Abuse of the Hospital A & E

nicensleazy

We had the misfortune to attend the childrens A & E unit recently. Our youngest daughter fell against our coffee table and ended up knocking her lower front teeth through her lip. Anynow, lots of claret and lots of tears understandably. I arrive at the childrens A&E unit and there is a considerable wait. As I'm sitting in the hall way, I'm the only guy in a sea of mums. They start chatting to me about my daughter. Naturally, you get around to say, whats your little angle in for? Well, you just wouldn't believe it. This was just the mums I got takling to. One child was in with a very small rash. Another was in for being sick (once) another was in for a bruised arm and what really topped it was a kid coming in with his mother via Ambalance with a fractured arm! I said to the Doctor, can't these people be asked to go to the local GP? He smiled and said, I can't comment. No wonder the NHS is under so much pressure!

softlad

going to A&E with a broken arm is hardly unreasonable....??

nicensleazy

softlad wrote:

going to A&E with a broken arm is hardly unreasonable....??

Quite right...................but via bloody ambalance ????

Cleat Eastwood

Ooh nasty, hope your little uns ok.

Often times they are referred to hospital by the walk in centres. I guess with kids the parents arent taking any chances, cant blame them really.

softlad

nicensleazy wrote:

softlad wrote:

going to A&E with a broken arm is hardly unreasonable....??

Quite right...................but via bloody ambalance ????

why not..? You're assuming they may have had other alternatives - maybe they didn't. The despatchers wouldn't have sent an ambulance if one wasn't required...

RichN95.

I got an ambulance when I dislocated my shoulder. I passed out mid way through the sentence, "I'll be fine I don't need an ambul...." (that was a bad dislocation, I've done it about a dozen times)

I also went to A+E when I had a rash once. It turned out to be the first symptom of a real brutal dose of food poisoning. A rash is also the first symptom of meningitis, I believe.

As it happens these are the only two times I've been to A+E (both were at weekends), and I've had my teeth knocked through my lip (elbowed playing football)

fossyant

I know....some right melons out there..........

markmod

My daughter when little (about 2) fell off the back of her push along toy car, falling awkwardly on her arm and so breaking her arm in two places... I called 999 and they insisted on sending an ambulance... The only time, I or my family have ever used an ambulance in 17 years... Can't see the problem??

afx237vi

nicensleazy wrote:

I said to the Doctor, can't these people be asked to go to the local GP? He smiled and said, I can't comment. No wonder the NHS is under so much pressure!

Perhaps they were in A&E because that's where their GP sent them. Happened to me once. Had a really bad chest infection, including breathing trouble. Went to my GP for some antibiotics and he said I had to go to A&E. I said I just wanted some antibiotics (chest infections for me are not exactly a rare occurance... underlying health issues), but he insisted I needed to go to A&E.

So I went and sat in A&E for a couple of hours, got seen by a doctor. What do you think he said? "You have a chest infection. Here's some antibiotics, go home and rest." Gee, thanks. Complete waste of everybody's time.

slowlanejane

... and then again, my mun, who was senior nurse in a major A&E for 20 years, will tell you - to your face if you turned up with something she felt didn't qualify - that if its not an ACCIDENT or an EMERGENCY you shouldn't be there but at the GP. And ambulances aren't there to supplement your transport issues.

hells

I am a medic in the London Ambulance Serivice we reveive 5000 calls per day in London alone. It is an established fact that less than 10% of calls to the ambulance service are for emergencies. The vast majority of people who call the ambulance service have a problem that either requires 0 medical assistance or a GP is more than capable of dealing with. Yes they do send an ambulance when one is not required, if you call they have to send one, the individual may be refered to clinical telephone advice but often the call comes back again and an ambulance is sent. I have even been sent to a patient who stated over the phone that he will not go to hospital anyway this was sent on the job description to our on board computer system. Other frequent calls include period pain, grazes, drunks, mild belly ache, mild headache (no pain killer taken) and people with a common cold. I broke my wrist in several places and it has screws in it now, I cycled to hospital. A broken arm does not really require an ambulance but having said that I am more than happy to come to such patients as they have a real injury and require medical assistance unlike the majority of 999 callers. people with a dislocated shoulder usually end up in resus anyway and are in a severe amount of pain often requiring IV morphine so an ambulance is appropriate

