A&E

[imanastronaut]

I’m currently sat in A&E for an injury. Multiple people have been walking in and out (they’re patients) to pick up takeaways, go outside for a cigarette, go to the vending machines etc. patients are wearing wristbands so it’s obvious who’s who!

AIBU to think if you can do that, you should be directed away from A&E to somewhere more appropriate for a minor injury?!

When you're through with A&E, OP, you have a fabulous career in medicine waiting for you.

I don't know any other person on the planet who is able to judge who should and who should not be in A&E by looking at them. You'll be in huge demand.

Me too!!

I was doing everything but using my phone as that was the one thing that I couldn’t do without feeling sick.

I’m guessing OP doesn’t actually need to be in A&E if she can do this and I couldn’t.

I was admitted for an acute gallbladder infection last year and was able to walk to the cafe with my husband the day before my surgery.

Focus on yourself.

I'm sorry you're ill, OP, but you're taking your bad mood out on people that don't deserve it.

What else would they be eating? At most, hospitals have a Costa/M&S. They aren't always open/accessible and even when they are, it's not like they stock options that are far above vending machine quality. And when you're ill, you need food that gives you energy and that you can afford.

And where else do you think they should be directed to? If there were somewhere more appropriate for them to be treated, that's where they would be sent.

As others have pointed out, serious illnesses and injuries are not always visible.

So not only are you judging others on their medical needs you are also judging people on what they eat!

I hope you are just very unwell so not thinking straight and are not usually this judgmental …let’s hope ay!

A&E would be less busy if GPs actually started seeing patients.
You know the script, you feel unwell.
Lift up the phone.
Receptionist answers, you give a brief description of your symptoms
Receptionist books you an appointment.
Thats what used to happen.
Then suddenly it didnt anymore......

Several times I have phoned 111 for various reasons and been sent to A&E, perhaps because there was no better alternative that I could access urgently. Each time I could walk in but I still needed to be there.

It is not so much the patients as the hangers on. Some treat it as a family day out , even at night.

If the waiting time is 10 hours and they've been there for 4 would you expect them to go hungry for the next 6? If they've got wrist bands on they are obviously being kept in for something. Due to my cancer treatment if I get a temperature I have to go in and follow the sepsis protocol often in A&E if no space on oncology. I could look absolutely fine to you, eating, drinking and heaven forbid laughing but have to be treated with antibiotics within the hour. Then kept in whilst they do full bloods. You honestly just can't tell looking at people.

I had to wait 34 hours for a bed in A&E - I was unwell enough to be admitted but still needed to eat in that time. And funnily, there’s not exactly a luxury menu to order from. So forgive my packet of crisps from the machine, but they were like delicacies from gods table after several hours waiting.

what should people be eating in A&E?
in my experience when people feel rubbish or are injured, a little comfort food is what they are after. (My sibling famously had two broken wrists but still asked my mum for a Kit Kat when they were 7)

This is not only breathtakingly ignorant but it’s offensive too.

Considering my husband could do all that and more (apart from vape) and yet he was dead 4 months after his A&E visit.

I know you’re bored but is this really how you want to spend your waiting time? Winding up MNetters?

Fgs don’t you ever watch programmes like 24 hours in a and e?

people can walk in smoking a fag with all sorts of serious issues and you can’t tell from looking at them.

the amount of pain someone is in does not correlate very well at all with how likely they are to die.

lots of serious issues cause no or very little pain

Why does what you choose to eat dictate how unwell you are? Like if they got out a packet of low fat rice cakes they deserve to be in A&E but Doritos they’re shown the door?? I don’t see the correlation at all between food choices and pain levels.

Surely you’re not suggesting that unless you’re physically too unwell to eat a morsel, you can’t be in A&E? People needing X-rays to rule out bony injuries etc may well take painkillers and reduce pain levels and need food but are still very much in the correct place

I don't think there's any correlation between how well people are and whether they can smoke a cigarette. It's an addiction.

When I was at the hospital regularly I saw people who looked like they might honestly be close to death (grey in colour, bald presumably from chemo, various tubes permanently attached) standing outside in their hospital gowns in January smoking away at all times of day.

And when my nana broke her hip the woman opposite (who had also broke a hip!) was in and out for a tab like a jack in a box. We joked it had got her better faster as she was motivated to get moving again much more than some of the others.

Where should people get food from then? You’ve already moaned about people getting takeaways.
I’ve been several times with my DCs following injuries that required an X-ray so were sent to A&E for. We always use the vending machine because we were hungry. Or do you think people shouldn’t eat at all when they’re there?
Our A&E also has MI and OOH GP streams all in one place. There is nowhere else to go.

In many hospitals minor injuries, out of hours gp and full a&e are on the same site, sometimes sharing a waiting room.

You are very ignorant and have no idea. Also probably not that unwell yourself and low priority. I had recurrent collapsed lungs earlier this year and was not in any pain and able to walk talk eat (and probably smoke). Just breathless with low oxygen sats. Indeed I drove myself to hospital the first time it happened. According to your criteria, on each of my 3 visits to the ED (as recommended and pre booked in by 111) I would have been kicked out with my life threatening condition because I wasn't looking ill enough. Thankfully the staff know a lot more than you do, realised it was very serious (life threatening actually) and once the X-ray confirmed the diagnosis I was queue jumped each time past many others to a bed in front of the nurses station for close monitoring.

She a vile troll! Obviously lacking in basic humanity, and intelligence.

Ha ha you’re just reminded me of the bloke opposite me in MTU who legged it out for a fag after being told he was too ill to be out of bed unsupervised. Had forgotten about him.

I looked fine on my last an and e visit. Luckily I have a fast track pass and I spent 36 days in hospital after being admitted. My first visit was during covid. Again I looked fine, could walk, talk and eat. I took myself to my ct scan where they discovered my splenic artery had dissected. You are being vvvu to judge.

Yes OP, there are a few people that really shouldn't be in A&E agreed and often it's clogging up the system and that's well known about. Many reasons for it, but it does start with many not being able to get a GP appointment. People in there for a cough they've had a week, one for a bad back, one for a sore throat this is what they told my parter while waiting hours upon hours with his poorly, elderly dad.

However, I've been sent to A&E by the GP but looked and felt fine so it's not always easy to say who needs what.

How you behave online can negatively affect a far greater number of people than eating a bag of crisps in A&E ever will.

It's good that they are allowed to come in and out. Lots of people can need medical help but are capable of walking outside and eating/smoking. In fact everyone needs to eat and nicotine addicts need that. The staff can offer snack packs with fruit and choc/crisps in my local one. They should also give nicotine patches/other nrt to those waiting if requested.

You're seemingly saying A&E should only be for people with something wrong with their mobility.

Yes she was.

Well she's got you bang to rights there @fumingrightnow1 Surely anyone who has been suddenly taken unwell takes a moment to make a massive salad before heading off to a&e?