A&e Crisis

[Eve]

http://news.sky.com/story/1138301/millions-should-not-be-in-a-and-e-exclusive

So where should the money be put? I do agree with signposting where possible to try and make sure people are using the correct services and not misusing and adding to issues in urgent care such as in A&E.

My local A&E used to have a separate minor injuries unit where people with suspected breaks, sprains and other minor injuries could be triaged, keeping them away from more urgent medical issues and emergencies, seemingly freeing up emergency beds etc... I anticipate many could be dealt with by more junior doctors or nursing staff but it just disappeared after a while which seemed a shame.

They do have a GP & Nurse Walk In Centre right next to A&E and out of hours doctors there too which helps them get rid of some cases which are not suitable for A&E and a separate emergency eye clinic (though not 24 hours) and children's A&E.

I do think timewasters should be dealt with general timewasters, those using the wrong services, self-inflicted issues like those who have drunk too much etc... but the issue is how to deal with and enforce it.

What have your experiences been and what are you ideas about what changes could realistically be made?

[emmie]

well if the idiots who drew up the contract with the GP's giving them a peach of a deal, this may not have come about. It has become a lottery now to get a GP appointment, sometimes weeks, if it's an emergency you can't wait that long. And out of hours doctor service, ours is Harmoni, and dialling 111 is a nightmare, going on my own experiences.

[wolf63]

I thought that you were at A&E with a crisis - thankfully not

I have only been to A&E a couple of times and both times I knew I wasn't going to die but the injuries had been accidental and very painful. I would be loathe to go when I had another option.

[emmie]

have been several times, whilst waiting for a bed on the ward, i
watched the drunks, druggies and those continuing their ruck, the after 11pm crowd, not a pretty sight. one drunk rolled off the trolley, paramedics came flying to do resus...

[ck1]

Anybody who goes to A&E as a result of injury due to being drunk or under the influence of drugs should be charged for the service. Same with the police, if you get arrested for being drunk and disorderly, you pay for the night in the cells and the police time

[emmie]

we already have had several threads, debates about this, consensus seems to be you can't charge people. I happen to think you should, if you are taking up much need space, time at a hospital because of too much alcohol then it's self inflicted, if you fine them, unlikely they will do it twice.

[mushroom25]

our gp only works 3 days a week, and there's no appointment system. all you can do is ring at 8-30 and if you're lucky you'll get one of the day's handful of appointments. otherwise it's take your chances with nhs direct as there's no out-of-hours gp or locum cover.

on that basis, if you've a real medical need, what choices do you have, other than an overburdened A&E?

[daffy654]

I injured my eye last week, went to the local drop in clinic and was ordered off to A&E. after 40 minutes waiting in pain in a room full of idiots I was getting more and more annoyed. I walked out after a very drunk man clutching a bottle of cider started bleeding all over the place from a head wound, he and his idiot girlfriend started trying to kick off with my oh and our son and there were no security personnel anywhere to be seen.

My eye is still in a lot of pain and I have no peripheral vision in that eye now. I will be attempting to make a GP appointment tomorrow.