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.

Whilst people can't get treatment elsewhere, that's where they'll go. It's frightening when you can't get help.

I don't think sussing out the wait time and deciding at least partially based on that automatically = time waster.

I would definitely do this for some things, if my gallbladder is kicking off and I am in agony, can't control the pain with meds I have at home, probably need IV meds, would benefit from checking something hasn't got stuck or ruptured, then in theory, A&E is what I should do... (particularly as a cardiac patient).

However a 12 hour wait sat in a chair I can't recline due to lack of room in the waiting room... in absolute agony and vomiting profusely.. knowing there is a strong chance no ones going to spot me deteriorating and dying out there (not the way our A&E waiting room is set up anyway!)...

Vs staying at home and doing the same in warmth and comfort.

Yeah I know what I'd pick.

Theres a lot of people with chronic health issues and disabilities who feel the same, we'd like help, but we're not really prepared to spend many hours waiting in extreme pain or discomfort, for help that in the end, may well not come at all.

Is it sensible and logical, maybe not, but if you've never been in that much pain and then faced with the thought of unknown hours worth of MORE pain, with only a 'maybe' at the end of it, not a guaranteed resolution... you may choose differently too.

There have always been time wasters but people now genuinely can't be seen /can't get a helpful service via GPs so yes they end up in A and E. I feel services (not just health) have become about crises management only. Sad for everyone.

Our out of hours is at A&E there's no walk in or minor injuries or anything like. So suspected broken bones is A&E for an x-ray dressing changes for minor injuries is also A&E. I don't go up for fun if that's what you think. My son has a lot of drop siezures and injuries as a result. I keep all sorts of dressings at home including butterfly/story strip's. But sometimes it's not enough and have to go to A&E for stitches. We sometimes have to go 1 or two times a week. As well as being taken by ambulance for unconlled siezures. They are uncotrolled because his meds aren't being managed by neuro consultant. The only way he can see a neuro is to be admitted to hospital. It's the same for a lot of people with underlying health issues. Covid has also seen a rise in health conditions. My friends granddaughter now has to be tube fed for the rest of her life. It's a miracle she's still alive. Even after she got over covid she keeps coming down with pneumonia.

I had to go to A&E recently for my daughters mental health because the GP just wasn't doing anything to help. Left her over a month to suffer really badly with no sleep so it's not really surprising people are getting desperate and using it as a last resort. GPs need to do their job.

@Wetblanket78 I'm so sorry, that's very hard on you both. You are right about covid though- I developed some crappy health problems immediately after covid and vaccine as unbeknown to me I was obviously brewing covid when I had my 4th vaccine. There seem to be simply more people with unstable health and issues post covid- particularly in the 40 to 65 age range . I'm not sure if it's the virus, the vaccines, more WFH and a bit more sedentary for some , too much weight put on in lock down ??