Best way to get an X ray?

[Polkapup]

My son has gone over on his ankle tonight. He's gone to bed fine. Had ice and ibuprofen and is ok in himself but his ankle is swollen and I'd rather he was checked. Would you rock up at a and W or phone 111? Is it possible to get an appointment for a and e? I dont want to waste their time and add to the list of people but think he will need an X-ray...

Do any of the minor injuries near you have X-ray available? That would be the more appropriate option if so.

Phone 111 and they might tell you to go to A&E. yes they can book you in.
But my dh and dm have both gone over on their ankles and it wasn’t broken but did swell up. They were told to walk on it.

Either A and E or minor injuries unit if you know they have an X-ray machine.

They don’t give out appointments.

It’s better to be safe and get it sorted than leave it and risk it becoming worse or needing more treatment if you catch it early

My dm was booked into a&e recently when I phoned re a memory loss episode.

111 don’t book appts for a&e but they can book ‘arrival’ appts. It’s so that a&e doesn’t get too crowded. Unless it’s for a minor injuries unit/urgent care centre.

Oh ok yes that’s what it was then but we went straight through (wasn’t for ankle)

It's up to the GP to refer you for an x-Ray. You can't request one.
And if it doesn't follow a diagnostic pathway the GP won't be granted their request

Our previous go to place isn't now doing x rays. I'll ring 111 as a starting point - the urgent care centre is next to a and e so we might get in there and then sent on if needed. Thanks all.

It does depend on area, but 111 is best at the moment. They’ll just direct you to GP if that’s best in your area or make an appointment elsewhere if not.
I think 111 has actually become more efficient during COVID (and GP less so).

Why would you go to the GP? This is why the doctors get full quickly when people don’t go to the right place. They can refer for an XRay but that just adding layers to the situation.

Again OP it's not up to you to decide if they need an x-Ray. A clinician need to refer them if they meet the correct diagnostic pathway. You can't ask for an x-Ray and expect to receive one.

Maybe I mis-worded my OP. I don't want an X-ray if not needed just know thats he isn't in tonnes of pain and so didn't want to clog up a and e if there's another pathway to get checked. 111 questionnaire says stay home and watch and wait so that's what we are doing for now. He's happy enough in the garden being served ice cream right now. Says it's not really very sore so hopefully just a sprain

Sorry didn't mean to be harsh just wanted to manage your expectations! I'm a bit of an expert in this field!

It's fine. Just didn't know which way to go without being a nuisance

DD2 fell over at the park last summer and she still couldn't weight bear and was in pain the following morning.

We look her straight to A&E as I figured it's not something that could be assessed remotely and 111 would just refer us there anyway.

Luckily it turned out to be a bad sprain. But I'm glad we went as they said she couldn't run / jump / trampoline etc for 6 weeks (start of the summer hols ) which we would not have known had we not have taken her, and it could have affected her overall recovery.

Just updating to say it was swelling and bruising more so we ended up at a and e. He's broken a bone so I'm glad we got checked. Though the attitude of some there was terrible - but a small group of us there for several hours had a good chat and the kids bonded. It was quite nice and this bit outweighed the few horrible people

Glad he's sorted Op.