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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
Greycheck · 19/12/2023 16:39

Really fortunate that I've only needed A/E once in the last decade or so and that was six months ago. I was too ill to really think about waiting times but was taken straight through once I got there and seen immediately which I'm not sure whether was due to how ill I was or generally lower waiting times etc at this hospital.
However, I did then spend a week on the A&E assessment ward because there were no beds (usually a 12 hour ward and then you are either admitted or sent home) and then a further two weeks on a respiratory ward because a bed became available which wasn't the reason for my admission so was quite odd!

BIossomtoes · 19/12/2023 18:03

User14March · 18/12/2023 23:12

@Teder no one seems to bat an eyelid on £200-300 plus on a sick dog & most have pet insurance.

Our last vets’ bill was £2k - and not covered by the insurance. The NHS isn’t free, that’s what we pay our national insurance for. And considerably more than pet insurance.

CeciledeVolangesdeNouveau · 19/12/2023 18:05

@Greycheck they often will just put you on any ward there’s a bed and once you’re warded, it’s a faff to change you over. Most doctors understand most body systems. They just need to get you on a bed. At the moment I really should be getting myself to A&E (not my own judgment, doctors have given me a couple of symptoms that really signal I need to go in) but part of my reluctance to go in is the likelihood that it will be ten plus hours on a hard plastic chair before I even get on a trolley, get initial bloods (I often can’t put my finger on why I’m sick but as soon as they get bloods I’ve got some really dramatic deficiency) and I’m not really sure I can sit up even approaching that long. My local hospital as I think I said in a PP is a huge, sophisticated teaching hospital. They now stack waiting patients up in the paediatric waiting room. Not actually sure what they’re doing with the children.

FuckOffTom · 19/12/2023 19:16

SettlingIn · 17/12/2023 22:01

I don’t understand OP ? You say you go for things like trouble breathing?? When my dd has had trouble breathing we’ve been taken through immediately even if the waiting room is absolutely full? If a child can’t breathe it’s the highest priority- a 3/4 hr wait would be potentially fatal?

‘Trouble breathing’ and ‘can’t breathe’ are different
I don’t know the OPs situation but if she took a child that couldn’t breathe to A&E she would get seen immediately. Sounds like this is what happened to you.
This is very different to ‘short of breath after a coughing fit’

FuckOffTom · 19/12/2023 19:20

GPS seem to send everyone to A&E.
One problem here is many people going to a GP when not needed.
I knew someone who had same symptoms as me. I ignored them, assumed it was viral and was fine after a few days. The other person went to their GP who sent them to A&E and it turned out they had…. A virus. Waste of time.

JenniferJuniper80 · 19/12/2023 19:23

Constipation and you're attending A&E?

If you're not part of the solution you're part of the problem op!

kittensinthekitchen · 19/12/2023 19:27

FuckOffTom · 19/12/2023 19:16

‘Trouble breathing’ and ‘can’t breathe’ are different
I don’t know the OPs situation but if she took a child that couldn’t breathe to A&E she would get seen immediately. Sounds like this is what happened to you.
This is very different to ‘short of breath after a coughing fit’

Show quote history

Exactly this

NHS 24 are often quick to send kids to hospital, simply because it's well known that parents (or patients in general) are unreliable narators.

To a parent seeing their child in distress, understandly, shortness of breath whilst bunged up or after coughing or with pain will often be reported as (or seem like) "trouble breathing".
The operator on the end of that phone isn't going to take that risk.

kittensinthekitchen · 19/12/2023 19:37

JenniferBooth · 19/12/2023 19:26

@JenniferJuniper80 Educate yourself If you went to uni you need to ask for your money back

https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2018/feb/08/gross-failure-in-mans-care-led-to-death-from-constipation

Whilst incredibly sad, that's a totally different scenario, with different symptoms, which you'd know if you read the article.

Did you just Google for "death from constipation" to look for one of your sensationalist headlines?

kittensinthekitchen · 19/12/2023 19:41

It's actually offensive that you would trivialise what that poor man went through before his death, to compare it to just "constipation".

JenniferBooth · 19/12/2023 19:51

Constipation can kill anyone if severe enough. When my friends son was a little boy he was badly constipated after an operation The paediatrician took it seriously and told my friend it would start coming up the other way if just left.

JenniferBooth · 19/12/2023 19:54

@kittensinthekitchen Its never "just constipation" when it requires a hospital trip Those are your words not mine.

paperfarm · 19/12/2023 20:00

On the logic of 'xxx condition should kill' do we then assume that:
Fever
Headache
Abdo pain
Cough
Etc etc
All should attend ED as they 'can kill'.

Of course not. That would be stupid.

Come on. We've surely got to do better than this. We have to got to be thoughtful for the people who actually need this service.

