Scared to attend A&E for non covid reason

[Axlcat]

I’ve developed of all things an abscess and have had antibiotics since Saturday which have helped a little bit but told give it another 24 hrs and if not improved I’ll need to go to A&E to get it sorted. I’m so scared - I’m in London in one of the worst boroughs for covid and have a health condition which means I could really do without getting it.

Any words of advice on protecting myself or any recent experiences of A&E for non covid reasons? Apologies if I’ve posted this in the wrong place.

Yes go. But if you develop a temp or start to feel seriously ill, go straight away. I get recurrent abscess and have ended up in hospital on numerous occasions. Once with the start of sepsis.

Most people don’t seem to realise that GP’s rarely deal with abscesses any more, neither do urgent treatment centres. It’s mainly a hospital referral or a&e at tandem events. Hope all is better soon.

Can you drive or get someone to drive you there? The actual hospital even in London should be ok. They're taking all the precautions. Everything separate and it's unlikely you'll need to be in overnight.

It's very likely safer to go now than when lockdown ends.

I only ask about driving since the risk might be with public transport. If it's unavoidable I'd suggest a black cab rather than Uber, bus, or train. They have the screens sectioning off the driver from you. When you get home if you want to be cautious wash the clothes you wore to hospital and obviously all the usual handwashing.

I hope you get the treatment OP and have a quick recovery.

*a&e attendance

Also only patients are allowed in, nobody can accompany you, so that cuts down numbers hugely too.

I had to attend a and e with two year old yesterday . Big city hospital. Was out and all before the hour was up on the car ticket.
Felt safer there than Aldi

Thank you everyone. I just rang the local a and e and the nurse was lovely. She has said as long as no temperature or red line running from it (there isn’t and I haven’t) then tomorrow will be fine. She was very reassuring. I am lucky that I can walk there so can avoid public transport. Am going to go at 10am as Murs Le said would be quietest at that time.

Will keep you posted!

There all be a separate entrance for non CV patients. These have been in place for about two months now at any acute hospital. I continue to be surprised that people don't seem to know about this, but anyway, it's bviously not been communicated well.

Please go op, it will be fine. Also not busy so you'll be quick.

Good :). Hope you get it sorted.

I had a c-section last week. It’s all v quiet, calm and reassuring in non-Covid parts of hospital just now - much more so than usual. They split off the Covid patients at the door. I’d thoroughly recommend it.

That’s good to know Coastercat.

Hope you and your little one are doing well.

Update. Been this morning to A and E. Had it drained and packed. In and out in under 2 hours and staff amazing (as expected) Quite the ordeal but gas and air helped!

All seemed to be checked in at the same place and then had to sit in a waiting room with very few people. Hardly any patients wearing masks but all staff wearing them. Now just hope didn’t pick anything up whilst there! Thanks to everyone who was kind enough to reply to me last night. FYI I was assured that I wasn’t wasting anyone’s time and that A and E is the place to go in my area at least to deal with a serious abscess.

@Coastercat congratulations and hope you and baby are well. Not the birth you imagined I expect!

Glad it worked out ok @axlcat. I was in A and E in a Central London hospital this morning with my 4 year old and it was really quiet. Seen pretty quickly and lots of cleaning staff around and all staff all taking precautions. If you need to go you need to go! We definitely did (all fine now) and so did you.