Beginning To Be A Little Concerned About This Leg Of Mine

[jourdain2]

Went on holiday 14/9/19 to the lovely Fife. Great cottage, but Sun. 15th I stepped into the shower and the shower-mat concertinaed under my foot and I went flying. It was a shower-over-bath and the mixer tap raked my right shin in my fall (about 3"). I went to Cupar Minor Injuries Unit and was patched-up with 3 steri-strips to hold the gash together and iodine-infused dressings. On return visit there, just before we came home, they professed themselves satisfied, stuck a dressing on it and waved me bye-bye.

Today I am beginning to become concerned. Below the wound my leg is very red and hot and also noticeably more swollen than the left leg - if I press it the depression lasts for some time. Of course it is the weekend and no local doctor's surgery available. Just asking if anyone thinks it is serious enough to bother A&E because if so I'd rather get there before the influx on Saturday night. Thanks.

[jourdain2]

Thanks, my friends. x

[Buenchico]

Just an observation about how the NHS works (or, at least, how it's meant to work):

GPs are contractually obliged to provide 24-hour cover for their patients. In the old days that might have meant a doctor having to get out of his bed to visit a patient, or to welcome them to his surgery, in the middle of the night. These days however GPs subscribe to out-of-hours services to ensure that such 24-hour cover is maintained. So, if you've got an urgent problem that you'd normally see your GP about, you're meant to use the out-of-hours GP service; that's what it's there for!

Some GPs have their own-out-of-hours phone number (which is often the normal surgery number that gets diverted overnight) but the way that anyone with a genuine need can access the service is by a referral from the 111 team.

A&E services at night are only meant to be used for the same purposes as they're used for during the day. (e.g. when you think that you've broken your arm). So the night-time A&E teams, who're already busy enough dealing with alcohol-related problems, don't really take too kindly to people who should be using GP services cluttering up their waiting areas.

So I worry about all the people on AB who keep telling people to go to A&E when they should be telling them to use the service that their GP is contractually-obliged to ensure is there for them. It places undue strain on A&E services and it results in patients waiting several hours for treatment, instead of getting it almost immediately at an out-of-hours GP surgery.

[jourdain2]

That is really interesting, Buenchico. I'm hoping that my problem will wait until morning, I'll follow Sqad's advice with the Ibuprofen, and then I'll try 1st my drs' surgery number.

[Sqad]

Excellent post by Buenchico, but I feel that it will fall on stony ground when one is accustomed to ABer's answers over many years.

[anneasquith]

Chris is correct, no disrespect jourdain. A&E is for accidents and emergency, because it’s being used as out of hours gp practices waiting times are horrendous .

[TonyV]

That is fair comment Chris and I take it on board for one. I guess it is a sign of the times, when my GPs out of hours advice is 999 or 111. I have had out of hours GP via 111 for my partner, so system does work and as you say relieves pressure on stretched A & E services. I will think a bit more before I think A & E is first port of call for out of hours medical services.

[jourdain2]

Yes, excellent advice from Chris (buen..) and I intend to abide by it. It is a shame that it is not more generally known. Ibuprofen and call to surgery no. in the morning it is, then, and I'll go from there.
The only time I have ever called 999 was when Mr. J2 was suffering chest pains and unable to stand up - turned out he was having an Arrythmic episode which resulted in several days in hospital to sort out. I try very hard not to bother the emergency service.

[anneasquith]

Jourdain, not for one second was I accusing you of abusing the A&E services.

[jourdain2]

Annea - not for one moment did I think you were doing that. :) x

[hellywelly4]

Hope things are better this morning xx

[Old_Geezer]

Hasn't 111 attracted some criticism given it's someone on a phone going through a tick sheet of questions ? With some disasters resulting and reported in the press ? I can understand why folk require an expert to actually look at a problem, and so A&E, or it's modern day alternatively named sister department, gets the custom.

[jourdain2]

Update on all that.
I rang the surgery this morning (after an uneasy night with leg starting to throb more) and got a recorded message to ring 111. I decided to go to the walk-in 'Off-hours G.P. and minor injuries unit'. Had quite a wait, but it is as well that I went. When the nurse pressed near the wound pus oozed out and the red was down to my ankle. :(

I am now on heavy antibiotics, the wound has been cleaned and dressed and covered with an iodine-infused dressing. I am under orders to rest and keep my leg up (no chance on Monday, but other wise I am doing my best). I also have a telephone number to ring on Monday to arrange for the dressing to be changed and general progress assessment series of appointments at specific clinics. It is all very worrying and the thing is throbbing, painful and pretty hot. Hope the antibiotics kick in fairly soon. I think I'm OK to take ibuprofen alongside them, but not sure.

Thank you very much all of you - I felt a bit lonely and unsure last night. :) x

[tonyav]

WOW, it is a good job that you went this morning then, jourdain. Hopefully they will have it cured soon.

[Patsy33]

Thank goodness you had it looked at Jourdain..
Hopefully, antibiotics will kick in soon and give you some relief. I would take Ibuprofen too, will help settle pain down. All the best. xx

[10ClarionSt]

I'm just wondering how you're going to walk into a walk-in? Yer know? Alright. Only askin'.

[jourdain2]

Hop and limp Clarion. :)

[10ClarionSt]

I've been to A&E more times in the last few weeks than the feckin staff! Not me. I'm ok. Others needed to go and I was the reliable taxi. Mug more like!

[Tilly2]

Well done, 10CS. That's nice of you.

[10ClarionSt]

Problems abound Tilly. Too many to mention. I'm just about the only one without any problems. People tell me how fit I am for my age. But they don't half take fecking advantage!

[Tilly2]

Try saying, 'No, sorry'.