How Does That Work Then

[teacake44]

If you need to go to A&E, you have to phone for an appointment at some hospitals. Even if you're bleeding to death. ? :0)

[teacake44]

22.33 All sounds great, if it worked, like everything else it don't.

[naomi24]

//Even if you're bleeding to death. ?//

Nothing like a bit of drama.

[Mamyalynne]

I think a triage system before you get to A&E rather than when you arrive is an excellent idea.

Re heart attacks and bleeding out, well - you know the answer to that ,999.

[teacake44]

I suppose if you're sitting at home all day every day on AB, you won't need them, the worst that can happen is the loo roll running out.

[Mamyalynne]

Won't need what?

Medical assistance in case of accident or emergency?

[Peter Pedant]

// I think a triage system before you get to A&E rather than when you arrive is an excellent idea.//

have you seen airplane?
("I just cdnt bear it: it was awful: I didnt know what to do...." and then the listener starts slapping the complainer)

how does dat work den? - yes really some has written it on AB
It works by recognising that an A+E is not and never has been a GPs surgery

the clue is in the initials - - accident and Emergency
not being able to access a blood test is never one nor the other

[chelle7272]

Being triaged on the phone rather than sit for hours in A&E, fine with me.

[Peter Pedant]

Triage does occur outside a hospital
the paramedics do it

wiv my neighbour - 74 y and 40'C and rousable but obtunded - - "Rob" took 5 h ( yup 9am when I called to 2 pm) to allay his doubts about admission. The AE Reg has to OK it and said - "74 and 40'C - - in"

40'C is pretty obviously a septicaemia readers

pretty helper said - I am too pretty to lift
so he walked to the ambulance
and ( went into AF) so his condition on arrival was - - - poor

just thought I wd give that story another airing
as they seemed so set on killing him

[woofgang]

yes, when you have sat in A and E with someone who is triaged to queue because I drove him in and he walked in the door but who has an infection in his remaining (failing and on dialysis) kidney and is between courses of hail mary radiotherapy for bowel cancer and see a bloke who has come in with a twisted ankle who is having wheelchair races with the bunch of feral children who came in with him (attending women are outside smoking) then you will be in favour of pre a and e triage too. The reason I drove him in BTW was that I was told by the attending OOH doctor who saw him at home it would be faster than waiting for an ambulance. I finally got him seen by phoning his consultant (10pm at night, lovely consultant) and persuading the receptionist to talk to him on the phone. I absolutely support the "no violence or abuse of NHS staff" campaign but it was a near run thing that night.

[Peter Pedant]

I am extremely sorry to hear that Woof
woof woof
BUT - -- or and
Hope Hospital A+E- and no white blood cells. temp 39.5'C
Chemotherapy, I was called
and a twenty year old said loudly with a chooky kid asked loudly "why havent they called our Aim-eh ? we were here first" - and I answered as I went past - nay staggered past - "because they think I am going to die"
I didnt

thought that one needed another airing on this sunny day

[Boto]

It sounds a good idea to me. The news bulletin I heard said that in an emergency i.e. bleeding to death, you can still phone 999 or turn up at A&E. So many people go to A&E when there is no need so those with real problems have to wait longer.

[Bazile]

//..I finally got him seen by phoning his consultant (10pm at night,..//

Crikey Wolfgang - you have the number of his consultant ?

[Canary42]

I got that on a flyer from local hospital. It struck me as an oxymoron, appointment for emergency !

[Bazile]

'woofgang'

[woofgang]

yep and if my experience was a one off or rare I wouldn't be so (still) white heat angry about it. It seemed to me then, seems to me now totally stupid and dangerous to have the first line of triage in A and E to be non medically trained receptionists instead of (at the very least) nurses.

[woofgang]

//..I finally got him seen by phoning his consultant (10pm at night,..//

Crikey Wolfgang - you have the number of his consultant ?

yes Bazile...I had a 24/7 contact number for his secretary in the day time and his ooh service at night. We had (I still have) private medical insurance and the oncology service goes above and beyond. When the local pharmacies let me down in supplying the special seriously strong pain relief injectables for him, the private hospital he had been in and the same consultant arranged to swap his NHS prescription for a private one and get me the meds he needed in less than half an hour. I rang the hospital, spoke directly to the hospital pharmacist, told her the story and who his consultant was, she said "of course, leave it to me." and the thing was done. I spent all my working life in the NHS and they will only get my private medical insurance off me by prising it from my cold dead hands.

[rowanwitch]

Moving the triage to an earlier point in the pathway. If it's an emergency a real one go straight to 999 do not even consider 111 and you will be assessed by the ambulance crew anyway who will be in contact with a and e via control.

[fiction-factory]

I hope you have the answer now teacake44 and agree that done as it is (rather than the way you incorrectly portrayed it) it's a positive move or at least definitely worth trialling further

[teacake44]

The last lockdown, and rocketing death rates left ambulances unable to respond to many emergencies, so one would have to turn to private transport/ taxi to get too A&E, so unless you can access yourself, you may not get through to 111 or a big delay on 999.