Hospital/doctor or what?

I find this really interesting! If you have fallen on the wrist the same way 3 times I would be telling you to go to A&E as it is the fastest option (and a lot of minor units only open 9-5) as you could have broken something and best to get is sorted asap.

IMO A&E is for accidents as well as emergencies - if you have an accident that is where you should go as they are the ones that will be able to see if you have been severly injured. They have a triage team who sort the wheat from the chaff as necessary. I badly twisted my ankle couple of years ago and played on, was so bad I went to hospital but chickened out as didnt feel was bad enough so strapped it up myself and kept it moving as thought was sprain. Turns out I actually had quite a bad avulsion fracture and now quite a deformed ankle - wish I had gone to A&E!!

OP go to A&E, get advice and get it seen to asap. Our minor injuries units here to get an xray you need a card from GP except it could take 2 weeks to get GP appt. Better wasting A&E time than ending up with a malfunctioning wrist or recurrent issues down the line! :)
 
I would agree you need to go to an MIU rather than A&E/GP from what you have said.

While I agree A&E is for accidents and emergencies (clue is in the name) I would say an 'accident' that is weeks old isn't a candidate for A&E - that is usually for accidents that need quick medical attention.
 
Last time I went to A&E was when I'd been limping for 5 weeks, pain got too much and decided to go. I got a rather shirty response from receptionist because it happened '5 weeks ago'. Turned out I had a # in my pelvis that needed bed rest.

No doubt because I was 'mobile' GP etc would have advised meds and keep active.

Just because the NHS is overcome by many people who abuse the system it should not prevent those justly entitled to use this service if they are in pain and concerned.

By not using A&E when necessary can lead to ongoing and degenerative problems that places more stress on the NHS/GP's etc in the long term.
 
Illusion100 said:
Last time I went to A&E was when I'd been limping for 5 weeks, pain got too much and decided to go. I got a rather shirty response from receptionist because it happened '5 weeks ago'. Turned out I had a # in my pelvis that needed bed rest.

No doubt because I was 'mobile' GP etc would have advised meds and keep active.

Just because the NHS is overcome by many people who abuse the system it should not prevent those justly entitled to use this service if they are in pain and concerned.

By not using A&E when necessary can lead to ongoing and degenerative problems that places more stress on the NHS/GP's etc in the long term.
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But what we, as NHS professionals, are trying to get across is that A&E isnt appropriate for a week old injury, but a GP referral to X-ray or a trip to the minor injuries unit is. A&E is stretched to breaking point without adding injuries that could be diagnosed in a more appropriate area.

Just an example - I had a car accident and got taken into A&E by ambulance and had spinal xrays. From start to finish I was in for just shy of 6 hours. When I fell off my horse I phoned my GP who, without seeing me, made a faxed xray referral for me. An hour and a half later I was at home and resting after being diagnosed with a broken hip. It was quicker for me and didn't delay any genuine cases in A&E
 
I know this isn't an A&E debate but I'll add my two pennerth anyway :p

We had a genuine cause to go to A&E. 8 hrs later, we were released with instruction to go to GP in 2 days time for bandage change. Rock up at GP, " we don't do bandages here"...."umm, where do I go then?"..."a&e".

I kid you not, we had to go to a&e twice a week for 5 weeks because our GP couldn't help us.

The place was full of malingerers and drunks and this was mud morning!

It certainly opened my eyes to the inappropriate use of it......but I must say, our GP was partly responsible for that too!
 
I'd go to A&E. it is ACCIDENT too not just emergency.
And it isn't true that if you can still move your fingers/toes its not broken.
I broke my ankle two years ago, it had ballooned but I could still move my toes so didn't go to A&E until the following morning... Turned out I had bone fragments actually loose in my ankle and had to have pins and plates put in it... and I could still move my toes...
 
Just go to wherever is the most convenient to you!
You have had three accidents in two weeks. All that matters is that your wrist is seen to - not whether the NHS has it's knickers in a twist!
 
Fides said:
But what we, as NHS professionals, are trying to get across is that A&E isnt appropriate for a week old injury, but a GP referral to X-ray or a trip to the minor injuries unit is. A&E is stretched to breaking point without adding injuries that could be diagnosed in a more appropriate area.

Just an example - I had a car accident and got taken into A&E by ambulance and had spinal xrays. From start to finish I was in for just shy of 6 hours. When I fell off my horse I phoned my GP who, without seeing me, made a faxed xray referral for me. An hour and a half later I was at home and resting after being diagnosed with a broken hip. It was quicker for me and didn't delay any genuine cases in A&E
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Genuine question here if you are referred for an x-ray, do you go to a different x-ray department than that used in A&E? Otherwise it seems to me you're jumping the queue rather than not delaying genuine cases?

I've been to A&E 4 times; Once referred by my GP (broken cheekbone). I only went to GP for pain relief as thought they'd not be able to do anything but ended up seeing a maxilofacial consultant for 5 months; once referred by my local MIU (dislocated finger); once by ambulance (severe concussion) and once taken by my dad after my horse and I both fell over and he stood on my arm and kicked me in the face getting up (severed the tendon from the muscle in my arm and had a facial wound that was bleeding profusely) Every single time I've ended up in exactly the same waiting room, and exactly the same x-ray department.
 
