Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Just checking if iabu before I kick off...

435 replies

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!

OP posts:
ShirleyPhallus · 30/03/2023 08:27

I hope he feels better soon OP

i do think it’s quite odd though that people don’t take painkillers themselves on the way to A&E. very likely to be waiting a while and taking a few paracetamol could take the edge off

LovedFedAndNoonesDead · 30/03/2023 08:29

whynotwhatknot · 30/03/2023 00:03

i think that disgusting to make him wait then just shut like a bloody shop-i have tmost repsect for nurses doctors but thats not acceptable

hope hes ok

Unfortunately, their staff are employed to work till a fixed time and don’t have anyone coming to take over from them - some units don’t even have Drs for the full number of hours they are open and taking walk in patients - and this is nothing new, it was the case when I was working in the NHS and I left 13 years ago!!

KnittingNeedles · 30/03/2023 08:35

ShirleyPhallus · 30/03/2023 08:27

I hope he feels better soon OP

i do think it’s quite odd though that people don’t take painkillers themselves on the way to A&E. very likely to be waiting a while and taking a few paracetamol could take the edge off

A lot of people worry that taking anything will "mask" the pain, or that taking ibuprofen, paracetamol or aspirin will make things more difficult or awkward for the NHS staff. Leave the medical decisions to the medics. I can understand that train of thought to be honest.

CuriousMama · 30/03/2023 08:41

How awful for him and you. I hope he's seen asap today.

Mendholeai · 30/03/2023 08:51

It is long but please stay calm. It’s not their fault and abusing NHS staff won’t end well.

ShirleyPhallus · 30/03/2023 08:55

KnittingNeedles · 30/03/2023 08:35

A lot of people worry that taking anything will "mask" the pain, or that taking ibuprofen, paracetamol or aspirin will make things more difficult or awkward for the NHS staff. Leave the medical decisions to the medics. I can understand that train of thought to be honest.

Show quote history

Surely if you have a pain that goes away entirely with paracetamol that’s a sign that it’s not an emergency and could seen less urgently

and if you have an obvious injury like a broken bone then the that would be treated the same irrespective of the pain surely

Rosula · 30/03/2023 08:58

Really the UTC should have told you as soon as you turned up that it was unlikely you'd be seen. I hope A&E has now been able to help.

LizzieSiddal · 30/03/2023 09:08

@User4891 You do know you can give him paracetamol and ibuprofen yourself and they're really cheap? Why on earth wouldn't you do that if he's suffering?

Maybe because the public are instructed NOT to give any painkillers, to let the nurses/Drs decide. If that advice has now changed, it needs to be publicised.

Original poster
TheSnootiestFox · 30/03/2023 09:09

WonderingWanda · 30/03/2023 08:12

@ancientgran I'm not suggesting it is right that waiting times are so long in the NHS. I am saying she is unreasonable to consider "kicking off" to staff it is not their fault. It is perfectly sensible to take your own pain relief while you wait.

Morning all! 😁 @WonderingWanda the hospital does not have a shop, it's a teeny tiny rural UTC, and no it is not perfectly reasonable to take your own pain relief- I could dose him up on something and then him be refused treatment because of what I've given him. I am not a medical professional, that's why I was there!

Everyone who said he'd fractured his foot were bob on! We're at home now and he's comfortable, A and E were fab and we're appalled at the treatment he hadn't received at the UTC. Thank you all so much for your help, and to those who think that a 4 hour wait is acceptable for triage, I actually think you're part of the problem. It feels like the bar is low with the NHS that the staff now see unacceptable as normal 😐. Thanks again everyone! x

OP posts:
Enko · 30/03/2023 09:13

Pleased he is comfortable and hope you can both get some rest today.

MsJD · 30/03/2023 09:15

Dont vote tory at the next election.

ArcticSkewer · 30/03/2023 09:17

Mothership4two · 30/03/2023 06:54

Didn't read thoroughly @ArcticSkewer and assumed a&e where I would go (and did with DS) for suspected bone breaks

yeah I know .... me too 🙄
It did make me realise 111 might have its uses after all, for pointing people in the right direction.

Glad it's sorted now, op.
You're right about the unacceptable wait for triage. The one thing that should always be done quickly is triage.

ancientgran · 30/03/2023 09:19

TheSnootiestFox · 30/03/2023 09:09

Morning all! 😁 @WonderingWanda the hospital does not have a shop, it's a teeny tiny rural UTC, and no it is not perfectly reasonable to take your own pain relief- I could dose him up on something and then him be refused treatment because of what I've given him. I am not a medical professional, that's why I was there!

