Lots of people go to A&E when they shouldn't

[Liz1tummypain]

To be clear- I couldn't think of a way or wording this so I just came up with something that might attract some opinions. It isn't something I can spout about with any authority.

But is it true? My kids are older so I haven't had to go to A&E for ages. Very little experience. On the radio I heard they are trying to re-direct potential patients to pharmacies etc . So what is your view on it?

My mum worked in A&E , a long time ago and she says she thinks people wouldn't have dared to turn up with some minor injuries that she thinks people go in with now. She thinks people just tried home remedies and only went in with broken bones, trauma, sick children. But I think maybe she was just getting a bit worked up after seeing something on TV. She also hasn't been to A&E for a long time.

Well, I do think there is an element of drama llama excitement that prevails. Everyone messaging everyone. The hospital equivalent of slowing down at a road traffic accident. The sheer weight of numbers of people who are there but who are not the parent or person with the problem must cause issues. From cars clogging up the car park, to medical staff having to deal with people floating about as if they are at a sort of social event. Am not sure it is hospital programmes. It might be a factor. But I think it is social media and the need for people to 'be involved' in some way.

It's not THAT long since the GP's where we lived at the time changed over to appointments. Remember when you could just go, & sit in the waiting room and KNOW you'd be seen? Oh happy days.. I bet A&E was much quieter in those days & used for genuine emergencies.

Facebook status update: In A&E.
Facebook friends: What’s up hun?
Facebook user: PM me hun.

Some people love a bit of drama. Sorry to say there are people who go for that aspect. I work in A&E sometimes & see them but they’re very much in the minority.

Most people are there because they can’t see their GP or have been needlessly sent by 111.

It’s the GP bookings system that’s the issue, my practice is actually ok to get an appointment with if you have time and patience to spend ringing non stop from 8-9am. Some people don’t have time, most people don’t have the patience. There’s only 2 receptionists. How else can it work? It’s not a call centre. Online would be ok but you’d get a lot of people at the GP who don’t need to be there as the receptionists do act as a triage for things like prescription enquiries and ailments that need over the counter stuff.

We can’t see our GPs so it’s the right course of action to take. A neighbour, who is a GP, recommends this as the only way you will be seen in the midst of chaos.

Our surgery always has a nurse who can see you. Our local pharmacy is a brilliant one. Offers advice, fantastic and the surgery and the pharmacy work side by side with one another.
I had an emergency last year and got to see the GP straight away.
I do think the NHS websites steer people to A and E. Out of fear of litigation. So they are a huge part of the problem.

I don’t know about “lots of people”, but it does happen. The last time I was in A&E (just over three years ago) I was with my ex, who had an infection that he’d been given antibiotics for that only had a 50% or working and didn’t so his infected wound was turning black. There was a queue out the door, and the lady in front of us told the nurse assessing people that she was there because her son had a sore elbow and the GP hadn’t picked up the phone.

Aren't these people generally Mumsnetters taking their kids in for earache. Then the kid runs round A&E for hours because they aren't really ill.

I’ve gone in with kids/babies a few times and then in hindsight as the child recovered during the waiting time, I thought that I probably didn’t need to be there.

E.g. viral rash, large bump on head, bleeding head - I went through online questionnaires or 111 said to go in and I would have felt guilty not to, like I was taking a risk on their behalf.

I wont subject you to a link as it's owned by the Mail and frankly navigating it is nigh on impossible, but here is a story from Staffordshire today:

The boss of Stoke-on-Trent's main hospital has condemned a New Year's Eve A&E patient - after they turned up 'with ear wax'. The patient appeared at the Royal Stoke University Hospital's frazzled accident unit just 24 hours after a 'critical incident' had been declared at the Hartshill complex.

It triggered calls for patients to only attend A&E with 'serious or life-threatening emergencies'. It followed 'exceptionally high levels of demand' over the Christmas period.

The incident has been revealed in a Tweet from inside Royal Stoke's A&E. It comes as Stoke-on-Trent residents are dying waiting for ambulances left stranded outside the Royal Stoke.

Accident unit sister Lesley Meaney Tweeted: "Seriously what is up with the general population? A major incident declared, ambulances queuing, and you decide to come to the emergency department on New Year’s Eve with ear wax. Yes, ear wax - no pain, no discomfort just ear wax."

Royal Stoke chief executive Tracy Bullock later responded to the Tweet.

She said: "Oh for goodness sake. I do hope they were sent immediately home. Ear wax is not an accident or an emergency. No wonder we are stuffed."

Perhaps if they could get an urgent GP appointment they wouldn't need to go to A & E.

Some of them could try giving calpol/nurofen and watching and waiting before rushing their children in.

I remember one junior doctor on a night shift having to go and see a child who had been brought in after vomiting, once.

You don’t even need a gp appointment for just earache. Earache plus fever usually indicates an ear infection so will most likely need antibiotics. Earache by itself doesn’t need any kind of appointment and usually goes away by itself.

I think access to 24 hr news, Google “advice” and Social media hasn’t helped. Health anxiety has sky rocketed in recent years due to this. Add Covid to the mix and we live in a world full of people who think they are dying if they sneeze.

Actually most ear infections (earache and fever) don’t need antibiotics. They get better on their own in around 3 days. So no GP appointment needed either, wouldn’t help if pharmacist could prescribe, but parents aren’t confident with caring for kids with fever / pain often and want them seen. Usually urgently.

Are you a GP?

If I had a young child who had a fever and was screaming with earache I'd want them seen, yes.

Yes I think people do go to A&E unnecessarily and I also think people use GP appointments unnecessarily.

@Anisina yes I’m a GP. Helpful patient info leaflet here .patient.info/ears-nose-throat-mouth/earache-ear-pain/ear-infection-otitis-media First line treatment is painkillers for an ear infection in children. Some kids will need seeing but most don’t and could be looked after at home.

well, you dont know the full story, do you., as with my friend who went to A and E with dandruff.

I have a friend with LCMD. Her sister died because she wasn't taken to hospital fast enough after she vomitted once. My friend, as an adult, still gets admitted if she vomits.

Unless the eardrum perforates of course. Which has happened to my child. But perhaps just giving them calpol would have prevented that. Who knew?

@Anisina calpol won’t prevent a perforated eardrum. But neither will
antibiotics according to the evidence, and a perforated eardrum is still only an indication to consider antibiotics though these kids are more likely to benefit from antibiotics. Nice guidelines here www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng91/resources/visual-summary-pdf-4787282702

This is also a super helpful resource from Alder Hey childrens hospital for anyone reading this wondering when their kids need to see GP / A+E alderhey.nhs.uk/symptom-checker?q=%2Fsymptom-checker&fbclid=IwAR38FhCOpLWN2fZJ5vfRp932qkrKFaM6-rjOqAjIVuxjDT5vbAxmomv7vUI

Are you specifically referring to children?

Can't believe that children's symptom checker suggests you should contact your GP if you suspect your child has a broken bone. First of all you would need to make sure you broke it at 8.30 am so you could get appointment. Then they have no x-ray facilities at GP surgeries anyway so couldn't confirm either way. Last time my daughter broke a bone the triaging nurse couldn't tell for certain until it was x-rayed. Nearest minor injuries clinic to me is a 45 minute drive (and closes at 6).

@Forever42 what it actually says is that a suspected broken bone is an amber symptom meaning you don’t need 999 but should seek same day medical advice eg 111 / walk in centre / phone GP. Now depending on local facilities you might be advised to go to A+E but it isn’t a 999 emergency call.