SatanClaws · 19/12/2023 20:08

kittensinthekitchen · 19/12/2023 19:41

It's actually offensive that you would trivialise what that poor man went through before his death, to compare it to just "constipation".

There is no such thing as "just" constipation. It can kill a healthy person. It kills members of the LD community in high enough numbers the NHS and other professionals are making a concerted effort to combat it.

People thinking it's "just" constipation or are embarrassed to see a Dr because they've not been to the toilet for a few days need educating about the serious, and life long, consequences of it (assuming it doesn't kill!) As a pp said it'll come up the other way, or require surgical management, or lead to a stoma... Take your health seriously

kittensinthekitchen · 19/12/2023 20:14

JenniferBooth · 19/12/2023 19:54

@kittensinthekitchen Its never "just constipation" when it requires a hospital trip Those are your words not mine.

The poster you directed your comment towards said...

Constipation and you're attending A&E?

I refer to "just constipation" as in "only constipation" as in one solo reported symptom.

You compared that one reported symptom of constipation to an incredibly severe fecal impaction which resulted in a fatal heart attack.

kittensinthekitchen · 19/12/2023 20:15

SatanClaws · 19/12/2023 20:08

There is no such thing as "just" constipation. It can kill a healthy person. It kills members of the LD community in high enough numbers the NHS and other professionals are making a concerted effort to combat it.

People thinking it's "just" constipation or are embarrassed to see a Dr because they've not been to the toilet for a few days need educating about the serious, and life long, consequences of it (assuming it doesn't kill!) As a pp said it'll come up the other way, or require surgical management, or lead to a stoma... Take your health seriously

Show quote history

See my previous comment.

SatanClaws · 19/12/2023 20:16

kittensinthekitchen · 19/12/2023 20:15

See my previous comment.

Show quote history

I have. Read the link I posted.

Spacecowboys · 19/12/2023 20:19

Not going to the toilet for your bowels for a couple of days is not life threatening. The poor young man in the article had over 10kg of faeces in his bowel. Absolutely not a consequence of missing a few days of bowel movements. A bit of constipation can be dealt with by a gp ( or even by yourself making dietary changes or purchasing otc medicines). Those with learning difficulties are obviously much more vulnerable because they are completely reliant on carers/ professionals identifying these issues for them.

kittensinthekitchen · 19/12/2023 20:20

SatanClaws · 19/12/2023 20:16

I have. Read the link I posted.

Show quote history

I am aware of the risks of constipation alongside comorbid conditions/symptoms, but thanks for sharing.

User14March · 19/12/2023 20:24

Interesting letter to Times today to say France works better for €40 a month, no waiting etc.

Absolutely45 · 19/12/2023 20:38

User14March · 19/12/2023 20:24

Interesting letter to Times today to say France works better for €40 a month, no waiting etc.

France has a far higher overall tax burden.

France is around 45% to GDP, the UK is 34% to GDP (after recent rises)

Despite everything, overall tax is low here, hence the shit services.

https://ifs.org.uk/taxlab/taxlab-key-questions/how-do-uk-tax-revenues-compare-internationally

Total-tax-revenue-as-a-share-of-GDP-across-developed-countries cropped.png

How do UK tax revenues compare internationally? | Institute for Fiscal Studies

UK tax revenue is below the average of other developed economies. The UK stands out as raising less from social security contributions.

https://ifs.org.uk/taxlab/taxlab-key-questions/how-do-uk-tax-revenues-compare-internationally

Teder · 19/12/2023 23:00

kittensinthekitchen · 19/12/2023 19:37

Whilst incredibly sad, that's a totally different scenario, with different symptoms, which you'd know if you read the article.

Did you just Google for "death from constipation" to look for one of your sensationalist headlines?

Show quote history

It’s very offensive to use this death in this way. People with LDs and autism die far too early compared to the rest of the population. Constipation is known to be a huge risk factor in this community. Lots of us are working hard to bring awareness and encourage more understanding.
Otherwise healthy children should not be compared to adults with LDs. That said, children are not adults. It may not be appropriate for an adult to be seen for constipation but may be absolutely necessary for a child to be seen. This is often because a child needs the actual diagnosis. I would hate to see a child suffer a severe consequence because it was assumed it was just constipation. People shouldn’t take advice from strangers online about their children’s health. Life is far too precious. A tiny minority of parents take their children to A&E too much (probably due to anxiety) but this is not the cause of the long waits.

JenniferBooth · 20/12/2023 13:20

Speaking of gut problems i wonder how much it is costing the NHS to treat the results coeliac disease since they stopped people being able to get gluten free foods on prescription People on a low income wont be able to afford the prices of gluten free foods
They are the ones who bang on about prevention being better than cure yet dont want to put their money where their mouth is.