to think that NHS Direct is a waste of time and government money?

[EightiesChick]

I have rung them various times over the past few years, and have always ended up being told either a) that they can't help and I should make an appointment with my doctor, or b) some stuff from the internet that I could have found myself, and usually have while I'm waiting for them to ring back. It's supposed to cater for people who have a problem but aren't unwell enough to need a doctor or go to hospital, so why is it apparently impossible to answer that kind of query?

Tonight, I rang them because I have picked up a cough and realised, too late to go out and buy any honey and lemon, that it'll bother me in the night. Rang to ask whether I can safely take either of the cough medicines I have in the house. They eventually rang back and said that only a doctor can advise a pregnant woman on what to take (other than plain paracetamol) so I should make an appointment with my doctor. Hmmm, thinking of all the times I've got advice from pharmacists! Plus why couldn't they have told me in the first place they would not be able to help me?

I have always found them brilliant and definitely not a waste of government money. I have always been allowed to take the kids to be checked if I am worried. They sent an ambulance for husband with chest pains which were, fortunately, related to something treatable. I have never phoned them for th ekind of advice you seek ( you are right, you could have got it form the internet) and they will always err on the side of caution. You, being pregnant, have been advised to see your own doctor- very sensible imo. For other instances, see above. When your baby arrives and you call them with a question releating to your child I am positive you will see a whole different side.

NHS Direct is great.

Very good at supplying toxicology advice at 1am when Ds had more medicine that he was supposed to. Also good at referring a medic when DS had breathing problems.

The nearest 24hr pharmacy is miles away, so not really a practical option. And I'm not sure how great they are at dealing with ODs in two yr olds.

You had a bad experience. I use them quit often (4DCs) they always gave me good advice or directed me to the right people.

We've used them twice - once when I had blurred vision & a pain in my right eye - they advised me to go straight to A & E which was the right thing to do as I had iritis.

2nd time when DP lost all sensation in his right arm - he was told to go see his GP if things didn't get better. Turned out that he had had a stroke & should have been advised to dial 999 and get himself to A&E straight away.

Its a hit & miss system - needs looking at urgently as it could be costing lives.

YABU.
It's not perfect but they have been very helpful to us in the past.

Could you not just read the packet? Or ask a pharmacist. It's cough....

Sorry haven't read all the repies but yes yabu - on froday night my dad called them due to some stomach pain and spoke to the doctor, he called again yesterday morning following their advice and was booked into A&E for an appointment and was immediatly taken in with appendicitous (sp).

Dad's not the sort to moan, and certainly would never have gone to hospital if he hadn't of spoekn to them, god only knows what would have happened if he hadn't.

Sorry YABU, just beacuse you personally have found them unhelpful, doesnt mean everyone will, and i am sure there are times when they give out extremely good advice and may save someones life.

As a first time Mum (terrified and a bit irrational)I phoned NHS direct when my 10 week old DS was constipated and was really unsettled. My health visitor was "unavailable", pharmacist said see doctor, doctors was closed for half day. Turned to internet with conflicting opinions so phoned NHS direct. I described his symptoms first and all they did was ask me loads of questions that were basically directed at finding out whether he had meningitis or was having a fit. After 7 mins of questions I was told to wait to see a doctor....thanks NHS direct. Fecking useless.

Also, i rang them on a Friday night when DS had croup, the dr actually got me to put the phone next to ds's chest so he could hear him breathing, then adviced me to go straight to A&E where they kept him in for a week, i hate to think what might have happened if i had waited till Monday to see my GP. YABVU.

Yes but vinegartits, if they had told you to wait, you are less likly to go to hospital and could have made things much worse.

I am so glad I didn't listen to them. They told me not to bother taking my DD to hospital. 6 months old and a temptature of 105. And they wanted me to put her to bed and see what she was like in the morning. I might have put her to bed and she might have never woken up. Where as if there were no NHS direct then I would have gone straight to A+E. I took her anyway but some might not have done and just taken NHS's advice which IMO was so dangerous.

Different strokes for different folks I suppose. I've always found them helpful. They were great to my sister when she had flu and none of us were around. They sent a doctor who even went to the pharmacy to get her medication. Think its a brilliant service.

We've had very good help from them. My dad had himself admitted to hospital against my mum's wishes via NHS direct - he had terminal cancer but my mum was against western medicines. We've also used it for dh at various times.

They've been great for me. One time I rang them when I was (TMI?) puking and shitting blood on a Friday night after a meal out, on Valentines Day actually, romantic eh? They got a local Dr to call me (turned out to be my own Dr on the rota) and he just chatted through everything and said I should be fine to wait 'til Monday and go see him if it hadn't stopped.
Another time my friend was having a psychotic episode and I couldn't get him to leave the house, they spoke to me about it, then spoke to him and persuaded him to go to the hospital.
I think it is a fantastic service.