Page 17 | Just checking if iabu before I kick off...

CurlyhairedAssassin · 01/04/2023 08:18

Cazareeto1 · 01/04/2023 02:26

I’m very late to reply, but most will not give any pain meds until a dr has seen the patient. So that the pain meds don’t mask any pain symptoms.

if someone is in severe pain then paracetamol will only take the edge off. The patient can still pinpoint the pain, say whether it is sharp or dull etc. can describe when they had the paracetamol, how much they had etc so doctors should be able to give any further pain relief around that. People wait so many hours at A and E that any paracetamol taken when they first go in has probably worn off by the time they get seen anyway.

ancientgran · 01/04/2023 09:55

Paracetamol does nothing for me, the main reason I've ever taken pain meds is for head aches and asprin works best, paracetamol does nothing, ibuprofen helps, if I take one codeine tablet you'd think I'd injected heroin. Don't know why but I'm always surprised that people bother with paracetamol but obviously we aren't all the same.

Someone told me it might be to do with having red hair (well I did back in the day) but I don't know what. She said red heads feel pain differently and some pain killers work really well for them and some don't work. I ought to google it really.

LovedFedAndNoonesDead · 01/04/2023 10:59

GettingStuffed · 31/03/2023 18:45

At Christmas I was sent to A&E with breathing difficulties, I was triaged in about 10 minutes after arrival.

Yet I was sent to A&E with breathing difficulties by the GP surgery 2 days before Christmas and it was over 3 hours before I was triaged - everywhere is different. Our region has already been discussed in this thread for telling people not to go to A&E unless life threatening but there isn’t always the alternatives to choose and, for illness rather than injury there aren’t UTC or walk in centres, just minor injuries units so it could be an hours drive each way for an appropriate treatment option

LovelyIssues · 01/04/2023 12:31

That sounds horrific OP! How is he today?

pollymere · 01/04/2023 12:34

Most UTCs run an appointment system and often are running two hours late on a bad day. If you don't have an appointment you'll be a lower priority to be seen unless there's an urgent risk to life. Always ring 111 to book an appointment first.

EstherGreenwood19 · 01/04/2023 12:47

Totally understand your frustration but kicking off will serve nobody, least of all your son.
kick off in the ballot box and vote the Tories out.

Crazymum156 · 01/04/2023 15:03

I stood in a queue at reception of A&E, after being called because my dad was there.(end of life) I was behind splinters , sunburn etc. Told I had to wait my turn because nobody could deal with me. .... meanwhile my dad passed away unaware I was there. I don't blame the staff it's not their fault but the hospitals are overwhelmed by people who don't really have an emergency. And people like op son have to sit and wait in pain.

Original poster

TheSnootiestFox · 01/04/2023 19:06

Rosula · 31/03/2023 23:06

How can it not be the Tories' fault, given that they are in charge of the NHS and in charge of funding it, and they have been in power for 13 years? It really cannot be blamed on any other party.

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My personal view, fwiw, is a lot of the problems are caused by crap managers and unsuitable staff. Many Tories are business people and probably have little tolerance for the poor management in the NHS, if anyone bothered to ask them. Just throwing money at people unable to spend it wisely is not going to help. But hey, it's easier just to blame the Tories!

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TheSnootiestFox · 01/04/2023 19:07

EstherGreenwood19 · 01/04/2023 12:47

Totally understand your frustration but kicking off will serve nobody, least of all your son.
kick off in the ballot box and vote the Tories out.

Why? Genuine question.

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TheSnootiestFox · 01/04/2023 19:08

LovelyIssues · 01/04/2023 12:31

That sounds horrific OP! How is he today?

Thank you x he's up and about today. Fortunately no harm done but it was rather grim at the time!

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TheSnootiestFox · 01/04/2023 19:11

londonmummy1966 · 31/03/2023 23:35

Your problem was taking in a 12 year old - they're not cute enough for the nurses to care. I took my 15 year old who had suffered a head injury and concussion to the paediatic A&E at a major London teaching hospital. They cba with her or the teenager with a clearly broken arm who had to try and support its weight when all she needed was a pillow on her lap (and there was a pile on a cupboard near the nurses station), or the boy with a misshapen leg as a result of rugby. However, cute little blond girl with a sore thumb was seen really quickly. DD was temporarily allowed a bed but then kicked back into the general waiting area (without anyone checkin whether or not there was a chair for her to sit on - there wasn't). As we walked out of the ward we walked past 4 cubicles where the beds were unoccupied other than tablets/ipads being used to entertain toddlers in buggies.

Totally clear than nurses don't give a shit about older children no matter how much pain they're in. Truly shocking and I worry that this attitude is being taught to medical students coming through the system.

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That did actually cross my mind at the time you know! Sorry for your similarly appalling experience.

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TheSnootiestFox · 01/04/2023 19:13

Mercury2702 · 01/04/2023 00:36

I work where you’re on about and our waiting times are the worst in the UK!

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Yep, I can now believe that! I'm so sorry you're in this position x

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MrsJaxTeller3 · 01/04/2023 20:22

TheSnootiestFox · 29/03/2023 22:59

Is 4 and a half hours in an urgent treatment centre without being seen even for triage unreasonable for a 12 year old with a suspected broken foot? No pain relief, nothing and he's been crying and begging me for help for hours.....my blood is boiling but I just need a reality check before I decide whether to say something or not. Opinions please!

