To think NHS Direct is not really a good idea

[katiestar]

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

Personally I love NHS direct. But I do accept that quite a few people have had negative experiences.

I am a calm person on the outside. However if something happens to the children I get a gradual build up of panic that can verge on (internal) hysteria. Its not that I think the kids are going to die or are seriously ill, I tend to panic about the whole thing of having to take them to hospital. It triggers off a horrible reaction in me and its very distressing.

So NHS direct are great for reasurring me that I dont have to take them in or confirming that its a good idea to (and not just me being pathetic). I do explain my situation when I call so they can kind of understand where I am coming from. They have always been very nice about it.

DS2 ate 3 packets of indgestion sweet thingies whilst I was pg with DS3. Years ago I wouldve have to drag him up to A&E just in case. NHS direct were able to look up the ingredients and save me the trouble. Maybe not a huge deal but when you have panic attacks in hospitals it dont half help

I doubt if I would be such a fan if I had a bad experience with them though.