Dd (age 24) is asthmatic. She's just coming out the end of a cold and woke up this morning and realised she was really wheezy. She looked for her blue inhaler and couldn't find it. She lives above a chemist so they told her to phone 111 and get them to issue an emergency prescription. She doesn't feel sick anymore so is pretty sure it's not an infection but it has just left her badly wheezing (which isn't unusual for her post a cold).
She called 111 and they told her to go to A and E. She said no because she doesn't think it's a life of death situation and asked them to reconsider particularly as she lives above a chemist and she would need to get public transport to hospital which means walking etc. They agreed to get a doctor to call back within the hour. The doctor said they will not prescribe the inhaler as she hasn't had an asthma review in 12 months (when she's moved house twice and hasn't been called to one).
I'm sitting here in disbelief. Surely the sensible thing would be to prescribe the inhaler today and she sees the doctor next week (which she has agreed to do?!).
No wonder A and E is so busy if they send people there so easily!