Not sure I would go the the GP is I was really sick, the wait for an appointement is too long at 3 days - even the emergency appointments are booked out. I'd go to AE which is what I htink many people are doing now.
If you can get to A&E under your own steam them you probably shouldn't be going to A&E....
If you can get to A&E under your own steam them you probably shouldn't be going to A&E....
Come on now don't be silly.
Back in December I started getting a chest infection. GP wouldnt be able to see me for 3 days. So rather than waiting 3 days, by which point I would have probably have ended up being taken to hospital by ambulance, I just drove myself to A&E and was given Anti's.
Was it the 'correct' referral path to take, no it wasnt, but because the NHS is currently flawed then it was the most logical thing to do.
[i]If you can get to A&E under your own steam them you probably shouldn't be going to A&E....[/i]
I've ended up in plaster 4 times in my life with broken/suspected broken arm bones and I've been stitched 3 times. I got myself there for each of these occasions.
Only times I didn't make it there under my own steam was when I had a ruptured appendix and when I broke my hip.
I think there's a lot of non-life threatening injuries that require 'emergency' care that people can make their own way to hospital with.
Back in December I started getting a chest infection. GP wouldnt be able to see me for 3 days. So rather than waiting 3 days, by which point I would have probably have ended up being taken to hospital by ambulance, I just drove myself to A&E and was given Anti's.
And you know that it was a bacterial chest infection based on which tests? I suspect that you probably had a viral chest infection and you just got better by yourself.
I've ended up in plaster 4 times in my life with broken/suspected broken arm bones and I've been stitched 3 times. I got myself there for each of these occasions.
That's what minor injuries is for.
my local hospital doesn't have a minor injuries...
If you can get to A&E under your own steam
Not sure about that. Concussion? I've cycled directly to hospital after coming off my bike and smacking my head hard. Pretty sure that was acceptable. The doctor who saw me certainly thought so though that was about 10 years ago so maybe minor injuries would be the place now.
FWIW, more recently when I sliced open my knee in a very annoying off, I went to the minor injuries clinic and got seen faster than I would have in A&E.
Pretty sure that riding a bike concussed is stupid.Not sure about that. Concussion? I've cycled directly to hospital after coming off my bike and smacking my head hard
my local hospital doesn't have a minor injuries...
Go to the one that does then.
[i]Pretty sure that riding a bike concussed is stupid.[/i]
You'd have to be concussed to ride a bike when... Oh.
[i]Go to the one that does then. [/i]
So what's a reasonable distance for me to drive with a broken arm or a profusely bleeding head wound, in your professional opinion?
Yeah, I agree but as pointed out above, it seemed reasonable at the time (and the headache had only just started - peaked nicely about 2 hours into my wait at A&E)
RE GPs doing other work..
Mine spends at least 1 day a week moonlighting as a hospital doctor at the local hospital. I have even seen him as a GP, he refered me to hospital. On arrival my appointment was with my GP as a hospital doctor. How can that possibly be a good use of resources?
A lot of GPs are 'portfolio doctors' - using other skills/qualities in other areas of the NHS - clinical work/commissioning/private stuff.
Why - because leading an interested and varied life leads to better job satisfaction. No one can 'force' them to work solely as a GP.
DrP
wanmankylung - MemberIf you can get to A&E under your own steam them you probably shouldn't be going to A&E....
What a load of bollocks. Sorry but no other response possible. Every time I've been in A&E I got there myself. Probably should have called an ambulance for the broken hip, mind. And no question that I was in the wrong place.
So what's a reasonable distance for me to drive with a broken arm or a profusely bleeding head wound, in your professional opinion?
The answer to that question is simple - no distance at all. What you did would probably have got you banned had you been caught.
What a load of bollocks. Sorry but no other response possible. Every time I've been in A&E I got there myself. Probably should have called an ambulance for the broken hip, mind. And no question that I was in the wrong place.
In that case you are clearly an idiot.
[i]What you did would probably have got you banned had you been caught.[/i]
It's a good job I chose not to drive and went to the local hospital then, eh.
If you insist.
That's what minor injuries is for.
Actually no, it's not. To be an AandE department the department must meet certain qualifications, IIRC including being open 24 hours, access to diagnostic equipment such as a CT scanner and x-ray machinery. A scaled down AandE department not meeting those criteria is called a Minor Injuries Unit. MIU is "for" being able to offer scaled back AandE services without the the cost of a full department and it's supporting facilities.
my local hospital doesn't have a minor injuries...Go to the one that does then.
The city I live does not have an MIU, it has a hospital with an AandE department. The nearest MIU is 15 miles away and not open at weekends. Guess where I'll go if I've hurt myself on a Saturday?
Maybe NHS Scotland just works better?
wanmankylung - MemberIn that case you are clearly an idiot.
Because you know all the details, obviously. Have a word, you're spouting nonsense and calling people idiots for correcting you despite not having the slightest idea yourself. Tons of A&E cases are walk-ins.
whenever anyone brings up charging foreigners for care, it actually means putting a system that can charge everybody but will only be used to charge a very small percentage of patients
FYI, the NHS does charge foreign patients. If you don't pay up then they'll tell the border agency and they won't let you back into the country until you settle your bill. And the bill has 50% added on top of what the treatment should have actually cost. The more foreigners use the nhs, the better off it is thanks to the out-of-towners tax!
FYI, the NHS does charge foreign patients. If you don't pay up then they'll tell the border agency and they won't let you back into the country until you settle your bill. And the bill has 50% added on top of what the treatment should have actually cost. The more foreigners use the nhs, the better off it is thanks to the out-of-towners tax!
The big flaw in this analysis is that non-payers can leave the country (no exit checks) and never come back and never settle their bill = nhs out of pocket
True, but if it was planned treatment then they'd be charged up front. Personally I'd rather we treated people who need lifesaving care rather then making them wait while they check their bank balance/eligibility.
In any case, it's not as if no other businesses (hotels, restaurants, US hospitals) charge you on 'check out' rather than for everything as it happens.
