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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

AIBU about 111?

17 replies

jadedinsomniac · 08/01/2023 15:04

I'm asthmatic. Have been for 18 years and I get a chest infection every year without fail. I've had a cold for a few days and this morning I had the tell tale signs. Coughing up green, wheezing which wasn't alleviated by my blue inhaler. And just generally feeling crap.
I decided to ring 111 rather than wait for my gp to open tomorrow because I've delayed before and ended up having an asthma attack which I'm keen to avoid for obvious reasons
I did the online 111 website which said a nurse would call me in half an hour to an hour. I didn't expect it because we all know the pressure there under but 40 minutes later my phone rang.
A very sharp voice asked me if I could verify my identity and if I'd contacted 111. I said I had and she replied that is no showed to my appointment a nurse has made for me at the out of hours and that it was unacceptable. I explained that this was the first contact I'd had from the 111 service. She sighed and put me on hold. Turns out there was a miscommunication and the nurse booked me in but didn't tell me. Fair enough accidents happen. So I asked if I could rearrange the appointment as I still needed it to be told no I would have to re call and re book as i had essentially no shown to my appointment.

I insisted on speaking to someone else. I wasn't rude or shouting, just insisted.

Another loud sigh from the i assume nurse

Another doctor came to the phone and assessed me over the phone and prescribed what I needed and sent to the local pharmacy. I got a stern this is a one off and won't happen again almost telling off.

I mean I get they are busy but i almost feel like I've been told off for something not my fault.
I had no issue being seen or even waiting for the initial call.
AIBU here?

OP posts:
AlwaysCountYourPennies · 08/01/2023 15:06

That's bonkers!!!

I'm glad you got what you needed but in your position, I would be furious.

jadedinsomniac · 08/01/2023 15:10

@AlwaysCountYourPennies it was bizarre! I actually triple checked my call log to check I hadn't missed any calls but I didn't. When I sent the 111 assessment form off I said to my husband I wasn't expecting the nurse within an hour to call as I know it's busy and I'm probably not a priority so when the phone rang I was really pleased to be sorted so quick.

OP posts:
Annoyingwurringnoise · 08/01/2023 15:13

111 is completely unfit for both staff and patients, just like the rest of the NHS, or what remains of it. The thought of needing any kind of medical attention terrifies me.

jadedinsomniac · 08/01/2023 15:15

@Annoyingwurringnoise I put a thread up before Christmas about the drama of my daughter having scarlet fever
It does scare me the state it is in. It's ridiculous

OP posts:
HelpMeGetThrough · 08/01/2023 15:21

In situations like this, I adopt the "fuck em" attitude, they fucked up, not you.

Just because it's the NHS, it doesn't give them a free pass to endlessly get cut some slack.

TheHauntedPencilCase · 08/01/2023 15:28

They're chaotic. Shocked that in 40 mins of phoning rhey had expexted you to turn up to an appt! A couple of months ago I had to call for an ooo appt and despite giving them 2 phone numbers because I knew it may end up with one or other of us being at work by the time they called back they just phoned me and so I missed the call as I was at work. They did call back 12 hours later when I was again at work so it was nearly 48 hrs later than I managed to speak to someone and get him booked in. Really frustrating as DH was down as the main number to call and was on alert. Ended up by the time we spoke our GP was open so I went there.

jadedinsomniac · 08/01/2023 15:30

@TheHauntedPencilCase exactly. The appointment was booked for half an hour after my initial communication which yeah is absolutely brilliant but I'm also not psychic so maybe communicating with me would have helped

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Ninjapot · 08/01/2023 15:32

That's crazy! Having said that, they took 11 hours to ring me back a few weeks ago, so 40 minutes was pretty good going. I told the doctor who rang that I was in an A+E ward possibly going to be admitted and he sighed in an exasperated way. Usually I'd have rung 111 to say that I didn't need the call back, but I'd left my phone at home, being a bit distracted by paramedics, ambulance etc...

