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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Is anyone else really scared about this?

42 replies

whatsthepointinthis · 21/12/2022 14:09

I know there's been a few threads about this - sorry. Just sitting with my sleeping toddler in my arms and listening to her chesty breathing (she's full of a cold like many others are), and thinking god what what I do If she needed urgent medical help at any point? I'm just feeling so scared in case anything bad happened as it seems like it would be impossible to get it help for her if I needed it with how things are currently.

I have anxiety and I may be overthinking this. So am I?? Or are others scared about similar things too? 😞

OP posts:
TinySaltLick · 21/12/2022 14:13

If it was genuinely urgent it would be prioritised, ambulances were already beyond breaking point, a taxi would probably be quicker if you live in a city anyway, plus the liklihood of a toddler with a cold needing an ambulance is pretty low

You should use this time to write to your mp and tell them your displeasure at the lack of government negotiation, you could have done it in time it took to write that post

Original poster
whatsthepointinthis · 21/12/2022 14:15

I know she doesn't need an ambulance for a cold. Obviously. I meant my mind is going to worst case scenarios and "what ifs", and the anxiety is crippling me. I was just wondering if I'm alone in feeling that, or not.

OP posts:
Wilkolampshade · 21/12/2022 14:17

'What if' everyone stopped voting fucking Tory, or stopped with the political apathy that got us to this point....

Keyansier · 21/12/2022 14:18

Hi, I'm not a parent and don't have a child so I can't give you advice from that respect, but the likelihood of something terrible happening to your child is very low. And if (touch wood) something was to happen, we have medical services which we should be grateful for in this country that citizens of others couldn't even ever dream of accessing, that would help your child out. But again, the possibility of anything like this is already very, very low. Kindly, I think you need to try and stop worrying so much about unlikely scenarios.

KnickerlessParsons · 21/12/2022 14:19

whatsthepointinthis · 21/12/2022 14:15

I know she doesn't need an ambulance for a cold. Obviously. I meant my mind is going to worst case scenarios and "what ifs", and the anxiety is crippling me. I was just wondering if I'm alone in feeling that, or not.

You could driver he to a doctor or hospital, surely? Or get a taxi if you don't drive. Or ask a friend for a lift if you can't afford a taxi.

Wronglane · 21/12/2022 14:20

we have medical services which we should be grateful for in this country that citizens of others couldn't even ever dream of accessing

im not sure this is true in any first world countries

DomesticShortHair · 21/12/2022 14:21

TinySaltLick · 21/12/2022 14:13

If it was genuinely urgent it would be prioritised, ambulances were already beyond breaking point, a taxi would probably be quicker if you live in a city anyway, plus the liklihood of a toddler with a cold needing an ambulance is pretty low

You should use this time to write to your mp and tell them your displeasure at the lack of government negotiation, you could have done it in time it took to write that post

I’ve just used my time to write to Unison and tell them my displeasure.

TinySaltLick · 21/12/2022 14:23

whatsthepointinthis · 21/12/2022 14:15

I know she doesn't need an ambulance for a cold. Obviously. I meant my mind is going to worst case scenarios and "what ifs", and the anxiety is crippling me. I was just wondering if I'm alone in feeling that, or not.

To answer your question - no I am not worried about it, it's extremely unlikely and in the event that it happened I would deal with it at the time. There is nothing to be gained investing head space to worries which can't change anything - but I do recognise I don't suffer with anxiety so it is probably easy for me to say that.

I support the strikes and agree with their actions, hopefully they will a fair offer and settle this dispute before the general election

TinySaltLick · 21/12/2022 14:24

DomesticShortHair · 21/12/2022 14:21

I’ve just used my time to write to Unison and tell them my displeasure.

Show quote history

Unfortunately given Unison don't represent you, unlike with the op - that was a complete waste of your time

So you've looked silly both to Unison and on AIBU in the space of a few minutes

luxxlisbon · 21/12/2022 14:25

Don’t let the threads saying there is no access to healthcare get to you. As underfunded as the nhs is 9/10 times they have provide cracking emergency care.

god what what I do If she needed urgent medical help at any point? I'm just feeling so scared in case anything bad happened as it seems like it would be impossible to get it help for her if I needed it with how things are currently.
There is plenty of medical help to access. GPS need to hold back emergency on the day appointments for young children, 111 can find you an out of hours doctor or prescriber, they can even book you an appointment with your own gp if you are told they are too busy. Urgent cares exist and A&E.
I’ve recently been to A&E and a paediatric stay and as much as it is busy, if you need it the care is there.

There is really nothing to be constantly anxious about.

StephanieSuperpowers · 21/12/2022 14:25

All of my kids/kids I know of have been sick. None have needed an ambulance. It's very, very unlikely to happen. Keep petrol in the car, don't drink. If you need A&E you'll be fit to go (again, not likely) but sometimes having a plan helps.

