One-fifth of us misuse A&E.

[Rodo]

That will be £20 please.

[Lozzles]

I went to A&E yesterday. I thought long and hard before going because I wasn't at death's door. With just a balance problem and a feeling of fullness in my ears I should have just waited it out...but I did that last time and lost my hearing. But, when I saw the consultant after losing my hearing last year he said that if ever I have any problem with my balance or hearing I was to go straight to A&E because waiting wasn't an option.
If it had been just up to me I would have stayed at home yesterday but D reminded me what the consultant had told me, so took me off to A&E. I felt a fraud being there, but I also knew I was doing the right thing. Fortunately, I was assured by the doctor I saw yesterday that I had done just the right thing because of my history. Fortunately it turned out to be only a nasty infection, but it could have been the other option.
So, an emergency is not always obvious to those sitting in the waiting room.

[miasmum]

To be honest Loz, it wouldn't enter my head that someone like you, sitting quietly, waiting patiently had no reason to be there. The ones that have no reason to be there are shouting, swearing, staggering and causing mayhem. Nobody, but nobody sits in A&E for the fun of it

[Kaz]

Loz you did absolutely the right thing! Thanks goodness it was 'only' an infection, but you must never take chances with your remaining hearing, it is far too precious xxxxxxxxxxxxxx

It isn't visits like yours that waste the resources, it is idiotic drunks and people who aren't registered with GPs.

I know it's a different topic but when D had her window broken, the policeman who came out told her she should have rung 999 rather than hanging on the phone for ages ringing 101, which she did as she "didn't want to be a nuisance" He said people ring 999 for the most ridiculous of reasons - he said he knew of one person ringing as they couldn't get a taxi ( ) and another as they'd run out of loo roll It's people like that who cause the problems - and yes, I think they should be fined

[cruiser2]

Last year I was first in the queue to see the receptionist at the doctors when it opened at 8.15 a.m. Told we could have an appointment at 9.00 a.m. So phoned mrs.e so that she could get ready while I was driving home. Seen by the doctor with a good examination and home again before 10.00 a.m.
Ours seems to be a good surgery and we have always had a quick appointment.
Regarding A&E, I went one evening as I had banged my elbow and it had started swelling. This was on a Monday. Two patients who arrived some time after me were seen before me. When I asked why, I was told they had already been to one of the walk in centers who had referred them to A&E.

[KateLMead]

Obviously considered more important cruiser, the homeless also land up in A@E looking for a bed. A close friend is head nurse in one and says people go to his department for the most ridiculous reasons. A new super bug discovered according to the news this morning, ten people infected with it.

[Workingman]

Cruiser, in fairness to the A&E dept the two patients had been to minor injuries/walk-in to be assessed and had been considered in need of referral to A&E for further treatment; isn't that how things should work?

[Diflower]

Cruiser, in fairness to the A&E dept the two patients had been to minor injuries/walk-in to be assessed and had been considered in need of referral to A&E for further treatment; isn't that how things should work?

Yes! (Although in fairness Cruiser didn't suggest it was wrong, he just said what happened).
When Bb went to the local A&E/minor injuries with his eye, obviously he had to wait his turn there. But then the Dr he saw phoned the main eye unit at Southampton and made an appt for him at their eye A&E for the same afternoon.
There's no other quick route to a specialist, and the Dr here knew he needed urgent attention. Plus that A&E knew in advance that he was coming and who he would need to see.

I gather the same sort of thing happens if you go to the Gp, say with a hurt ankle. If they think you need and x-ray they phone and get you an appt at the local A&E for that. Seems fair to me

[TheOstrich]

and another as they'd run out of loo roll

Now don't laugh, but Master O, incarcerated in his en-suite, has twice (using his mobile) phoned us downstairs on the BT landline because he has run out of loo paper upstairs .....

This A&E thing is difficult and it's the same with the ambulances. All the literature and pronouncements tell you not to use them unless you are at death's door, or preferably deceased. Knowing this, we struggled to load Mrs O into the Ka to get her down to the A&E because we were realising she'd broken or fractured a bone, and when we got there I had to seek assistance to get her from the car park to the A&E reception. We were promptly told "why on earth didn't you call 999 and get an ambulance?" Yet when she was discharged in plaster three days later after the op, I enquired in the ward about NHS patient transport (the non-ambulance service, of which there are always two or three vehicles floating around the hospital), and was told "you'll be lucky, forget it ....." <shrug smilie>

[Kaz]

You can't win Ossie xxx

The loo roll thing made me laugh, I think all families have similar issues (or tissues? ) at some time but calling out an ambulance????