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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think NHS Direct is not really a good idea

76 replies

katiestar · 21/04/2009 16:40

I rang them for DH who had had very severe stomach ache for over 12 hours.The nurse who we spoke to said to take some paracetamol and ring back if it hadn't improved in a couple of days.24 hours later DH was admitted to hospital with a ruptured appendix
Thankfully we did not take NHS Direct's advice as gospel and gone to our own GP but another person might not have done so burstsv

Surely it is very dangerous for someone to try and diagnose whether a problem is serious or not over the telephone

OP posts:
Auntylulu · 21/04/2009 17:18

your DH, if he does not like going ot docs or making a fuss, may have played down his symptoms aswell

i thikn you are cross because you are thinking about what could have happend if he had not been seen, but in your own words he had severe persistent pain, so calling NHS direct was the wrong thing to do iMO

Kewcumber · 21/04/2009 17:21

on the flipside when I was ill in Sept I didn't ring NHS direct (or consult the online equivalent) but decided to drive myself to A&E. Had I spoken to them or even typed my symptoms into their internet thingie I would have been told to call 999 and wait for an ambulance as it was a medical emergency that I was not capable of recognising.

I was very lucky I didn't keel over with a brain haemorrage in the car!

cyteen · 21/04/2009 17:25

I err on the side of NHS Direct, tbh. They made my GP see me that day when I was crippled with UTI agony - the GP receptionist had already said they couldn't possibly fit me in, even though I really needed antibiotics.

StarlightMcKenzie · 21/04/2009 17:28

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stroppyknickers · 21/04/2009 17:33

Actually, I think they are great for general advice, definitely not as an alternative to out of hours gp or regular gp or a and e. So yabu. We have used them loads and they have been great when the little idiots darlings have ingested coins, felt tips, paint int terms of toxicity, what to watch for. Also when ds got burned by coffee, they rang the hospital and had them ready for us when we got there, after giving me great advice (wrap him in clingfilm) beforehand. So I am really pleased with them.

Bunch · 21/04/2009 17:35

I think it all just depends on the callers expectations from NHS Direct. Alot of you sound like you used it for very reasonable reasons. People who criticise them for getting it wrong clearly had the wrong expectations.

oranges · 21/04/2009 17:36

I think they are fab for conditions where you are not sure whether it is serious or not.THey spotted dh's bell's palsy, that had frozen part his face, and sent him to hospital for anearly course of steroids. It was Saturday and there is no way dh would have sought treatment otherwise, as he didn't feel any pain. If you are in severe pain, you should always go to a&E.

Legacy · 21/04/2009 17:42

I agree, it depends what your expectations are.

It is actually very good at sorting out the 'worried well' (i.e. those who may be unnecessarily panicking about cold/flu etc) from those who need to get to A&E quickly.

Yes, sometimes they 'triage too high' and send you to A&E when it might not have been necessary, but that's to be on the safe side when they can't fully assess things over the phone.

On all the occasions I have used them I have found them helpful and useful in helping me make a risk assessment as to what to do next.

If you don't like NHS Direct - simple - don't use it, and go and join the hour-long wait at the surgery or A&E!

MuffinBaker · 21/04/2009 17:43

" People who criticise them for getting it wrong clearly had the wrong expectations."

Oh, how trusting and wrong you are, Bunch.

boredwithmyoldname · 21/04/2009 17:44

i thought they had two pieces of advice

  1. give paracetamol
  1. go to a doctor

I have never seen or heard of anyone being given different advice. I'm sure they have, you know. But if I phoned with a sick child they would either say give paracetamol, or go to a doctor. It's nice to talk to a nurse but all they ever say is given paracetamol and go to the doctor if it doesn't get better.

boredwithmyoldname · 21/04/2009 17:46

i have only just read the second page
i am intrigued by the bell's palsy

Homebird8 · 21/04/2009 17:46

My DH managed to electrocute himself when he was setting up our video recorder a few years ago. I was out at the time and when I came back all he would say was that it "bit" him. I'd done a first aid at work qualification which informed me that a shock across the chest could stop the heart even hours later (I was really surprised this could happen) so I wanted DH to go to A&E. He didn't want to go so I phoned NHS Direct. It took 12 minutes to even get them to answer the phone! When I spoke to them and mentioned what I'd learned on the course they said we could just wait and see if he "felt funny" over the coming hours. I wasn't waiting. We went to A&E.

They were much better when I called to ask if the fabric freshener my DS1 had just drunk (aged 18mo) would do him any harm. They contacted the poisons unit and reported back swiftly that he would just smell better for a while

Bathsheba · 21/04/2009 17:50

We have NHS 24 in Scotland - I suspect it is very similar.

I have used them a few times simply because they are the "gatekeeper" of our Out of Hours GP service - you can't just turn up at the out of hours GP - you need an appointment and you get that by calling NHS24...

Which is a tad annoying when you know exactly what is needed (I have an asthmatic daughter who has needed nebulised at 3am - I know thats exactly what she needs but I have to phone up and go through the system in order for them to see me at the out of hours GP service at 3am...)...but on the whole I've always found them to be very helpful.

oranges · 21/04/2009 17:54

why intrigued about bell's palsy? what do you want to know? I am now an expert on this, having never heard of it before.

TheHedgeWitchIsNAK · 21/04/2009 17:55

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Bunch · 21/04/2009 18:22

Muffinbaker, I am neither trusting or wrong. I use my own common sense and make my own judgements, never used them myself.

MuffinBaker · 21/04/2009 18:24

You are in relation to you saying about peoples expectations of nhs direct, Bunch

TheFallenMadonna · 21/04/2009 18:25

We've had really good advice from them, and their website let me know not to worry when DD took it into her head to eat a liquitab.

Bunch · 21/04/2009 18:27

I just think people expect the nurses on the end of the phone to be telepathic and to be able to see down the phone line!!

lilacclaire · 21/04/2009 18:32

I've always found them really helpful from when ds sprayed his eye with air freshner (a&e), to when he fell over and hit his head on a brick and when he got scalded (straight to a&e, do not pass go or collect £200).

I wouldn't rely on them for anything I know for sure needed urgent medical advice (I know the scald, contradicting myself).

They've always been great and always set up a doctors appt without hesitation etc.

I am a hysterical mother though and generally blub down the phone to them .

MuffinBaker · 21/04/2009 18:32

Well that isn't really how your post came across but I really don't want a row. Am in too much pain atm tbh.

dilemma456 · 21/04/2009 18:33

Message withdrawn

boredwithmyoldname · 21/04/2009 19:07

hello oranges, not intrigued by the condition, i mean intrigued by the phone diagnosis (and rather impressed)

Gentle · 21/04/2009 19:19

I find NHS quite useful for checking medicines & toxicology. DD accidentally swallowed a load of mouldy cranberries (don't ask) when she was about 2. NHS direct checked their information and said this was a very low risk. Saved me a trip to casualty.

On the downside, on 2 occassions they asked me a few questions and then sent a very disgruntled ambulance, even though I've told them it's not necessary.

fledtoscotland · 21/04/2009 19:19

Yabu. The poor nurse at the end of the phone didn't deliberately "miss" the ruptured appendix. she would have been guided by your description of the symptoms. did she speak to your DH?

I rate NHS24 (scottish equivalent of NHSdirect). when DC have been ill in the night, they have offered advice, reassurance and support - all of it correct and accurate.

IME you know yourself how serious a condition is and how much pain you are in so its up to you as the patient to see the appropriate advice.