Fides said:
But what we, as NHS professionals, are trying to get across is that A&E isnt appropriate for a week old injury, but a GP referral to X-ray or a trip to the minor injuries unit is. A&E is stretched to breaking point without adding injuries that could be diagnosed in a more appropriate area.

Just an example - I had a car accident and got taken into A&E by ambulance and had spinal xrays. From start to finish I was in for just shy of 6 hours. When I fell off my horse I phoned my GP who, without seeing me, made a faxed xray referral for me. An hour and a half later I was at home and resting after being diagnosed with a broken hip. It was quicker for me and didn't delay any genuine cases in A&E
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Fides, I'm an NHS professional too.

And I still think A&E as there could be multiple problems going on with the wrist which could get worse the longer it is left - I'd rather have someone come into A&E with a query broken wrist that happened a few weeks ago rather than a drunk waiting to sober up :p
 
cobgoblin said:
Just go to wherever is the most convenient to you!
You have had three accidents in two weeks. All that matters is that your wrist is seen to - not whether the NHS has it's knickers in a twist!
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The patients wrist will get seen to, but best done in the appropriate place, that might not be the most convenient, if everybody did what was most convenient to themselves, the NHS would collapse. ( The Staff would anyway :))
 
Another who works for the NHS here. Amusingly I had training covering exactly this kind of scenario yesterday. The point of it was that A&E/999 should be only used for life threatening conditions or those which could potentially kill very quickly, as well as the accidents that need immediate attention.
Clearly if the wrist has been like this for a week or more, waiting at an MIU would be far more appropriate than A&E because it doesn't require the immediate attention of someone in A&E. MIU's can x-ray, refer to fracture clinic and put the arm in plaster etc if required, just like A&E. Leave A&E for those who need it.
 
BSL said:
The patients wrist will get seen to, but best done in the appropriate place, that might not be the most convenient, if everybody did what was most convenient to themselves, the NHS would collapse. ( The Staff would anyway :))
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I too have worked in the NHS. The NHS has been on the brink of collapse for as long as I can remember.
Like only-me above I would rather have seen someone with a ?broken wrist that could be brewing problems than a drunk. Besides which the last of these injuries seems to have occurred quite recently.
 
I see OP's location is Glasgow. There is a MIU at Victoria Infirmary (in the new hospital block not the old A&E) if that's any help.
 
I'd recommend the minor injury clinic too. I notice your location says Glasgow so hopefully there should be one quite close to you. I went over my ankle and fell doing a 10k last year and since I could put weight on it assumed it was just a sprain so didn't want to sit in A&E for hours to be told there was nothing wrong. Went to work the next day and was convinced that I should get it checked so went to the minor injury clinic. Didn't even know they existed! Was glad I'd listened in the end as it turned out to be broken. Hope it's nothing too serious once you do get it looked at
 
Hi folks. Sorry this has turned into a debate.....thanks for comments. I ended up phoning nhs 24 (I think a&e) is fir really bad injuries etc you see. Was told to go to MIU, xrayed, told its not broken - don't fall off, bye bye. Soooo still very painful - but not broken- as for tendon damage etc - I think I would need to go to doctor and probably be told to take ibroprufen!
 
asommerville said:
Hi folks. Sorry this has turned into a debate.....thanks for comments. I ended up phoning nhs 24 (I think a&e) is fir really bad injuries etc you see. Was told to go to MIU, xrayed, told its not broken - don't fall off, bye bye. Soooo still very painful - but not broken- as for tendon damage etc - I think I would need to go to doctor and probably be told to take ibroprufen!
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The clue is in the name - a ane e (ACCIDENT and emergency) ... id say for
This minorinjuries may be appropriate but gp is inappropriate .

i speak with some knowledge on the subject... as a gp who works in a and e.... oh and gps are just as stretched as a and e depts....
4
 
Depends on your GP and how the local minor injuries unit is staffed. My GP is much better at treating minor injuries than a nurse led MIU and he can refer directly for an xray if needed. (Unless it's changed in the last few months.)

Last time I saw him for a hand injury after a fall, I ended up collapsing and being looked after by him and the nurses for a few hours in a side room. Tendon injuries are blooming painful things. I dread to think what a nightmare it'd have been in the A&E waiting room.
 
Lets forget the two previous falls and look at the third and hopefully final fall as this is the one that now has the OP wanting to get treatment.

This wrist could now be broken by the third fall and could be considered an emergency, certainly an injury caused by an accident.

No longer knowing the UK emergency system but knowing that you need to plan the dates you wish to be sick so you can make an appointment to see the doctor in a weeks time I'd be going to A & E where after a prolonged wait my wrist would be looked at. It is after all called ACCIDENT and Emergency.
 