jonnycon

Simple remedy charge a tenner to get processed through A & E. This may cause some consternation I understand. Most people on here I would think have used A&E very rarely and hopefully never, trust me there are a great number of people who are there regularly. How many times have you had cause to call the police ? once, twice in a lifetime if that again there are a great percentage of the population who deal with the police on at least a weekly basis, that's where your resources are, keeping a lid on a percentage of the uk.

northernneil

is the fact that when you ring up to see a doctor it can often be difficult, causing this issue ? I rang up when I had something in my eye after doing some DIY and they said I could see a doctor on Thursday - it was Monday ... hence no option but to go to A&E.

hopper1

Quite some time ago (20 years, or more), I had an accident on a motorbike. Was taken by ambulance for treatment at local hospital. Soon after, I received a bill (£25 I think), for the services, which was offset by the other vehicle owners insurance.
Last time I used an ambulance it was after a head on collision, whilst riding my motorbike.
Ambulance took me to hospital, had a lot more treatment, but no bill....
Why don't they send out these bills, now, for anything other than an 'accident'.

mroli

This time last year, our 14 month old boy got sick, his face started to swell and we immediately took him to a Dr. They told us it was mumps and just to sit it out. He wasn't better (in fact was worse) the next day and we went back to the Drs. Again they said it was mumps and we went away again. My wife was really unhappy later on that day and we phoned NHS Direct and on describing the symptoms they sent an ambulance.

Our son died of a streptococcal infection 14 hours after admission.

I was always brought up not to make a fuss, not to scream and shout at the medical service that was provided to us and to trust in the NHS. After the inquest and the passing of time, we do not know and will never know if we had gone to hospital sooner, would our son still be alive? It was reasonable of the GP to make the diagnosis that they did and maybe we were just terribly unlucky, but sitting here with the biggest hole in our lives, I would never presume to criticise a parent that was so concerned about their child that they took them to hospital.

www.georgesfoundation.org

Bunneh

A few years ago I was vomiting a lot of brown liquid, I rang NHS Direct and they told me I probably had some sort of internal injury and I was bleeding into my stomach. They suggested I use an ambulance to get me there but I declined and got a tax.

I was in absolute agony when the taxi driver turned up, and being as it was 3am he skipped every red light to get me there as fast as possible. On arriving I was confronted with around 30 people, the vast majority who were drunk. I spoke to the woman at the reception and she had me taken to the back quite quickly where they felt my stomach and gave me a rectal pain killer. I threw up again, lovely coffee colouring and the doctor on call had me admitted there and then.

I spent the night, they had me on some clear liquid drip, gave me morphine (sp) and in the morning they sent me down to theatre, they stuffed a camera down my throat and found that I had a rip in the lining of my gut. I was given medication to slow acid production and sent home.

Everyone at Bolton General were awesome, right down to the porters who made sure I wasn't too worried about the proceedure. What worried me were the huge amount of drunks in A&E, I don't evny the A&E staff at all must be an absolute nightmare at the best of times. Two thumbs up to our NHS peeps!

Ands

mroli wrote:

This time last year, our 14 month old boy got sick, his face started to swell and we immediately took him to a Dr. They told us it was mumps and just to sit it out. He wasn't better (in fact was worse) the next day and we went back to the Drs. Again they said it was mumps and we went away again. My wife was really unhappy later on that day and we phoned NHS Direct and on describing the symptoms they sent an ambulance.

Our son died of a streptococcal infection 14 hours after admission.

