To not want to go to A&E

[Sunflower99963]

Does anyone know if GP can refer us to Fracture clinic directly? I got a referral about 7 years ago when DD1 fractured a toe. Now DD2, 13 has fractured her collarbone while skiing in Spain, she was given a sling, advised reg pain killers and ice and to see dr back home.

Dr we saw last time retired, nurse practitioner said we need to go to A&E but did manage to send her and x-ray which we got done yesterday; A&E was a super busy and there was noone available to register us so we went back home.

Why do we have to queue 5 hours in A&E to be referred to fracture clinic? Internet said GP can refer us. Should I try another doctor?

What time did you visit a/e-is it really that busy all day eg don’t go after pubs close.
what about going 7/8 am before day shift come on?

Sorry yo hear this; hope your daughter recovers quickly. I am finding the whole thing quite stressful and the process a bit ridiculous; if we have got an x-ray why do we have to wait more than 3 hours in A&E to see a dr yo referred us. Doesn’t help that just got a test from GP reg the x-ray and to contact them for a referral. Called then again and said they can’t refer us.

So we are heading to A&E, let’s hope is not too long. I am not feeling great with a dry cough plus I also injured my leg skiing so the last thing I want is to be sitting in A&E

sorry for the moan

DS2 broke his ankle when we were on holiday in Cyprus over 20yrs ago. We had to take him to A&E when we got home as the GP wouldn’t/couldn’t refer him to the fracture clinic.

I agree it’s ridiculous. We had the x-ray and they took more at the hospital, anyway, so I don’t understand why they can’t. I hope your wait isn’t too long.

In my experience, when you’re triaged you’ll be sent straight to the MSK (muscular and skeletal) clinic.

I've never waited very long in A&E with one of the dc. It's in, sit for 5 minutes, get shunted through to paeds A&E and then couple of hours max after triage in paeds.

Anything requiring an Xray has been even quicker ime because they triage you then send you immediately to XRay and see you pretty quick when you're back.

I've always had a feeling that the breaks and sprains in paeds A&E are their 'quick wins' that they make an effort to get in and out quickly when they have a spare minute.

Have been there many times with 3 ds's over the years. The only slightly longer wait has been when you end up there on a Saturday or Sunday morning when it's full of boys in football and rugby kits nursing injuries.

It does all sound ridiculous, and placing more burden on A&E when it's surely not necessary.

Yabu thinking it’s more appropriate to waste the time of the gp rather than your own

Sling is pretty rubbish; I thought she will need a follow up to ensure is healing properly; advice reg excersice, returning to school, etc. I would like to see an specialist.

Just saw the nurse in A&E who was a bit confused and is trying to call fracture clinic otherwise she said we need to wait for a dr.

I am wondering if we are wasting our time; but thought is better to be safe; they told us in Spain to see the dr when back home.

She got x-rays done at the hospital yesterday

So you rather waste A&E and hospital time when all you need is a referral to fracture clinic; especially when there is already and x-ray

I accompanied a friend with a potentially serious head injury first thing in the morning, waited 6 hours to be seen (soaked two towels with blood meanwhile) then another hour for a CT scan. Can't imagine how long someone would have waited if triaged as less serious.

Totally agree; thought NHS should look at ways to work more efficiently when they are already overwhelmed and on their knees with lack of staff and resources.

Thank you all; came early so wasn’t too busy; saw a lovely young lady dr who has done a referral so hopefully next week we will hear from virtual fracture clinic; just want to ensure she is given proper advice and follow ups reg healing and recovery. Was given another sling too; hopefully better

Good luck with the virtual fracture clinic, I hope it's better than ours. I was referred to the virtual fracture clinic by minor injuries. It was bloody useless! They told me I'd broken completely different bones to what I actually had broken, the follow up email said something different and they and didn't bother answering emails or phone calls. I eventually managed to get seen by a doctor in the proper fracture clinic and it was so much better - he actually knew what he was talking about!

A&E are funded to deal with injuries. GPs are not. What makes you think it is more appropriate to waste GP time than “waste” A&E time?