Tnavas said:
Lets forget the two previous falls and look at the third and hopefully final fall as this is the one that now has the OP wanting to get treatment.

This wrist could now be broken by the third fall and could be considered an emergency, certainly an injury caused by an accident.

No longer knowing the UK emergency system but knowing that you need to plan the dates you wish to be sick so you can make an appointment to see the doctor in a weeks time I'd be going to A & E where after a prolonged wait my wrist would be looked at. It is after all called ACCIDENT and Emergency.
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Or you could look at it as 'accident AND emergency'. We now have minor injuries units and direct GP referrals to deal with non-life threatening issues now.
 
Tnavas said:
Lets forget the two previous falls and look at the third and hopefully final fall as this is the one that now has the OP wanting to get treatment.

This wrist could now be broken by the third fall and could be considered an emergency, certainly an injury caused by an accident.

No longer knowing the UK emergency system but knowing that you need to plan the dates you wish to be sick so you can make an appointment to see the doctor in a weeks time I'd be going to A & E where after a prolonged wait my wrist would be looked at. It is after all called ACCIDENT and Emergency.
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A&E is nowadays only for serious injuries that are life threatening, or could become life threatening if not treated promptly. Since the creation of walk in centres and MIU's, people are encouraged to use these resources, particularly for out of hours treatment.
The problem is that there is no consistency over the country.
If you aren't in your local area and have an injury, the last thing you want to do is to start ringing around to find out what services are available and start googling maps to find the place.

In the good old days :) you either rang a taxi or called an ambulance and said 'take me to the hospital'. Happy times. Now you need a degree to diagnosis the type of injury you have and possible prognosis.
 
asommerville said:
Soo if you fell of two weeks ago and didn't let go, therefore being dragged around by horse (never ever again), resulting in a very very painful wrist and hand, but you iced it, sucked it up and carried on. You then fell off the following week, typically in same hand, and then fell off again the following week, typically landing in said hand. You now have a wrist that is painful, even more painful to put pressure on but us not swollen WWYD? I am in no way a drama queen, but my doctor is mince! Advice please I am potentially going to be dragged to A&e and don't want to waste their time!
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Go to hospital doctors are cr4p when it comes to falls off horses at diagnosing a potential problem.
 
Looks like OP called NHS 111 (or the Scottish equivalent of) and it has done its job and routed the patient to the correct service - this thread is proof that it is desperately needed!
 
I fell off and banged my head out hunting a couple of years ago (on a Saturday). On the Monday I still had a horrible head ache so rang my surgery, explained what had happened and asked whether to come to them or go to MIU. I was advised MIU so did that, they were great and said that it was concussion and to just lie low for a bit and to ring my GP if it got worse. They rang my GP to let him know - he asked me to come in to see him on my way home and "by the way, why didn't you come to me in the first place?". There was a pause when I told him that I'd gone where I'd been told and then "oh, sorry"!
 
jemima*askin said:
When you get to hospital it will be doctors that you see there too you know!
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The difference is at a surgery the GP want you in and out ASAP and normally give you a pill of some sorts.

Not like a hospital (IME)

There are cr4p doctors in a Gp surgery but when you have a good one like I have now they are worth their weight and can save your life.

1. a cr4p gp totally dissed my accident when i could not use my thumb fobbed me off 3 times telling me it was nothing despite me saying after 6 weeks i could not move it. Hospital took a look when I finally said enough enough, found I had ruptured the tendon off my thumb and needed surgery. Now I have my thumb in an abnormal position and cannot grip properly


2 it was a GP who sent me to diagnostics who told me it was a pollop, so I chose to be referred to hospital for a D & C turned out I had Cancer.

3. it was a GP who told me not to worry about the back pain which led to the worst kind of Sciatica I could have.... I would have been paralyzed for life if I had not gone against the GP and took Ibuprofen which save me a life in a wheel chair



So excuse me if I have no faith in many GP in a small town surgery.

Where as a Doctor at a hospital has more interest in actually finding the problem, I am not saying they are perfect but when a fall off a horse, I would always go to A&E.
 
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Fides said:
But what we, as NHS professionals, are trying to get across is that A&E isnt appropriate for a week old injury, but a GP referral to X-ray or a trip to the minor injuries unit is. A&E is stretched to breaking point without adding injuries that could be diagnosed in a more appropriate area.

Just an example - I had a car accident and got taken into A&E by ambulance and had spinal xrays. From start to finish I was in for just shy of 6 hours. When I fell off my horse I phoned my GP who, without seeing me, made a faxed xray referral for me. An hour and a half later I was at home and resting after being diagnosed with a broken hip. It was quicker for me and didn't delay any genuine cases in A&E
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I'm confused, are you saying I should have, (in my # pelvis scenario and in pain no longer bearable after 5 weeks of painkillers//anti-inflams), called GP practice and waited for an appointment? Then be referred again to a department that could perform x-rays? To diagnose a # and bed rest?

How much pain does an individual need, that qualifies to you, to warrant an A&E visit?

Being in the NHS profession is very different to those who aren't.
 
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