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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

I'm so fucking sick of a and e wait times

553 replies

cutrtain · 17/12/2023 21:30

As a working mother to a toddler in nursery, I'm just fucking done with how long it takes to get help in a and e for my child.

It's starting to make me not want to go, in situations that I would have maybe gone in the past.

I'm absolutely exhausted. It's always 3/4 hours wait, at least.

I'm just so done with it. It's a disgrace.

OP posts:
Thread gallery
9
Lavenderflower · 18/12/2023 13:58

MissyB1 · 18/12/2023 07:52

Totally agree with you. My dh is also a hospital consultant (25 years), he hates the fact that the public are encouraged to blame patients for the state of our NHS. The blame lies with politicians who made conscious decisions to not prioritise healthcare.

Show quote history

Thank you for saying this - I agree with you.

justasking111 · 18/12/2023 13:59

I'm just watching a report on the news a new study which reports on obese patients they
says this has doubled since 2016. 3k people are admitted to hospital daily who are obese, which is the problem.

Okay that's new smokers were blamed back in the day.

So if you don't smoke aren't overweight then everything would be hunky dory??

Original poster
cutrtain · 18/12/2023 14:12

christmaspaws · 18/12/2023 13:57

I think the antibiotics need time to work and I would give it 24hrs to see
I know I'm an adult but when I've had raging tonsillitis I've been unwell with a high temp of 40 for a good few days and then a lower level unwell for a couple of weeks

He's actually been on them since Saturday night. Not Sunday. But yeah I think 48 hours at least.

He's perked up after his last dose of calpol thankfully. So I'll just watch and wait.

He's one and a half.

OP posts:
JenniferBooth · 18/12/2023 14:14

Stillwaitingfor · 18/12/2023 07:25

You can tell the posters who don't have small kids. IME NHS guidance seems to err on the side of caution and if there is even the slight possibility something could be serious, you are sent to a and e. When we called 111 about a child under 1, they sent an ambulance - no matter what you called about (2 years ago, this may have changed). Seemed wasteful and OTT but they are just being cautious.

But yes OP, I sympathise.

Errm Scuse me Im child free by choice and im in complete disagreement with the "competitive not going to A&E" attitude on here as my posts show.

Teder · 18/12/2023 14:16

JenniferBooth · 17/12/2023 22:25

Mumsnet is going to end up with a LOT of unwanted publicity when if this competitive not going to A&E game ends in tragedy

Any parent who takes medical advice for their child from random strangers on a social media platform needs to take a serious look at their decision making!

JenniferBooth · 18/12/2023 14:19

Daz57 · 18/12/2023 07:18

Can you not debate without being rude? There are other options apart from your GP. For instance pharmacists are very highly trained to deal with a lot of health problems.
A&E should not always be the first port of call and I see A&E nurses overwhelmed by way too many trivial complaints then they get slated for long wait times.
It sounds harsh but that is just the way it is and it is called Accident and Emergency for a reason.
Of course if it is an emergency, that is where you absolutely need to be.

Show quote history

It is not rude to point out that members of the public made a lot of sacrifices including jobs and homes for the sake of the NHS and yet are coming across these attitudes. Good luck if the publics compliance is needed again after this cos you will fucking need it!

https://www.itv.com/watch/news/calls-for-covid-fine-amnesty-as-thousands-remain-unpaid/m9f8zz3

SleepyRich · 18/12/2023 14:21

@cutrtain You're correct in suspected tonsillitis with fever and spots on tonsils they're probably going to meet the criteria to be prescribed antibiotics. It's important to note though that even in bacterial tonsillitis antibiotics make very little difference to duration and severity of symptoms. So antibiotics or not in tonsillitis you typically see worsening over 2-4 days, then improving towards 7-10days.

If your child also has running nose and cough this does mean viral upper resp infection can be more likely. That said been prescribed to so complete the script as advised. You should have been given some worsening advice at the time as well if/when they want to see you back.