Original poster
whatsthepointinthis · 21/12/2022 14:26

I could drive her to the hospital if needs be, yes. But my worry isn't just getting her there if I needed to, but then how long we would need to wait and if there would be enough doctors / nurses to help her. It just seems to be such a crisis that in my mind I've decided there would be no help at all if we needed it. Maybe I need to stop watching the news and take stronger anxiety meds 😢

OP posts:
Original poster
whatsthepointinthis · 21/12/2022 14:27

@luxxlisbon

Thank you, that's a little reassuring. The few times I've needed to take her to paediatric a&e at our local hospital she's been seen relatively quickly and it's not as chaotic as the main a&e . But the last time we were there was a good few months back - maybe summer time? - so I don't know how bad it might be now.

OP posts:
tonyhawks23 · 21/12/2022 14:30

Yes don't watch the news it's the same as ever,hopefully in a couple of years wel get in a proper government.

rwalker · 21/12/2022 14:31

Wilkolampshade · 21/12/2022 14:17

'What if' everyone stopped voting fucking Tory, or stopped with the political apathy that got us to this point....

funding is one of the many reasons it’s in this state
But just throwing more money at it will not fix it think we need to get past this mindset

Byfleet · 21/12/2022 14:33

OP please, please channel your anxiety into something productive. Join a Union, write to your MP, stand as a councillor and makes sure you vote…Your anxieties are in no way helpful to you or anyone else.

arcticocean · 21/12/2022 14:33

I can tell you from unfortunate experience of worst case scenario, that if your child is properly very unwell they will be seen straight away. It will be quite obvious they are seriously unwell and not in a position to wait in a waiting room/show a vague int

Keyansier · 21/12/2022 14:35

Wronglane · 21/12/2022 14:20

we have medical services which we should be grateful for in this country that citizens of others couldn't even ever dream of accessing

im not sure this is true in any first world countries

Other countries are not all first world countries, that includes third world and second world ones too, so not sure how that is relatable or even on point to what I wrote?

arcticocean · 21/12/2022 14:36

Vague interest in toys/chat to you/watch something on your phone....so they will skip over many in the queue. Try not to worry.

Checkedtowel · 21/12/2022 14:41

We saw this with Covid. Panic about how people would be prioritised and certain categories convinced they'd be given no help at all. It didn't happen, in an emergency, the NHS seems to perform miracles.

Other health issues do worry me. It seems practically impossible to get treatment for things that have quite an impact on quality of life but aren't life threatening.

Hopeyoursproutsarealreadyon · 21/12/2022 14:42

2 weeks ago my ds 18 was ill. He rang 111. They wanted to send an ambulance but there wasn't any they said. I said I could drive him there (10pm). She said I could ring the 2 closest hospitals to check wait times...
Ime said 6 hours at that time but would be longer as staff left at midnight.. The second hospital didn't answer. I sat up with ds all night and he rang GP at 8
30. No appointments yet they were given out at 8 30.. Mind blown how things are...
I asked the receptionist genuinely and without being rude how does anyone actually get an appointment.. She said they can be booked. So people start channelling your psychic powers to predict any illness and get those pre booked appointments in now...

ChuggingtonMum · 21/12/2022 14:48

Last night I said to DH "tomorrow would be a bad day to be ill" - This morning DS was really poorly.

We got the emergency GP appointment we needed and he will be fine. I know it won't necessarily work out so well for everyone but many systems are working Ok-ish today.

Lifeispassingby · 21/12/2022 14:49

Whilst I agree with pps that it’s unlikely you will need an ambulance for your toddler at present, I do think it’s important that everyone creates a plan for if an ambulance is not available in an emergency situation. Even if you can drive, could you seriously drive to a hospital with a seriously ill child? Do you even know the quickest route to your nearest hospital?
There is no harm in taking the situation seriously OP but don’t let it become overwhelming or irrational.

KnickerlessParsons · 21/12/2022 14:50

Hopeyoursproutsarealreadyon · 21/12/2022 14:42

2 weeks ago my ds 18 was ill. He rang 111. They wanted to send an ambulance but there wasn't any they said. I said I could drive him there (10pm). She said I could ring the 2 closest hospitals to check wait times...
Ime said 6 hours at that time but would be longer as staff left at midnight.. The second hospital didn't answer. I sat up with ds all night and he rang GP at 8
30. No appointments yet they were given out at 8 30.. Mind blown how things are...
I asked the receptionist genuinely and without being rude how does anyone actually get an appointment.. She said they can be booked. So people start channelling your psychic powers to predict any illness and get those pre booked appointments in now...

Why did they want to send him an ambulance? I mean, not to sound hard hearted, but he was OK the next morning wasn't he? As in still alive, not "OK" OK.
Why did 111 think it was so urgent he got seen quickly?

EmmaAgain22 · 21/12/2022 14:51

I understand OP

I don't have DC but the fear of mum - or me - breaking a bone and doing the 20 hour + wait...it's ridiculous and should not happen in a so called first world country.

i ignore the media but real experience of hospitals in the last few months is scary, yes.