Are we too reserved or too scared to bother our NHS?

accymel · 20-11-2006, 14:29

MMm reading this & knowing the hassles im having with nhs, made me ponder, dont think its stiff upper lip, i think its a case of we dont want to bother the emergency services in case its nowt serious, i know even myself i ring nhs direct or me dad before i bug A&E, wonder if we feel like this cos of the pressure of the NHS crisis or is it generational or fear ???

Quote:

LONDON (Reuters) - The British "stiff upper lip" may explain why 40 percent of people would not dial 999 immediately if they thought they had suffered a heart attack, according to a survey released on Monday. The YouGov poll also revealed 64 percent of people experiencing heart attack symptoms would ring their partner, friend, relative, doctor or NHS Direct -- rather than call an ambulance

http://uk.news.yahoo.com/20112006/32...t-charity.html

Ianto.W. · 20-11-2006, 14:40

If you are ill and can not cope with it, present yourself at the Accident and
Emergency unit you will be seen right away, if you need admitting you will be.

Tinkerbelle · 20-11-2006, 14:40

LOL!

Whoops I wonder if I'm one of those statistics from when my appendix were threatening to rupture. When I got to hospital around tea time, after making a doctors appointment that morning, I got a telling off for not ringing an ambulance during the night, it was that serious!

I don't know we are a weird nation for that. It's like we don't allow our weaker side to be seen. It's a case of 'oh I'll be ok, it's nothing serious!'

accymel · 20-11-2006, 14:44

I think its more about wasting someones time that could be better used, like in my other thread about hospital referals was told if i get nowhere then go casualty....err i thought casualty was for injuries serious stuff not for bugging cos my GP cant be bothered mmmm like when i got a reaction from the barbed wire my GP preferred the fact that it would be better seen at the hospital A&E & it wasn't serious - u get a bit of guilt taking up time that an emergency could use - that sort of reservedness i suppose, either due to pressure of services timewasting media attention or inherited ideal.

accymel · 20-11-2006, 14:48

LOL tinks i get what u mean - the thought of ringing an ambulance u think na i'll be fine - i wouldnt get an ambulance till i knew it was serious enough [maybe too late by then lol] dunno what it is about it?/

Ianto.W. · 20-11-2006, 15:15

Do not be affraid of being pushy with the NHS if you don't someone else will.Last year after waiting 3 months for an operation I went to 'A and E' at BRI, I was operated on the following day and it saved my life, so keep 'dogging' them, they that don't ask don't get.

cashman · 20-11-2006, 19:23

i think theres a strange mentality in this country, in that some people think oh the doctors to, busy to bother with me/this etc, me late mam bless her was a great example of this.so don,t think its reserved or scared mel, i think STUPID is a better description, and before everyone starts slagging me- ive been guilty of it myself in the past.

Sparkologist · 20-11-2006, 19:33

A few years ago, one of my workmates needed a hernia op. His doctor said that he would have to take his chance on the waiting list, but when he went to A&E with severe pain, he was fast-tracked and operated on the next day.

lettie · 20-11-2006, 19:45

I think that some of the problems in A&E, which are well documented, are that people who should come to A&E with their problems often just don't come until those problems become life threatening. A&E departments up and down the country are packed out with people who shouldn't be there. People who turn up at A&E because they can't get a GP appointment, people with very minor injuries who could clean their wound and put a plaster on it (believe me.... I've seen it), and people who are regulars and have absolutely nothing wrong with them but A&E is the only attention they ever get from anyone (I've seen this too).

One of the problems is that the people who shouldn't be there bump up the waiting times therefore the people who should be there think well......maybe I'll just hang on at home and see if this pain, or whatever, settles because I may be waiting 4 hours in A&E. By the time they realise that things are serious their condition is often much worse. I waited over 24 hours to go to A&E with a fracture a few years ago. I thought that it was probable just a sprain and took a couple of paracetamol and went to bed. The day after, when my arm was turning black with the bruising I finally pitched up in A&E. They were amazed that I had actually been able to sleep with a fracture which hadn't been immobilised..

Ianto.W. · 20-11-2006, 19:58

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sparkologist

A few years ago, one of my workmates needed a hernia op. His doctor said that he would have to take his chance on the waiting list, but when he went to A&E with severe pain, he was fast-tracked and operated on the next day.

Yabbadabadoo that's the way to beat the system, present yourself they have to treat you!

chav1 · 21-11-2006, 17:01

when my son was less than 1 year old he was very ill but doctors at queens park hospital refused point blank to come out to him despite me at the time not driving and had very little money most certainly not the 7-8 quid each way to get him to blackburn so i dialed 999 and asked for an ambulance to which my son was checked out at home and then taken to hospital to be treated with what looked liek menigitas ( luckily it wasnt but the doctors refusing to come out didnt know that )

my experience of NHS direct is that the nurses on the phone are very helpfull but the doctors will go to any length to avoid doing a home visit

WillowTheWhisp · 21-11-2006, 17:10

I'm one of those who doesn't like to bother the doctor or anybody in case it's not that serious. I bother them if it's the kids but not if it's me. I think it's because we hear all these stories about time wasters who dial 999 when they've got a splinter in their finger and we see all the posters in the surgery about not wasting GPs time with requests for unnecessary home visits.

Now all of a sudden I'm being shunted back and forth from hospitals to doctors back to hospital again for various ops and tests and what have you and I don't know if I'm coming or going so I'm certainly getting my money's worth at the mo!

accymel · 21-11-2006, 17:47

Ive an answer why i dont like bother gp's/drs - cos when u do u find yourself running about & told one thing then another - oh & they change the system everyday so u dont know where u are & still dont see anyone or get anywhere - u think why bother unless u is dying or incapcitated

SPUGGIE J · 21-11-2006, 18:32

I stay away from the docs and A n E as most of the time I dont see the point unless forced into it. As for those that cant be bothered phoning 999 shame on em. A few years back I took a "turn" and phoned for an ambulance but couldnt talk to say were and what was the problem. I crawled to the front door and pulled it open and thats were they found me on the doorstep in tshirt and boxers having been sick all over the place. This I have no recollection of and woke up in A n E with drips in me.

Didnt occur to me untill later that the emergency services can trace your phone to your home. I knew was something wrong and acted but returning for several more visits including a cat scan I am glad they are there.

Ianto.W. · 21-11-2006, 19:47

Don't bother dialing 999 for an ambulance, invest 6 quid in a taxi, you will get there a lot faster, then go to A and E, believe me it works, I'm living proof.