a bit and wasn’t shaking) surrounded by about 30 kids with a temperature or 38 and some obviously very unwell kids. We walked out of A&E and went to OOHs and got diagnosis of very nasty infection (not strep A) and strong antibiotics.

The service needs major investment, recruitment, a bit of refinement, and for the media not to whip everyone into a frenzy. All the staff we spoke to were amazing but good grief everyone in A&E for sure deserves a pay raise.

luxxlisbon · 05/12/2022 10:08

swg1 · 05/12/2022 09:22

Are you not still wanting people to call in for appointments to be seen in A&E if they can? As this was indeed previously the advice rather than heading straight to A&E...

Show quote history

I don’t think you get seen any faster in A&E by calling 111 first though. They don’t really make you an appointment. They can send your details through but you are still obviously just triaged based on the other people waiting.

Outfor150 · 05/12/2022 10:14

luxxlisbon · 05/12/2022 10:08

I don’t think you get seen any faster in A&E by calling 111 first though. They don’t really make you an appointment. They can send your details through but you are still obviously just triaged based on the other people waiting.

Show quote history

I thought they do, though. They make you a booked appointment at Urgent Care at a hospital. Nothing to do with A&E, I think. He was seen straight away. It was very, very efficient. Just a couple of months ago. They also, on another occasion, got him a GP appointment for the same day - even though the GP surgery had said there were no appointments available -he had already tried.

RaRaRaspoutine · 05/12/2022 10:16

How would you fix it? A genuine question. I have also found it pretty useless for a sick family member who was brushed off by the doctor who called back.

Booklover3 · 05/12/2022 10:18

I filled out the 111 online form yesterday as I keep having coughing fits and struggle to breathe. It said call 999 which I refused to do as not that bad.

Called 111 and got them to do it at 1pm and they said it would be at least a 6 hour wait but the out of hours doctor would get in contact.

Out of hours doctor called at 8pm and gave me an appointment to see doctor at 10pm.

Saw doctor at 10.10pm and it’s just as well as needed steroids and an inhaler. My best peak flow was 230 which is apparently rubbish.

I’m very glad they saw me and I have no complaints. I’m sorry for everyone else having issues.

Original poster
Wronglane · 05/12/2022 10:19

Many of the 111 posts that appear are made by 'new users'.

@kittensinthekitchen I am not a new user. I have been here for years. I have changed my name as obviously I am talking to people in real life about this and would be very outing. If you want to troll hunt go elsewhere than a board with a worried parent.

in other news, no-one has phoned me back. GP has no appointments. I actually don’t know what to do.

OP posts:
Booklover3 · 05/12/2022 10:20

@Wronglane call 111 again?

MrsSkylerWhite · 05/12/2022 10:21

Just wanted to put in a shout out for Walk in centres. Ours is fantastic, always seen and dealt with appropriately within at most a couple of hours. If you have one nearby, do use it.

Cornettoninja · 05/12/2022 10:25

What are your finances like @Wronglane? Could you stretch to a private virtual GP consultation? I only really know of pushdoctor but there are others available. You’d likely have to pay for any private prescriptions too,

Outfor150 · 05/12/2022 10:26

I wonder if 111 works differently in different parts of the country -just because our experience of it has been so incredibly good.

swg1 · 05/12/2022 10:28

Outfor150 · 05/12/2022 10:26

I wonder if 111 works differently in different parts of the country -just because our experience of it has been so incredibly good.

Yes it does, our GP told me there are basically regional centres.

Badbadbunny · 05/12/2022 10:30

Stressedbeyond · 05/12/2022 01:46

I am a call handler for 111. The calls waiting today were triple what I have ever seen (post Covid)

The amount of common sense in this country seems to be zero right now. Sure, call if your young child is ill but the amount of people who call us with injuries resulting in suspected broken bones is unreal. What do you expect us to do over the phone when you need an X-ray?

So other than A&E what other options are there besides 111?

In our area, the "minor injuries unit" don't take direct or walk in appointments and the ONLY way to get an appointment is via 111 or your own GP! The GP surgery answer phone instructs you to call 111 for minor injuries!

Alvinne · 05/12/2022 10:33

Stressedbeyond · 05/12/2022 01:46

I am a call handler for 111. The calls waiting today were triple what I have ever seen (post Covid)

The amount of common sense in this country seems to be zero right now. Sure, call if your young child is ill but the amount of people who call us with injuries resulting in suspected broken bones is unreal. What do you expect us to do over the phone when you need an X-ray?

I think people probably feel like they need permission to go to hospital at the moment. Appreciate 111 must be a hugely frustrating and stressful place to work though

swg1 · 05/12/2022 10:37

luxxlisbon · 05/12/2022 10:08

I don’t think you get seen any faster in A&E by calling 111 first though. They don’t really make you an appointment. They can send your details through but you are still obviously just triaged based on the other people waiting.

Show quote history

During COVID you were asked to call 111 before going to A&E to try and keep the waiting room clear as you'd be given a time to show up. I know you don't have to for emergencies now but I'm unsure if this is still the advice for stuff like xrays - and suspect the people calling are still following it.

It may help in some hospitals. Ours has a clinical decisions unit separate to A&E and if they refer you to there rather than A&E you get given a time to show up and it's quieter and quicker. I've had to show up there several times this year (have a severe deficiency which requires blood tests and IV if it goes wonky) and I know they have a add on bit for x rays and stuff though I've never been in it. It's possible 111 can refer there.

luxxlisbon · 05/12/2022 10:37

I’ve only had good experiences with 111, much better than my local GP.

Called yesterday at 7:30 and by 9:30 I had a prescription sent to the local pharmacy. 111 answered in 15 mins max and when I told him I have dodgy signal at home he said he would ring back if we got disconnected.
Their first option was for me to go to urgent care which is our local hospital but I have just spent over 9 hours in that A&E twice in the last two weeks and they are awful so I asked the operator if there was any other option as I would have to find last minute childcare etc

Original poster
Wronglane · 05/12/2022 10:49

I will call 111 again but wait time is over 2 hours.

OP posts:
ChiefFinderOuter · 05/12/2022 10:55

Stressedbeyond · 05/12/2022 01:46

I am a call handler for 111. The calls waiting today were triple what I have ever seen (post Covid)

The amount of common sense in this country seems to be zero right now. Sure, call if your young child is ill but the amount of people who call us with injuries resulting in suspected broken bones is unreal. What do you expect us to do over the phone when you need an X-ray?

In my town the minor injuries unit, which can x ray and treat a broken bone, is only accessible via an appointment booked via 111. That’s what I expect you to do - book me an appointment. And no, I don’t think it’s efficient, but I didn’t design the process.