bad nhs direct advice?

[bridewolf]

i rang nhs direct to get some advice on my IgE allergic son.

after brief chat to nurse he asked if i had ever tried homeopathy to cure his allergies.

i was pretty shocked, has anyone else ever got this sort of advice from nhs direct?

Something to do with yeast maybe? Dunno...

yes naked for grass picking otherwise it won't work

completely naked?

slippers ok?

slippers and a fascinator will be fine.

blinks......Its a rumour and hope its not true. to be a call handler and take that responsibility would be appalling. I s**t myself sometimes worrying that Ive made the right decision. The service will either become a computer led service (in which case use a computer) with the call handlers rigidly contrained to their algorythm and not able to use common sense, or cease altogether. I think its a money saving ploy. PS Ive never told anyone with a tampon to do anything other that see dr to have it removed. Theres nothing in our advice about stuffing another one up there. It wont do any harm, but it wont do any good either - certainly not dangerous in itself.

however to follow this advice you need to have a bucket fanjo.

now, this thread about my son is true, and am so NOT impressed with nhs direct, and wont bother to call them in the future.

bridewolf... Contact NHSD to tell the overlords of your experience. They need this kind of feedback to avoid this type of silliness. They investigate and listen to these calls and the person may need further training. They have a whole department who look into complaints - the service will only improve if people who use it actively participate in its evolution.
Its an advice line and the advice given should be factual and accurate - if you feel its not helpful let them know. I'm as keen as you to get rid of wappy advice - it makes people like me mad when a few off the wall employees wing it like this and reflect badly on the rest of us.

Bridewolf --- Having read your brief note re symptoms, I would have said :- analgesia, cold drinks via a straw, and a cold compress to his lips if this was tolerated, distraction until swelling settles. Observe closely for any worsening swelling, especially to tongue/throat, and wheezing and chest tightness, in which case 999 or a&E. Was this the advice you would have expected?

Why dont you ask how many women have taken arnica before birth (and other things) and ask them if it worked? Or raspberry leaf tea?
In some cases homeopathy works and sometimes traditional medicine is best. It is possible to use both together so yes i do think YABU

Can I just clarify bridewolf where you asked if he had tried homeopathy or did he specifically say try homeopathy?

There is a difference between the two and your post doesn't make it clear which it is. - just wondering before I form an opinion.

How can a woman possibly know whether taking arnica or raspberry leaf tea before giving birth "worked"? they have no way of telling how things would have been if they hadn't taken it.

hi,
i have complained , and hopefully nhs direct will be further educated on ige allergies.

i did get similar advice to use a ice pack on his lip and watch closely for further change and call for help.

however it was the nurse who suggested that we try homeopathy.
i certainly didnt bring up alternative medicines, as i am aware that for my sons conditions they are not safe.

i really want to know if this sort of advice for those with allergy concerns is common within the nhs direct.

bridewolf ---- absolutely not, the main reason nhsd is there is to SAFELY give correct info to patients. The homeopathy thing was off the top of someones head. I advised someone yesterday who had dog allergy (girlfriend had just bought puppy- same house) and he was suffering. Gave usual advice re anti-histimine etc - and get rid of puppy (sorry) but mentioned nhs allergy clinics (accessed via gp) for desensitisation therapy.(especially if it was a case of him or the dog!) definitely no mention of homeopathy. We're not there to peddle our own philosophy.

starshaker in no case does homeopathy "work". There is nothing in it. If you take homeopathic "arnica" tablets, they don't do anything as there is no arnica in them.

diluted versions of my sons allergies , given to him , as a ige allergic person would not work.

esp if they DID really have traces of his allergens, and if the dose is soooooooo low that my really, really hyper allergic son could take it, then its just all snake oil.
if it did contain the allergens my son would react ...........and it wouldnt be good.

btw our complaint has been upheld, and they are offering apologies.

i believe there are no conclusive PROPER clinical trials on homeopathic medicines and as such shouldnt really be recommended as there are no documented interactions except for st johns wort. Most homeopathic medicines only contain traces of the medicine on the label and the user would probably have to increase the dosage substantially to get anything other than a placebo effect. But I am not knocking them...if they work for you then brilliant

I don't think homeopathy should be available on the NHS as it has no proven benefits.