Other illness apart from Covid - current NHS status

[WallsKOL]

This is not a bashing thread at all.
5 days ago my brother developed an infection in his finger (lots of green pus). A day later it took him 3.5 hrs to drive 10 miles because he had to pull over due to being in so much pain.
The next day he ‘lost’ 3 hrs - he doesn’t know if he feel asleep or passed out.
He sent a photo of his infection to the doctors on Saturday & got s prescription.
I saw him this morning & he said he didn’t sleep & the bed this morning was soaking. His wife has phoned me tonight to say that he’s delirious & burning up (no thermometer)
She’s phoned 111 but they’ve just gone through COVID questions & they’ve said they can’t do anything else.
I’ve offered to take a thermometer over but I’m worried sick

If he's really unwell can someone drive him down to a&e?

If he’s genuinely delirious she should take him to A and E.

I’m amazed that 111 didn’t tell her do you that, or send an ambulance.

www.nhs.uk/conditions/confusion/

He needs to go to A&E

Could be sepsis, get him straight to A & E.

111 are a waste of time.

Agree with above A and E or ambulance. He sounds much more unwell than would expect with a infected finger .

Don't take a thermometer over, take him to A&E. People slip through the net all the time when they ring 111. What are you all waiting for?

I thought 111 were essentially triage for all non emergency stuff? Are they covid only now? Sounds a big odd.

What has he been prescribed and is he taking it. How far along the course is he?

Basically if you are concerned about health you can call the gp. Tricky at the moment but you can complete on line forms which they reply to. Go to a pharmacist. Or call 111. Or if an accident or emergency go to a&e.

I'm not qualified so I don't know which your brother needs. All are open and dealing with patients.

tilder if you were qualified you’d recognise this as a medical emergency. He needs a and e or an ambulance now.

My question was more of my SIL now feels that she doesn’t need to take him in because of the 111 advice (not that she’s stupid) but down to what she was advised this evening

Send her the nhs guidelines about confusion I linked to earlier m. Tell her to phone 999 and tell them he has new onset delerium.

This is really serious.

www.nhs.uk/conditions/sepsis/

You need to make sure she realises how serious this is if it is sepsis.

Better to say "oh dear, we needn't have worried" than "oh god why didn't we get help".

A&E ASAP It’s open, ready and willing to see appropriate patients, and your brother is most definitely appropriate.

He needs to go to A&E it could be sepsis

Phone 999 say he is confused and delirious with a history of infection and a very high temperature. Expect a swift response.

Thanks all
My SIL has taken him to A &E. I think on her behalf it was do the right thing, phone 111 & not burden the system.
My DD is a big , fit guy but this has really shaken us all up but hopefully it’s nothing but god forbid it’s anything worse it will be caught in time

DB not DD

That’s good news.

It’s very worrying that 111 would give such dangerous advice.

He needs to go to A & E. Sepsis or something like it is a distinct possibility.

Cross posted there. Glad she has taken him to A & E. I hope they are able to get to grips with whatever is wrong with him quickly.

@WallsKOL how is your brother now?

Hope your brother is OK today, OP.