If he was just seen yesterday I'm not surprised no change today. The advice I normally give to parents of children with tonsillitis is to keep pushing fluids and use paracetamol and or ibuprofen to minimise discomfort. It's reassuring if they're up and about and drinking, this are good signs nothing more sinister occuring. I'm concerned if a child is really struggling to swallow water, their voice suddenly sounds different, they feel swelling into their mouth/very drooly, unable to open their mouth normally. Signs that it's affecting breathing are that it sounds noisy or they look out of breath when resting. Deterioration with throat infections is rare and the majority will get better in their own time, if symptoms are not improving by 14 days or suddenly worsen recontact the surgery or 111/ed if you think any of the worsening signs are occurring.

Absolutely45 · 18/12/2023 14:25

BIossomtoes · 18/12/2023 10:51

I don’t have the data to hand @Absolutely45 but after working in acute healthcare for 30 years and being responsible for numerous campaigns to discourage inappropriate A&E attendances based on that data, I know it to be the case. We didn’t spend time and money on those campaigns for shits and giggles.

Incidentally A&E attendance rose 20% between 2012 and 2016.

https://www.statista.com/statistics/378338/total-accident-and-emergency-attendances-in-england/

Then you will know that the real reason AE is jammed and 20 or 30 Ambulances stacked outside AE is not because of more attendances but due to no other place to send patients, its routine that wards overflow into corridors and that ASC has collapsed, it is taking 6 to 10 weeks to get a care package for a patient deemed fit enough to live at home, CH's have no capacity and are shutting, Brexit has made sure we no longer attract EU workers, so now we effectively have encouraged slavery for staff poached from India, SE Asia etc.

AE attendances have risen more or less in line with population growth and an aging population, all totally foreseeable and should have been planned for.

Yes @justasking111 is an awful health issue but again one that any Govt should be addressing, our Govt has done/doing nothing at all.

Funny how my sister got her knee op done in Wales inside 12 months, convalescing as we speak.

justasking111 · 18/12/2023 14:37

@Absolutely45 re care packages I've seen two neighbours whose offspring have resisted care homes because it eats up their inheritance. They leave the parents as a bed blocker until council care is available. Both parents died and they inherited their homes and money . I should say this is in Wales no idea if you can pull the same stunt in England.

JenniferBooth · 18/12/2023 14:41

Stressedafff · 18/12/2023 11:34

I’d like to see the NHS do something about the plethora of its “staff” on social media giving out incorrect and frankly dangerous advice to people with a medical query.

They were also doing plenty of bullying of the public and telling us what we were sacrificing wasnt enough during Covid.

JenniferBooth · 18/12/2023 14:46

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

Well said! I wonder how long the NHS would last if loads of people took that advice and DIDNT prioritize their work given thats where the taxes come from.

justasking111 · 18/12/2023 14:47

I recall a nurse I knew who was posting batshit stuff on Facebook as an individual and a teacher. Their word was treated as gospel at the time.

The nurse was dealt with eventually by the health board, bless her she had actually had a breakdown working on COVID wards.

The teacher was eventually excused because her husband was immunocompromised.

Between them they did do damage because they were trusted

Swg · 18/12/2023 14:50

As someone who does have a chronic condition the GP is absolutely part of the problem though. I'm under strict orders from my consultant to seek immediate medical attention if certain things pop up because there's a fairly steep path between feeling a bit off to seizures and death.

In my GP practice I have all of one GP who understands this, takes me seriously, and if I call saying I think things are off schedules a blood test to see.

But with urgent on the day appointments don't allow you to pick who you are seeing. If I'm very unlucky I get to go see the nurse practitioner who listens, tells me I'm fine and then writes that I have health anxiety. Twice she has done this, twice I was absolutely right in my suspicions that something was off. But I've hit the point where I process pain weirdly (My brain logs that it hurts and then compartmentalises it) so I don't look like I'm writhing in agony until its really very bad and then it's way past the point where a GP can help.

JenniferBooth · 18/12/2023 14:50

Trez1510 · 18/12/2023 13:55

So many (social) issues culminating in the chaos that is A&E.