QueueEtwo · 08/01/2023 15:49

I'm pretty much the same as you OP, asthmatic but really well controlled but 9 times out of 10 if I get a cold I end up needing antibiotics or steroids or both.

I don't actually understand why we aren't allowed to have a course of antibiotics & steroids in the cupboard.

I certainly know when it's gone passed a normal cough - people should be trusted to know their own bodies & have a supply of drugs to take of & when they need it.

That would take so much pressure off 111 & GP's!

jadedinsomniac · 08/01/2023 15:52

@QueueEtwo I'm the same. 11 and a half months of the year I have no drama with my asthma. Barely go thru one blue inhaler in 6 months. But when I get a cold at winter times I get a chest infection. It's even worse now my daughter is at nursery cos she's always bringing home bugs and germs
I wasn't being rude at all, I knew last night I was feeling chesty and when I woke up I was wheezing and last year I couldn't get thru to 111 and ended up in an ambulance in the early hours with a massive asthma attack which I definitely don't want this year
I had no issue being seen at all. I just wish I'd had the notice
Accidents happen and that's fine but I didn't do anything wrong
I'm putting it down to a bad day for the nurse and doctor and am cuddled up with my antibiotics and steroids and paracetamol

OP posts:
RP2211 · 08/01/2023 16:03

111 and 999 are the same service now so that member of staff could have been dealing with a 999 suicide call before taking your call. I'm not dismissing your situation at all but they are extremely understaffed and targets are still high. No other fault but the government's for this mess.

AlwaysWorriedAboutEverything · 08/01/2023 16:10

I would complain actually. If I ran the service I would want to know if my staff were huffing and puffing at patients because of their own cockup. I actually really like the 111 service but hate it when people are unnecessarily rude.

Theunamedcat · 08/01/2023 16:20

Honestly this us the sane service that sent an ambulance for tonsillitis then another time they tried to demand that I shlep the kids 45 minutes away to a busy a&e because ds2 had a heavy cough his releaver had run out and we needed another one so basically a prescription request (which they are supposed to do) after threatening me with social services and a police welfare check she put a doctor on the line who....gave me a prescription and said if it doesn't work pop in and see us we are rammed though

It was mental.....you need to bring him in we can put this on record as failing to treat a child medically you know social services take that sort of thing seriously! my reply was I will if I need to but is it really necessary? We can also contact the police to do a welfare check if I deem it needed, that's nice but they are really busy so by the time they get here it will be Monday and my Dr's will be open look can I speak to someone else

Fucking dramatic 🙄

RafaistheKingofClay · 08/01/2023 16:25

QueueEtwo · 08/01/2023 15:49

I'm pretty much the same as you OP, asthmatic but really well controlled but 9 times out of 10 if I get a cold I end up needing antibiotics or steroids or both.

I don't actually understand why we aren't allowed to have a course of antibiotics & steroids in the cupboard.

I certainly know when it's gone passed a normal cough - people should be trusted to know their own bodies & have a supply of drugs to take of & when they need it.

That would take so much pressure off 111 & GP's!

Ask your GP or asthma nurse. I have a set to keep at home.

OhWhatFuckeryIsThisNow · 08/01/2023 16:45

Similar, since Covid my totally under control asthma is much worse. Christmas week after having had the lurge the week before, I could feel the tell tale signs. Couldn’t get into doctors (no appointment and if it was that bad go to a&e 14 miles away) it wasn’t too bad until Christmas Eve, called 111 at 9.30 am they called back at 22.30. I was told to expect a call in two hours from a nurse. Never happened. Just got through by absolutely hammering my blue inhaler. My doctors refuse to give emergency abs and steroids.

girlmom21 · 08/01/2023 16:46

If you know what treatment you need, I'd just go to walk in rather than call 111.

jadedinsomniac · 08/01/2023 16:48

@girlmom21 we aren't allowed. Since Covid our out of hours surgery is appointment only by 111 and they will turn anyone away who doesn't have an appointment
The second one we have has been closed for a while so I don't know if it's even open anymore

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