Everyone who said he'd fractured his foot were bob on! We're at home now and he's comfortable, A and E were fab and we're appalled at the treatment he hadn't received at the UTC. Thank you all so much for your help, and to those who think that a 4 hour wait is acceptable for triage, I actually think you're part of the problem. It feels like the bar is low with the NHS that the staff now see unacceptable as normal 😐. Thanks again everyone! x

Show quote history

So pleased you've been seen. I needed physio for my broken foot but hopefully an 11 year old is going to heal better than a 70 year old so he might not. Even for me it was only 3 sessions with some exercises to do at home so don't worry if it feels a bit achey and weak when his boot/plaster comes off. I'm just saying that as it might be worth enquiring about physio as I did have to wait weeks once I needed it, if I could go back I'd try to book a physio appointment earlier and if not needed it can always be cancelled.

Hope you both have a nice rest today.

ancientgran · 30/03/2023 09:22

ShirleyPhallus · 30/03/2023 08:27

I hope he feels better soon OP

i do think it’s quite odd though that people don’t take painkillers themselves on the way to A&E. very likely to be waiting a while and taking a few paracetamol could take the edge off

The advice always used to be to not take anything, food, drink, painkillers. Don't know if that has changed but I know when I was waiting in A&E a few weeks ago the very overpriced vending machine was doing a roaring trade. Didn't sell painkillers though but you could certainly spend the night munching away on the big sharing bags of chocolate.

ssd · 30/03/2023 09:24

Actually the same thing happened with my son, others were prioritised as medical emergencies...that was 17 yrs ago

OrlandointheWilderness · 30/03/2023 09:25

4 hours for triage is unacceptable. He could've been losing sensation or anything and it wouldn't be spotted.

Fifi1010 · 30/03/2023 09:26

IneedanewTV · 30/03/2023 06:39

I think as a country we are becoming very accepting/tolerant of extremely poor/low/nil service. We just say “oh that’s the way it is”. It really isn’t acceptable that the OP has had to wait many many hours to be seen. It isn’t acceptable that people are waiting in A&E for 12 hours. That elderly are waiting in corridors. That schools don’t have enough funds. That roads are full of bloody pot holes, that local councils can’t afford to provide statutory services etc etc. But does anyone do anything about it? No. We will vote in another bank supporting government and carry on until there is nothing to be proud of anymore. And the rich just get richer. So sad. I fear for my old age I really do.

It's bloody weird, people will say at least it's free 😳. I'd rather pay some more in tax or fees rather than be left waiting for hours in agony. The health system isn't working it's becoming more third world by the day but people cannot admit the NHS isn't amazing.

bringincrazyback · 30/03/2023 09:30

IneedanewTV · 30/03/2023 06:39

I think as a country we are becoming very accepting/tolerant of extremely poor/low/nil service. We just say “oh that’s the way it is”. It really isn’t acceptable that the OP has had to wait many many hours to be seen. It isn’t acceptable that people are waiting in A&E for 12 hours. That elderly are waiting in corridors. That schools don’t have enough funds. That roads are full of bloody pot holes, that local councils can’t afford to provide statutory services etc etc. But does anyone do anything about it? No. We will vote in another bank supporting government and carry on until there is nothing to be proud of anymore. And the rich just get richer. So sad. I fear for my old age I really do.

So true. 🙁

bedtimestories · 30/03/2023 09:31

The NHS is amazing. Staff are overworked and the NHS is overused by people who don't need it i.e going to a and e when a GP would of been v.helpful, going to a GP when a pharmacist would of been v.helpful. The wider system is also struggling with lack of carers to get people discharge from hospital. I could go on

Snaketime · 30/03/2023 09:33

When my 5 year old hurt his knee and wouldn't walk on it we had a 7 hour wait in childrens A&E and that was with a doctors referral.

Jonei · 30/03/2023 09:33

The NHS was amazing. It certainly isn't anymore.

WalkingOnTheCracks · 30/03/2023 09:33

Helpmeimtired · 29/03/2023 23:07

He’ll be fine.

....when you typed that, what help did you think it was? I mean, what effect were you intending to have?

ssd · 30/03/2023 09:36

Glad he's ok.
A few days of pampering and special treats for him, i say!!

And a glass of wine later for mum ..

Bustard · 30/03/2023 09:39

I think a 4 hour+ wait for triage is unacceptable and clearly you should have been directed to a&e straight away.

I do think it's a bit short sighted to not take food, medications (in reference to a different post) and painkillers when you go to the hospital though. If you're worried about drug interactions then the obvious thing to do is take the drugs with you and then only use them if someone tells you it's ok. I have young kids so have a bag ready packed with the essentials - water, snacks, nappies, painkillers, wipes etc that can be easily grabbed. Maybe something adults of all ages should do!

Pipsquiggle · 30/03/2023 09:39

Jonei · 30/03/2023 09:33

The NHS was amazing. It certainly isn't anymore.

Due to chronic underfunding for over a decade and not looking at 'care' and health systems holistically. Also staff shortages

The current situation in hospitals is all down to the Tories mismanaging it. They should hang their heads in shame