Using A & E to see a specialist?

textbook

Do people go to A & E when they feel a GP isn't specialised enough to deal with a problem want to see a specialist in a particular field? I know it should be for emergencies but do people use it for the above reason? Rather than booking to see private specialist/consultant which is expensive.

happyshopper

No. The GP is a generalist and part of their remit is to refer their patients to a specialist when that is appropriate. Going to A&E when you don't have a good reason puts extra pressure on an already overburdened emergency system.

PasturesNew

No, they don't have the systems to get the right sort of person there, nor to move you through the system from that as a starting point.

A&E is for heart attacks, vehicle accidents, people with broken legs - Accidents, Emergencies (clue's in the name).

When somebody SUDDENLY goes from "living/thriving" to "might die in the next 10 minutes if this isn't sorted".

atolaas

A GP can refer you to a specialist...all you have to do is ask!

MonkeyDr

Agree with the advice given so far.

A&E doctors are not be able to refer patients to see specialist unless there is clinical need for urgency (e.g. to a rapid access clinic for a particular symptom).

Examples I have seen include
- man bringing in drunk (but entirely well) adult son and demanding referral to detox services. Son didn't want detox anyway.
- man with a cough for 1 day and generally healthy, walked straight to a&e after seeing GP as wanted immediate referral to chest specialist.
- woman with classic migraine symptoms and long history of migraines, wanted headache clinic referral.

In all cases referral not done (and none of them had any need or desire to be admitted). All advised to see GP who would refer on as needed.

But sometimes in my specialty if an A&E colleague calls me and tells me that they have someone with symptoms / results xyz and it is something that needs to be seen soon then I would sort out a rapid access clinic appointment within a few days. All depends on clinical urgency.

jenniewb

OP you'd have better luck turning up at the hospital desk and asking for the ... department then waiting outside the door of said department for a man in a green Doctors outfit.


A&E will only ever patch you up and move you on. They wont treat you if you are not in acute injury because that is not what they do. All that will happen is -if you do pass triage which you may not, is you'll be told they cannot help you and to go see your GP. If you do have an injury, they'll patch that up but when it comes to further treatment, they'll still request you get that via your GP.


If you need to see a specialist, just ask your GP to refer you. If they say no ask why. If they reason with things and you do not agree, ask to see a different GP at the surgery for a second opinion. It's not something A&E can do, and all that will happen is you'll have lost 6-8 hours of your time waiting to hear that.

kirtondm

do people not understand the cost of an A + E appointment?


The sooner we make people appreciate the cost of healthcare the better.

sulphate

Is this a serious question?

kirtondm

unfortunately probably yes


I know of patients who will go to a +E to avoid purchasing a paracetomol.


Add to that the cost of the worried well who think they have brain tumor after 5mins on google.

Cyclizine

The general public also don't realise that a GP is a fully qualified doctor on the GP register, a large number of the junior doctors you see in A&E are training to become GPs...

MonkeyDr

FWIW, I am pretty sure that the largest group of doctors working in A&E departments are "F2s" = Foundation year 2 doctors. In second year post qualification and first year of full GMC registration.

As an F2 you don't have much say in your rotations. F1s wouldn't be much use in A&E as can't work independently, and as soon as doctors are allowed to start specialising most run as far away from A&E as they can.

The new contract even has a special clause in that removes the over-frequent weekend working restrictions for 4 months of the F2 year, specifically to stop A&E departments grinding to a halt.

Any GP is significantly better qualified (minimum 5 years post qualification).