Seriously,would You Go To Your A&e With The Flu Or A Heavy Cold?

[Bobbisox1]

On our local news , people are being asked to stay away from the A&E departments across the region and to ring 111, to free up Doctors time to care for the more serious cases, I suppose the elderly or the very young might have to be seen but surely 111 and a referral would be the way to go

[marval]

I wouldn't go to A&E unless I really had to. I would always ring 111 first, if I could not get to my doctors.

[Bobbisox1]

Because that’s sensible Marval

[johnny.5]

how would you know it was the flu
if your symtoms were
a very tight chest
difficulty in breathing
and sweating
shivering and
feeling of confusion ?

[Bobbisox1]

I’d imagine 111 if called would talk you through it Jonny then either make a referral or not

[johnny.5]

you would of thought so but my daughter had these symptoms last week at 01:30 in the morning she phoned 111 aqnd they advised her to get to A+ E and if she could not get there they would send an ambulance
my wife took her waited 5 hours to be told just a bad chest infection

[Rockrose]

Well NI doesn’t have 111.
If you cannot get a drs appointment for 2 weeks and you feel ill what choice do you have?

[Rockrose]

But a chest infection can be very sore and again should you wait 2 weeks for a drs appointment?

[emmie]

No, only if i had something a lot worse than flu, which going on experience can be horrible. I would phone the GP first and if at weekend call 111.

[woofgang]

seriously apart from people who are sent by 111, there are many many many idiots in the world

[tiggerblue10]

I wouldn't. Some cold and flu remedies should help but for the elderly, I agree with maybe a call to 111 along with some max strength lemsip!

[Mamyalynne]

I wouldn't attend A&E for a cold or flu unless I were a severely compromised patient.

[Bobbisox1]

I see what you say Johnny but she then had been given a referral, I hope she okay now?

[ummmm]

I've never had the flu but by the sounds of it people feel like they are dying when they do. I suppose someone who has caught it for the first time might be forgiven.

But no, I'd never go to A&E unless it was a real emergency.

[Rockrose]

I have had the flu ummm and it took me 6 weeks to get over it -awful awful stuff

[rowanwitch]

Bearing in mind you get people turning up with tooth ache, period pain and headaches flu doesn't sound that bad. Had one lad come in at 2am with a boil on his bum, he thought he wouldn't have to queue.

[jackthehat]

^You don't even go when it IS a real emergency, missus!! :o)

The GP system needs a root and branch overhaul and then perhaps A&E and the Urgent Care Departments of hospitals wouldn't get so clogged up.

[woofgang]

hear hear JTH

[ummmm]

I take it that was aimed at me, Jack :-)

[emmie]

I have been in A&E for a suspected heart problem, this was quite late at night and i can honestly say that it was one of the worse nights of my life. Druggies, alcoholics, those intent on beating each others brain out and worse. if you have flu its not the place to be, unless you are sent there by your GP, if it turns worse.

[bednobs]

people are crazy, and get totally duff advice https://www.theanswerbank.co.uk/ChatterBank/Question1672116.html