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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Mum wants to leave A&E after 6 hours

18 replies

Axlcat · 05/08/2025 21:03

Mum age 72 had severe chest pains, headache and extremely high blood pressure followed by stomach pains last night. She didn’t go to A&E.

When I found out today i managed to convince her to go, and she’s been there since 3pm and has been told they are only just processing her blood tests.

She now wants to leave as she’s really struggling and I’m obviously concerned about her doing that and have tried to convince her to stay.

if she does leave, and there’s something that is extremely concerning with her results, will she get these another way? Would they go to her doctor? I obviously really don’t want her to leave but not sure she is going to listen to me.

I lost my dad to a sudden heart attack so I am terrified of losing her too so please be kind.

OP posts:
Needmorelego · 05/08/2025 21:05

I would encourage her to stay.
Take her some food and drink and if possible stay with her.

Unmute · 05/08/2025 21:06

I had bloods taken at A&E recently. For some reason they discharged me before getting the results and they weren't good, so the consultant phoned me the next day to get me to come back in.

I think they would contact her directly if there were major concerns.

Tealpins · 05/08/2025 21:07

Ah, that's so hard, OP. Has she been examined in any way? Have her symptoms resolved?

I'm guessing you live quite far away.

I doubt that she's going to get much help or attention now - so I can totally see why she wants to go home.

Is there no way to get to the GP tomorrow?

CatKings · 05/08/2025 21:07

Go and speak to reception. We were kept waiting for a long time and DD was getting very distressed and I explained to reception and someone came to see us.

CinnamonCinnabar · 05/08/2025 21:08

With chest pain I'd encourage her to stay to get a heart attack ruled out.

itsmeits · 05/08/2025 21:08

Is there any way you can sit with her. 6 hours in A+E is a long time. She will be wanting food and water.

They will contact her if she needs to come back - receptionist should habe checked details when she checked in. So either mum will get a call from a consultant or her GPs will contact her.

Lemonadeat8 · 05/08/2025 21:09

Someone may ring her if they want her to come back but leaving with chest pain would be very unwise.

Her bloods may be fine but what if the problem is missed because she’s home before they get the chance to do other tests? She will need an ecg for example.

Original poster
Axlcat · 05/08/2025 21:30

Thanks everyone. I can’t go and be with her unfortunately. She’s not having any symptoms now and feels largely ok but I felt she needed checking out and the GP had advised her to go.

She suffers with oesophageal spasms and the symptoms are very similar so it’s difficult to know when to worry but she said this felt different.

it’s reassuring to know that if she insists on leaving there will hopefully be a follow up.

OP posts:
Needmorelego · 05/08/2025 21:35

She needs to ask the doctors advice really.
Is there anyone (friend, neighbour) who can go and sit with her.

Picklechicken · 05/08/2025 21:38

Has she had an ecg? If so and that’s normal I’d be inclined to think they haven’t rushed anything because they’re not overly concerned. The bloods will be sent to the doctor but these can take a few days to be uploaded.

lostmyearringsagain · 05/08/2025 21:41

I’d advise her to stay put for her own good. Until she’s told everything is okay, she’s in the best place.

Unilaterallyinsane · 05/08/2025 21:43

I was sent to A & E by the GP with breathlessness. I waited six hours, had bloods taken, waited for the results and nearly went home. I was completely shattered from waiting around. When my results came through I was sent for a CT scan. I had multiple blood clots in both lungs. I was admitted straight onto a ward for treatment. Thank goodness I didn’t go home.

Tell your mother to wait. It could be something serious.

Original poster
Axlcat · 05/08/2025 22:25

Update. She’s stuck it out and results of bloods and ECG are fine, but doctor is concerned about the headache due to its intensity.

They are doing a scan and will retake blood pressure and will keep her overnight to observe her and get a second opinion potentially in the morning.

OP posts:
neverpostingidontthink · 05/08/2025 22:30

At the A&E local to me, NO, you will not be called with results if she leaves. There is no “alert”, a doctor will need to physically open her profile to view blood results, which won’t be done if she has left the department as there just isn’t the time to review blood results of the multiple patients that have self discharged. So that raised blood marker in all likelihood will sit there until you are able to contact your GP and request they look at it

Unilaterallyinsane · 05/08/2025 22:49

Axlcat · 05/08/2025 22:25

Update. She’s stuck it out and results of bloods and ECG are fine, but doctor is concerned about the headache due to its intensity.

They are doing a scan and will retake blood pressure and will keep her overnight to observe her and get a second opinion potentially in the morning.

I hope she’s ok 💐

HMW19061 · 05/08/2025 23:25

Where I work any life threatening abnormalities on the blood tests would result in a phone call to come back as the lab would contact the department to flag the abnormality up as soon as they’ve finished the test. But other than that we wouldn’t call as it would be highly unlikely anyone would even see the results if you self discharged as you get taken off of the list of people waiting to be seen.

Glad she got seen to OP.

itsmeits · 06/08/2025 07:26

Morning OP how is she?

Original poster
Axlcat · 06/08/2025 07:59

itsmeits · 06/08/2025 07:26

Morning OP how is she?

Morning. She didn’t get a bed until 3.30am and sounded understandably really upset when I last spoke to her as she was just so exhausted. CT scan was normal but blood pressure still high. They want to do a lumbar puncture which I really don’t think she will do - I think that’s her red line as she’s so terrified of having one.

Am waiting to hear from her this morning as imagine she’s had a rough night.

Thanks for asking

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