Parents with zero confidence in their ability to manage minor ailments in their children - no mother, aunts, sisters nearby probably to advise/reassure.

Parents willingness to litigate at the drop of a hat resulting in 111 adopting a ridiculously over-cautious approach and referring (inappropriately) to A&E.

Patients becoming aggressive as a method of jumping the queue - either at GP or A&E. Seen it so many times on here, the advice to 'DEMAND' whatever it is the patient thinks they need.

Aging population.

Adult Care Services in disarray.

Brexit - the loss of soooooo many care workers.

I've had occasion to accompany a couple of people to hospital (day surgery), A&E, hospital admission. What struck me about all three processes was a(ny) patient really needs someone to 'care' for them whilst in hospital. The nurses do not have the time/resources to supply cups of coffee, jugs of water, pop out to get a sandwich if patient has missed meal time, adjust pillows etc. I noticed very few (if any) what we used to call auxiliaries on wards.

I believe we are the stage where we the relatives/friends will need to step up much more to provide the auxiliary support nurses are no longer able to do but which makes such a difference to patients.

Oh we will will we. I thought we were too useless and dont know what we are talking about yet now relatives are suddenly good enough to do this. And yet people here were cheering on the rise and rise of state pension age so more and more people will still be working. So how are they going to provide care Cheered on the rise in state pension age? Should have been careful what you wished for!!!

Trez1510 · 18/12/2023 15:06

JenniferBooth · 18/12/2023 14:50

Oh we will will we. I thought we were too useless and dont know what we are talking about yet now relatives are suddenly good enough to do this. And yet people here were cheering on the rise and rise of state pension age so more and more people will still be working. So how are they going to provide care Cheered on the rise in state pension age? Should have been careful what you wished for!!!

Show quote history

To whom is your rant directed?

FWI, you know less than zero about my personal views on state pension age.

Btw, I was making a suggestion, not a policy. 🙄

JenniferBooth · 18/12/2023 15:12

Its not directed at anyone in particular on here But i stand by what i said.

You cant call the public useless and thick for using A&E when you perceive them to be wrong and then expect help from that same public Because then they suddenly become not thick or selfish when something is wanted from them

OH!!!!!!! and Carers Allowance and associated benefits stop being paid when someone is in hospital for 28 days + DWP say its because THE NHS IS NOW LOOKING AFTER THEM

JenniferBooth · 18/12/2023 15:20

thats why there is a question mark after state pension age

Chilicabbage · 18/12/2023 15:23

Wrap them in wet cold sheet. That's how they used to get my 40+ persistent fevers down

justasking111 · 18/12/2023 15:24

JenniferBooth · 18/12/2023 15:20

thats why there is a question mark after state pension age

A consultant, family member told us years ago, never never say that you are retired!!

JenniferBooth · 18/12/2023 15:25

And thank you to the consultants and healthcare workers on here who realise its not the publics fault Flowers

justasking111 · 18/12/2023 15:26

JenniferBooth · 18/12/2023 15:25

And thank you to the consultants and healthcare workers on here who realise its not the publics fault Flowers

Absolutely.

ChihuahuaMummy · 18/12/2023 15:27

Chilicabbage · 18/12/2023 15:23

Wrap them in wet cold sheet. That's how they used to get my 40+ persistent fevers down

I don't think it's recommended anymore to sponge down or wrap in cold wet sheets etc.

Chilicabbage · 18/12/2023 15:30

ChihuahuaMummy · 18/12/2023 15:27

I don't think it's recommended anymore to sponge down or wrap in cold wet sheets etc.

Show quote history

It was really usually the only thing which worked on me. Even as an adult I have to have a cold shower (more like be reminded because I tend to get kind of delirious... ) because the fever simply doesn't budge. I run into 40s even with simple viral colds🙄

justasking111 · 18/12/2023 15:32

500,00 have joined a private health system this year in the uk.

Our small Spire unit in Wrexham was closed. They've built a much bigger unit down the road.

Our Spire abergele unit, mostly consultantcy has been closed they're building a consultant and Day op. Unit

We're well down the road to a two tier system in Wales