I was always brought up not to make a fuss, not to scream and shout at the medical service that was provided to us and to trust in the NHS. After the inquest and the passing of time, we do not know and will never know if we had gone to hospital sooner, would our son still be alive? It was reasonable of the GP to make the diagnosis that they did and maybe we were just terribly unlucky, but sitting here with the biggest hole in our lives, I would never presume to criticise a parent that was so concerned about their child that they took them to hospital.

www.georgesfoundation.org

Oh my gosh Mroli, that's a heartbreaking tale. I'm so sorry to hear you lost your little boy.

Flasheart

mroli

I can't begin to imagine the pain & grief that you and your wife are suffering because of the loss. There isn't anything anyone can actually say or do to make it go away either.
My thoughts go out to you and your family

nicensleazy

Very sad news indeed!

softlad

Flasheart wrote:

mroli

I can't begin to imagine the pain & grief that you and your wife are suffering because of the loss. There isn't anything anyone can actually say or do to make it go away either.
My thoughts go out to you and your family

+1

mroli - words fail me fella - you have my utmost sympathy..

Stone Glider

I thought that this thread would be sbout the abuse A&E staff suffer :? I had the opportunity to experience the work these people do exactly four weeks ago. Iwas in some pain but still noticed that the place was a charnel house. I seemed to be the only patient not bleeding :shock: Police were well in evidence and the waiting area got so bad that the friend who had accompanied me into the hospital elected to join me in the treatment room! No I was not a pretty sight either.

Throughout the evening and early hours of the night the staff were quietly industrious, processing the flotsam and jetsam that had washed up on their doorstep with expedition. I have every admiration for the staff but wonder how they manage their sanity.

hopper1

Ands wrote:

mroli wrote:

This time last year, our 14 month old boy got sick, his face started to swell and we immediately took him to a Dr. They told us it was mumps and just to sit it out. He wasn't better (in fact was worse) the next day and we went back to the Drs. Again they said it was mumps and we went away again. My wife was really unhappy later on that day and we phoned NHS Direct and on describing the symptoms they sent an ambulance.

Our son died of a streptococcal infection 14 hours after admission.

I was always brought up not to make a fuss, not to scream and shout at the medical service that was provided to us and to trust in the NHS. After the inquest and the passing of time, we do not know and will never know if we had gone to hospital sooner, would our son still be alive? It was reasonable of the GP to make the diagnosis that they did and maybe we were just terribly unlucky, but sitting here with the biggest hole in our lives, I would never presume to criticise a parent that was so concerned about their child that they took them to hospital.

www.georgesfoundation.org

Oh my gosh Mroli, that's a heartbreaking tale. I'm so sorry to hear you lost your little boy.

Man!... That is truelly heartbreaking... I just wouldn't know what to do, without my little boy.
You have my deepest sympathy...

gbs

Bunneh wrote:

Everyone at Bolton General were awesome, right down to the porters who made sure I wasn't too worried about the proceedure. What worried me were the huge amount of drunks in A&E, I don't evny the A&E staff at all must be an absolute nightmare at the best of times. Two thumbs up to our NHS peeps!

I fear that yr expereince is typical of inner city GB; limited resource being overstretched by self harming irresonsible idiots. I am deeply concerned that my daughter, first yr junior doctor, is about to be exposed to these people. If the security services are not adequate I will cnsider hiring a minder.

nicensleazy

A friend of mine told me that the police are often called to Hospital A & E depts where the staff have been assaulted by the public!

softlad

nicensleazy wrote:

A friend of mine told me that the police are often called to Hospital A & E depts where the staff have been assaulted by the public!

I thought everyone knew that already...??

spen666

jonnycon wrote:

Simple remedy charge a tenner to get processed through A & E. This may cause some consternation I understand. Most people on here I would think have used A&E very rarely and hopefully never, trust me there are a great number of people who are there regularly. How many times have you had cause to call the police ? once, twice in a lifetime if that again there are a great percentage of the population who deal with the police on at least a weekly basis, that's where your resources are, keeping a lid on a percentage of the uk.

are you for real?

