A&e at Christmas time

[mayflower21]

IsA&E busier than usual or the other way around normally around Christmas time?
It's for fever which is controllable but has lasted for more than 5 days.

Well people don't tend to plan emergencies around big events but I would assume it could be busier. Far more going on at this time of year/more risks/more stress/more chance of things going wrong...

Agree @Pinkflipflop85 given GPs are closed ...

But for a fever I would be calling 111 if I was concerned

If it is controlled, is it an accident or an emergency? I second calling 111 for advice. The pharmacies will be open today too so perhaps ask there as well.

100% please call 111 not ED

This isn’t an emergency. Ring 111 and arrange an appointment with an OH GP. Unless you have a paediatric walk in centre.

If it's for a controlled fever but they've had it 5 days why didn't you see your GP before now, knowing full well it was Christmas and services would be closed or reduced hours?

Out of hours provision will be available somewhere. Call 111. This isn’t an accident or an emergency and tbh I’d have called sometime yesterday if I was worried as Christmas wasn’t unforeseen.

Ooh GP appointment is much more appropriate than A&E this really isn't an emergency

It can go either way. Either everyone comes in wanting to be seen before Christmas or it quietens down as people manage at home until Boxing Day when it goes nuts. 🤷🏻‍♀️

To be honest children’s a&e has been horrendous in my Trust recently, we’ve had queues for beds.

The way I see it if it’s an emergency it doesn’t matter if it’s busy. Surely you need to be seen. The sicker you are the quicker your ‘should’ be seen. If you need to use the service and think it’s that urgent go.

My vet said it was interesting that people's pets rarely got sick Christmas and New year. It's their quietest month

Took DD to A&E today with Day 5 of a fever which was uncontrollable- high of 40.5 this morning. Tried 111 but she needed to be seen so took her down. Early stages of pneumonia! Take your little one if they need to be seen. Glad I didn’t wait.

If you are in a position to wonder how busy an and e will be and let that influence your decision then you probably don’t need to go to A and E. if your worried contact 111 who can arrange a gp appointment if needed.

i have been to peadiatric a and e on Christmas Day. No idea how busy it was as we didn’t need to wait in the waiting room but it’s not a fun way to spend Christmas!

If you are in a position to wonder how busy an and e will be and let that influence your decision then you probably don’t need to go to A and E.

I often think that…

Also a temperature on its own isn’t necessarily an indicator of how sick a child is, if they’re drinking, weeing, playing, that’s sort of thing is what they’ll look for in a&e.

Thanks all for your replies.
I always call 111, where I live they have often sent me to a&e in similar situations, just with a slot. But always ended up in general queue.
She seems ok other than high t, stuffy nose etc., but it is also recommended to see a doctor after five days of fever. So I waited until today for improvement. And she seems to be improving today

Really. We tried to get a vets appointment yesterday, they only had one appointment left at a branch far away. Luckily the surgeon at the hospital (much further) away was happy to look at the photos and said it was fine.