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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
ElevenSeven · 17/12/2023 21:42

It sounds like you’re there a lot.

That will contribute to pushing up queue times…

IME children who need to be seen urgently, are. They do prioritise as best they can.

Original poster
cutrtain · 17/12/2023 21:42

underneaththeash · 17/12/2023 21:39

I suspect you’re going too much then.
I’ve three children and we’ve only been 5 times with all of them. they’re now 18,16 and 12.

two broken bones, one pneumonia, a glued head, an ear infection during covid.

it’s accident or emergency. If it’s neither you shouldn’t go and should contact your GP or 111.

I always take those steps and get directed to a and e from either GP or 111.

OP posts:
Stressfordays · 17/12/2023 21:43

How often have you been admitted from these a&e trips? I've been twice and I've got 3 kids aged 5-11. Once was an accident requiring stitches and the other resulted in a 4 day admission.

Bringonchristmas36 · 17/12/2023 21:43

Unfortunately I’ve had to take my DD there twice in the last couple of months. I was seen within minutes, no wait time. Why because it was an emergency.

breathing difficulties yes, the others are an out of office GP

NotSorryForTheReality · 17/12/2023 21:44

It sounds a pit like you’re a frequent presenter at A&E…in that past 31 years I’ve been twice, obviously I don’t know the ins and outs of your circumstances but people presenting at A&E who should/could have went down different pathways e.g. GP, 111 are a major reason the waiting times are so high

Original poster
cutrtain · 17/12/2023 21:45

NotSorryForTheReality · 17/12/2023 21:44

It sounds a pit like you’re a frequent presenter at A&E…in that past 31 years I’ve been twice, obviously I don’t know the ins and outs of your circumstances but people presenting at A&E who should/could have went down different pathways e.g. GP, 111 are a major reason the waiting times are so high

I always do and they tell me to bloody go to a and e ! Do you think I want to be there all the time ? ? I am so sick of it.

OP posts:
Boomarang · 17/12/2023 21:45

I’m fairly sure the doctors and nurses in A&E are fairly exhausted and fed up with the waiting times too.

Careful who you vote for peeps. And if you don’t vote you are equally part of the problem.

Savedpassword · 17/12/2023 21:46

How many times have you been to A&E in the past 12 months?

EasternStandard · 17/12/2023 21:46

tenbob · 17/12/2023 21:37

None of those are accidents or emergencies though. They should all be things that you go to see your GP for

You’re really close to working out one of the big reasons why A&E wait times can be so high… keep going, you’re nearly there…

Show quote history

Agree

IsThisOneAvailable · 17/12/2023 21:46

That's 14 years of The Tories for you...

Original poster
cutrtain · 17/12/2023 21:47

Bringonchristmas36 · 17/12/2023 21:43

Unfortunately I’ve had to take my DD there twice in the last couple of months. I was seen within minutes, no wait time. Why because it was an emergency.

breathing difficulties yes, the others are an out of office GP

Persistent fever of over 40 degrees that doesn't come down with calpol / nurofen or any other cooling measures, is an a and e scenario.

Persistent fever with blood in stool is also a and e. I saw the GP who said we need a and e.

I guess you all know all the ins and outs and are medically qualified to make such assumptions.

OP posts:
SandcastleQueen · 17/12/2023 21:48

cansu · 17/12/2023 21:39

You are right about wait times but stuff like constipation should be seen by a GP.

Constipation can definitely been an emergency. Just took my DD to GP for consultation and GP said if DD didn't poo within a couple of hours, I was to take her to A&E. Same with breathing problems; 111 called an ambulance for my DD when she had breathing issues. It didn't come and I drove her myself to A&E who blue lighted her to the children's hospital. I wouldn't fuck about with either of those things.

notanaturalmum · 17/12/2023 21:48

Oh wow.
I went in with my DS on Monday night 2am. Was asked to drive as ambulance was a 2hr wait. We got triaged fairly quickly but didn't see a doctor for a good while. Returned back home at 2pm the next day and I thought that was pretty good.
My bum thought otherwise having sat on a hard chair.
I can appreciate it must be tough going if you're there often, but they are doing the best they can.
I'm dreading if my kid has a relapse this week what with the strikes though.

penjil · 17/12/2023 21:49

bostonchamps · 17/12/2023 21:34

This is so goady.

Not at all. It's a realistic debate about a service that is failing us all...

SutWytTi · 17/12/2023 21:49

tenbob · 17/12/2023 21:37

None of those are accidents or emergencies though. They should all be things that you go to see your GP for

You’re really close to working out one of the big reasons why A&E wait times can be so high… keep going, you’re nearly there…

Show quote history

Trouble breathing and a fever that won't come down are both things that are considered emergency.

NotSorryForTheReality · 17/12/2023 21:49

Well not being funny but if you don’t want opinions don’t ask for them? Your responses tell us all we need to know…

Stencilplasttic · 17/12/2023 21:50

I've got 2 dcs in their 20's now and probably went fewer than half a dozen times in that 20 years! 3 of the times were for an acute condition that lasted 6 weeks. So hardly at all.

How many times are you there and if all night it's not really an emergency is it?

Original poster
cutrtain · 17/12/2023 21:51

NotSorryForTheReality · 17/12/2023 21:49

Well not being funny but if you don’t want opinions don’t ask for them? Your responses tell us all we need to know…

Why ? I'm just telling you the reasons why medical professionals have told me to go to a and e ?

What did you want me to do, say that you're right and I am a time waster ? I don't understand your post at all.

OP posts:
Stencilplasttic · 17/12/2023 21:52

You need to tell us how often you're going ?

underneaththeash · 17/12/2023 21:52

cutrtain · 17/12/2023 21:45

I always do and they tell me to bloody go to a and e ! Do you think I want to be there all the time ? ? I am so sick of it.

Show quote history

I think you need to change your GP.

TurquoiseDress · 17/12/2023 21:52

cutrtain · 17/12/2023 21:34

No chronic condition but just always random stuff that requires me going there.

Like trouble breathing or fevers that are just ridiculously high for ages and don't respond well to medicine.

Constipation with blood in poo.

I think the key thing is 'accident' or 'emergency'

The things you've listed could be dealt with by the GP...or if you want to be seen in A&E at the weekend/evening you'll have to get in the queue with everyone

Sorry to hear you've had to wait so long, but A&E is not even at its peak of winter pressures...it'll get worse over the next weeks/months

MissyB1 · 17/12/2023 21:53

Boomarang · 17/12/2023 21:45

I’m fairly sure the doctors and nurses in A&E are fairly exhausted and fed up with the waiting times too.

Careful who you vote for peeps. And if you don’t vote you are equally part of the problem.

This.

whoscoatsthatjacket2012 · 17/12/2023 21:53

Our local hospital has people waiting over 18 hours so you were lucky.

DF was left in an ambulance overnight with breathing issues.

The waiting room is always full of people who could just go home and suck it up or go to a GP.
I have never taken DD to A&E and she's almost 12 though so everyone has different experiences

Deathbyfluffy · 17/12/2023 21:54

IsThisOneAvailable · 17/12/2023 21:46

That's 14 years of The Tories for you...

Looking forward to Labour getting in and absolutely nothing changing.

TurquoiseDress · 17/12/2023 21:54

Who is telling you to go to A&E?

Surgery receptionist because they've run out of appointments? Or doctors/someone clinically qualified who has triaged your child's symptoms?