Unemployed, on less than £50 per week. Get your benefit on a thursday, you are unlikely to have £10 to pay at best of time, let alone on say a tuesday/ wednesday.

How about making it that everyone has to pay 20% of their income BEFORE they can receive any treatment? Silly idea? But you want the unemployed/ disabled etc to pay this.

The whole raison d'etre of the NHS is that it is free at the point of delivery, or have you forgotten that?

LJAR

The NHS being "free" brings a duty to use it responsibly. If you have had an accident, or it is a real emergency, then fair enough, treat now and ask questions later.

I went to the cook Islands once, they have free healthcare there as well. Unless there was alcohol involved in which case you have to pay for your treatment.

I would support anything like that in the UK. Charging people for things they have done to themselves would be a great plan. Maybe we would appreciate it more then.

Ollieda

AFAIK if you use an ambulance to get to hospital and then it later turns out that there was no need for it I thought you still got charged. Maybe this has changed.

nicensleazy. don't take this as a personal insult but I'm just trying to get my point across here:

some people may say that you taking your daughter to A&E was unnessicary and you should have just visited a dentist.

When people get injured it is very hard to tell how serious it really is, even when you've had training. When this involves children, especially if it's your own children, things can get more serious and it's no wonder so many parents take their kids into A&E.

Sirius631

softlad wrote:

Flasheart wrote:

mroli

I can't begin to imagine the pain & grief that you and your wife are suffering because of the loss. There isn't anything anyone can actually say or do to make it go away either.
My thoughts go out to you and your family

+1

mroli - words fail me fella - you have my utmost sympathy..

+2. There is no words that can express how anyone feels at the loss of a child, especially when there is such a big "What if..."

Sirius631

Bunneh wrote:

What worried me were the huge amount of drunks in A&E, I don't evny the A&E staff at all must be an absolute nightmare at the best of times. Two thumbs up to our NHS peeps!

If the government need to raise funds for the NHS they should charge drunks for their treatment in A&E. It is more than likely that they wouldn't be in a situation to receive an injury if they weren't drunk in the first place, so I'd consider their problem to be self inflicted.

I don't see why those that drink responsibly should suffer the cost of raised minimum alcohol prices when used as a deterant who would drink anyway.

jonnycon

spen666 wrote:

jonnycon wrote:

Simple remedy charge a tenner to get processed through A & E. This may cause some consternation I understand. Most people on here I would think have used A&E very rarely and hopefully never, trust me there are a great number of people who are there regularly. How many times have you had cause to call the police ? once, twice in a lifetime if that again there are a great percentage of the population who deal with the police on at least a weekly basis, that's where your resources are, keeping a lid on a percentage of the uk.

are you for real?

Unemployed, on less than £50 per week. Get your benefit on a thursday, you are unlikely to have £10 to pay at best of time, let alone on say a tuesday/ wednesday.

How about making it that everyone has to pay 20% of their income BEFORE they can receive any treatment? Silly idea? But you want the unemployed/ disabled etc to pay this.

The whole raison d'etre of the NHS is that it is free at the point of delivery, or have you forgotten that?

OK a blunt tool I must admit, however The NHS is failing fast, it is a fine institiution doing an excellent job with extremely limited resources, these resources are stretched to the absolute limit by irresponsible people making unreasonable demands on it. It is this that leads to a poor service to the people who absolutely need emergency treatment. If it cost the person who turns up at a&e every week with a headache a tenner to do so would they still do it ? That same person is depriving the real emergency of expediant service. We all need to ask ourselves some hard questions when availing the 'free' services. Who would you send the ambulance to ? The concious and breathing child with a broken arm or leg or the individual clutching at their chest struggling to breathe, you have 1 ambulance who needs it ? Our resources aren't infinite and there needs to be a control on how they are used, what we have now isn't working. Again I ask the question so far how many times have you used the A&E facility ? If its more than once a year I would say you are extremely unlucky. Is £10 a year too much ? The clue is in the title Accident and Emergency.