A&Es will be busy this weekend

teddysmum

The busy bank holiday times for A&E aren't surprising when you consider GPs' 'opening hours'.


I rang ours, today, to speak to the pharmacist, but was told he isn't in today (yet he takes minor surgery, instead of one of the doctors), but I can speak to him on Tuesday (which will be too late).


Today is half closing day (historically from when shops used to have a half day mid-week ) , so from 1pm, there will be no GP service until 7.30 am Tuesday.


Luckily, the receptionist suggested that the on call (until 1pm) doctor would help with my query, but how many patients will now go to A&E ( I'm referring to genuine people who feel too unwell, to wait until Tuesday, but wouldn't really need A&E levels of attention.) ?

agrinnall

Is there a walk in centre near you that you could use if necessary (as long is it too isn't closed for Easter)?

http://www.nhs.uk/NHSEngland/AboutNHSservices/Emergencyandurgentcareservices/pages/Walk-incentresSummary.aspx

Edit: I've just checked my own nearest one (about 3 miles away) and it states that it is open 365 days a year, from 8 to 8.

peachyprice

A non-issue here as we have an out of hours GP co-op run in an out patients dept and weekend appointments hub service run with other health centres.

IAmWales

If you need to speak to a pharmacist you can ring any pharmacy, I doubt they are all closed. There will be at least one open in your area over the bank holiday. Otherwise the 111 non emergency number would point you to the nearest appropriate service.

It's not the fault of the GP that it is a long bank holiday weekend. Anyone that turns up at A&E rather than using the other services available deserves to be fined.

meer53

There is always a Pharmacy open somewhere. I'm with the poster who says anyone going to A & E for something which isnt an emergency should be charged for wasting time.

teddysmum

IAmWales wrote: »

If you need to speak to a pharmacist you can ring any pharmacy, I doubt they are all closed. There will be at least one open in your area over the bank holiday. Otherwise the 111 non emergency number would point you to the nearest appropriate service.

It's not the fault of the GP that it is a long bank holiday weekend. Anyone that turns up at A&E rather than using the other services available deserves to be fined.

I needed to speak to the inhouse pharmacist as they have my details, unlike one in a dispensing chemist's shop, and required case specific advice, which the latter would not have given.


Closing doesn't affect me, at this time, but I was surprised at the long closing period, which will affect what people do, if unwell.


The younger generation does seem to panic more, especially about children's health, but they have been concerned by publicity about things like meningitis and we had the comfort of knowing that we could ring the GP for advice or even get a home visit, when the service was more personal and patient data bases were smaller.


111 does not have a good reputation and so puts people off. I don't think I'd use them, either.


We do have a city centre walk in and an out of town one, but they have even longer waits than A&E , with very little seating, then have a very limited service and refer people to A&E anyway, meaning they have a double wait. (This happened to family, twice).


The GPs don't choose the bank holiday dates, but don't have to take off the whole bank holiday, following the silly historic half day, as they are a multiple practice; not just one person struggling alone.


I do agree that misuse of A&E should be fined, but publicity would need to be given about specifics, as there is a danger of genuine people, who do not realise how serious their problem staying away, fearing that they could be singled out as time wasters.

System

Last year I went to A&E for a suspected broken bone, there were people in there for colds. For goodness sake! Rest, fluids and on the shelf painkillers is needed. Unless they were coughing up blood or other serious things, then don't clog up the service. I'm surprised the staff didn't ask them to clear off.

System

One of my friends is a pharmacist assistant. Some people panic before bank holidays saying they will run out of medication. If they get their medication monthly and take exactly the same amounts each day, they are not going to run out

takman

teddysmum wrote: »

111 does not have a good reputation and so puts people off. I don't think I'd use them, either.

You shouldn't let hearsay put you off if you have never used the service!.

I've never heard anything bad about ringing 111.

foxtrotoscar_2

Will it be any more busy than a usual annual Easter weekend?

ThumbRemote

ScarletMarble wrote: »

Last year I went to A&E for a suspected broken bone, there were people in there for colds. For goodness sake! Rest, fluids and on the shelf painkillers is needed. Unless they were coughing up blood or other serious things, then don't clog up the service. I'm surprised the staff didn't ask them to clear off.

Makes me wonder why the NHS don't locate walk-in centres in the same place as A&E departments. Go in, see the triage nurse, get sent one way or the other depending on your severity.