NHS 111 - 12hrs wtaf!!!

[frenziednurse]

I’ve had paramedics out, I thought I was dying - rapid breathing and sweaty. I have a tooth abscess and have antibiotics but I’m in agony. Taken max amount of paracetamol and ibuprofen and a propanol for my anxiety. Paramedics safety netted me and offered to take me to hospital but as it’s a tooth infection rightly said I’d be waiting a long time in a+e. So advised I ring 111 for pain relief - call back time 12, yes TWELVE hours! What has this world come to! I have a little dd to be here for - and I feel like I’m dying a slow death!

Rant over!

Did you read the part where she had already been seen by medical professionals? Did you read the bit where she wasn't bluelighted in? Did you read the bit where they said she was welcome to go to A&E but the wait would be long as not a priority?

Yes, sepsis is a killer - of people who have it. OP felt terrible and called an ambulance - that IS getting checked out, that IS not ignoring that it might-possibly-potentially-could be sepsis in a whole sea of other things it actually might just be. HOWEVER, they didn't seem to think there was a concern and so, yes, in this instance she would be adding to the already swollen numbers of people in A&E, thereby stretching the resources for people who may need it urgently.

Strangers on the internet who want to sound knowledgeable forcing an armchair diagnosis that must be true because their neighbour's dog's best friend once had an earache is unhelpful.

I'm still waiting for 111 callback. Called yesterday because although hospital asked GP to up my scrip from 200 to 250 so I need 50s, 10 days later pharmacy still hasn't received it. [In that time I was taking in-date same amount as prescription change while checking with pharmacy].

They gave me an emergency 5 day supply. I reminded GP. Online obviously, can't get to actually speak to them. I checked twice more with pharmacy. Second pharmacy out of hours wouldn't supply any further despite them having done all of my prescriptions in the past, said I should call 111.

Neither pharmacy would swap out either an out of date strip I still have for identical, or swap out bigger 200mg ones for same actual drug amount in 50mg amounts. I had the hospital letter for scrip change, as well.

It got to bedtime. I decided on balance given the choice of nothing, cut one of mine into quarters or take the out of date one that I'd go for the - not very - outdated one.

Now the call I got late at night before bed to tell me I was still in the queue told me to call back if my symptoms worsened. I don't have any. The reason for my meds is to PREVENT more night time sleeping seizures, which are still occurring, because Neurology are concerned I live alone and they are dangerous. So if my symptoms worsened it would be when I have one.

I seem to have a missed call at 3am, however. About to call again. No overnight seizures anyway, so that is good.

I'm always very VERY nice to the poor staff manning any of these phone lines but I pity them because they must get a lot of highly frustrated callers being horrid!!! Delighted to be able to contextually offload this morning in this post!