4 hours is average before first triage. Sorry. A broken bone isn't priority over serious illness/injury I'm afraid, I know it's shit but you can ask for pain relief.

MrsJaxTeller3 · 01/04/2023 20:28

Sorry I misread your post and only just realised it's a UTC or walk in centre, I think I'd go to a&e in a children's hospital if you have one. I'm under the impression the UTC will send you to a&e anyway to be xrayed and plastered if needed.

Original poster

TheSnootiestFox · 01/04/2023 20:30

MrsJaxTeller3 · 01/04/2023 20:22

4 hours is average before first triage. Sorry. A broken bone isn't priority over serious illness/injury I'm afraid, I know it's shit but you can ask for pain relief.

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I did. I've written that several times. And was told he couldn't have any until he was triaged. Which of course he never was!

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itsjustnotok · 02/04/2023 00:48

TheSnootiestFox · 29/03/2023 23:09

That's not what the poster on the wall says actually but OK....

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We used to do 111 ‘appointments’ but they were never seen as an appointment because we had too many people coming in who were sicker. I guess it depends on the hospital.

Stewball01 · 02/04/2023 14:22

Your situation is only going to get worse with the NHS in the state it is in. I always have pain killers in my bag.

Original poster

TheSnootiestFox · 02/04/2023 17:27

Stewball01 · 02/04/2023 14:22

Your situation is only going to get worse with the NHS in the state it is in. I always have pain killers in my bag.

Thank you but I take it you've noy read the full thread. I was told not to give him painkillers until he'd been triaged. Which of course he never was.

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MorganKitten · 02/04/2023 20:23

TheSnootiestFox · 29/03/2023 23:13

That patients who have called 111 will be seen ahead of walk ins. I wish I'd known this before I walked in! He was sent straight from school.....

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It doesn’t actually work like that, the a&e here still sees people as and when they come in and get annoyed 111 claim this.

Noangelbuthavingfun · 07/04/2023 07:45

TheSnootiestFox · 31/03/2023 22:15

Can I just say in my defence, now that I've completely outed myself geographically 🤣 that our local a and e is in the arse end of Hull, full of drunks and drug addicts and has just been found unsafe during an inspection, whereas the UTC was a 2 minute drive from home in a leafy market town and this did affect my decision making - but I've now learnt from my mistake!

Oh! Yep...can totally see why you made that decision then in the hope they would treat/investigate and refer . Who wants to sit with drunks :-(
just glad you got it sorted and he's om the mend. Happy Easter !

Fluffypuppy1 · 07/04/2023 07:52

Why didn’t you give your ds some ibuprofen before going? We’ve been to A&E/minor injuries with DS a couple of times and always give pain relief if needed before going. If your DS has a broken foot they’ll tell you to give him both Ibuprofen and Paracetamol for a few days.

ancientgran · 07/04/2023 10:16

Fluffypuppy1 · 07/04/2023 07:52

Why didn’t you give your ds some ibuprofen before going? We’ve been to A&E/minor injuries with DS a couple of times and always give pain relief if needed before going. If your DS has a broken foot they’ll tell you to give him both Ibuprofen and Paracetamol for a few days.

We aren't all as perfect as you. Shocking isn't it.

Original poster

TheSnootiestFox · 07/04/2023 12:47

Noangelbuthavingfun · 07/04/2023 07:45

Oh! Yep...can totally see why you made that decision then in the hope they would treat/investigate and refer . Who wants to sit with drunks :-(
just glad you got it sorted and he's om the mend. Happy Easter !

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Thank you. He's much better now! Thanks again x

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TheSnootiestFox · 07/04/2023 12:49

Fluffypuppy1 · 07/04/2023 07:52

Why didn’t you give your ds some ibuprofen before going? We’ve been to A&E/minor injuries with DS a couple of times and always give pain relief if needed before going. If your DS has a broken foot they’ll tell you to give him both Ibuprofen and Paracetamol for a few days.

That would never enter my head. I would be concerned that they wanted to give him something that would react with whatever I had given him and delay his treatment. My bad for expecting medical treatment in a hospital I suppose!

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YouWithoutEnd · 07/04/2023 21:39

TheSnootiestFox · 07/04/2023 12:49

That would never enter my head. I would be concerned that they wanted to give him something that would react with whatever I had given him and delay his treatment. My bad for expecting medical treatment in a hospital I suppose!

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For future reference, giving paracetamol and ibuprofen pre-hospital isn’t going to cause any problems at all for medical staff, in fact they will be absolutely thrilled that you’ve already got them optimised on analgesia and they can follow on with the next doses when they’re due. For a more serious injury/illness requiring anything stronger, I can’t honestly think of anything that would be contraindicated by previous paracetamol and ibuprofen, and usually those children needing extra drugs for pain or sedation will require admission anyway.

The only time I’d hold off on Ibuprofen is with Chicken Pox or abdominal pain.

I know it’s a horrible state of affairs at the moment, I work in it, and I’m frantically fumbling for my exit plan from the NHS, but the more we can all do to take some personal responsibility during this times of what is essentially war zone medicine, the better. So if that means taking your own pain relief with you and just telling the nursing staff that times that you gave it, then so be it. Nobody is ever going to tell you off for managing your child’s pain with appropriate medication.