111 causing more trouble than it's worth

I don't know if we are particularly lucky but we've found 111 quite good. If I have to call about DH i always get to speak to a doctor who either advises or visits. The fact that he has a diagnosed serious illness helps here. When GS2 had breathing problems DD rang 111 and a doctor called her back and said A&E (where he was seen with no wait at all!)

Re my OP. If the 111 service thought this person ought to attend A&E why didn't they at least ask if she had someone who could take her? She has a perfectly able husband who could have done so. That at least would have cut out the ambulance.

When there was norovirus on the hospital ward where my husband was over three years ago, I could not wait to get him out of there and home. Had to ring up his GP who agreed to book him out of the ward.
I am surprised that 111 did go for an ambulance to take someone with norovirus to hospital. It must have been someone very new to the job.

Is this good or bad?
111 lost over 15000 reports.
Some GPs think it is good because it saves them paperwork.

pulsetoday.msgfocus.com/c/12bBR7kYAUoyDFVaLWpsyNUg

yes, we have to ring 111 and they will set us up with an out of hours GP clinic in Lincoln hospital. They provide a super service. This weekend I had a nasty discharge issuing from a wound following an operation four days earlier. I have MND and, so that I wouldn't have to travel all over town to see a GP, they sent a doctor and a nurse around to have a look. I couldn't believe how kind that was. I never knock them at all. Over the last two years, they have arranged me appointments very late at night. I really cant fault them at all.

That is so reassuring to hear willsandco. Nice to hear from you, hope you are keeping well?

Always good to hear positive news re NHS service.

Wills I sincerely hope your wound is healing as well as possible.

On 20.8.12 I rang NHS direct because my heart rate had been 230 for 14 hours, and I was unable to stand up. I knew I needed an ambulance, but there was no way I was going to call one and put myself in the position of being accused of being a time waster.

When they answered they asked me name, address, phone no., DoB, etc., and asked what was wrong. After I explained they said to wait a moment while they transferred me.

When they answered, someone else asked me name, address, phone no., DoB, etc., and asked what was wrong, and then transferred me. Then again I was asked my name, address, phone no., DoB, etc., and what was wrong, and then transferred.....

This went on for half an hour, by which time it was obvious that they were just putting me back into the call centre for someone else to pick up because nobody wanted the responsibility of making a decision. So I asked what I should do, and they just said "I don't know", so I hung up.

crun Maybe it's a new policy that once they have the date of birth and it indicates someone over a certain age, they simply pass the call around and around until the caller dies of frustration, thus saving the NHS considerable sums of money.

The thing is, a caller in that situation could actually die. Best not to worry about being a time waster and just call the ambulance yourself.

Oh crun

I know that it would be awful for you to be called a time waster, but your life is far more important than that!

How are you feeling now?
Do you still need to go to hospital?

Crun that must have been terrifying. Honestly you should have called the paramedics (and the rapid response unit at that) . They would have come equipped with ECG machine and (worst case scenario) I believe a defibrillator. Hope you are OK now, but next time do not worry about being or appearing to be a time waster , your health (your life) is too important

crun

I am perplexed, I am in no way trying to defend poor service, you certainly recieved a terrible service. I did note this happened in 2012 and believe me or not I couldn't for a moment remember 111 had been introduced prior to that time. Time fly's.

You say you had felt unwell for 14 hours and knew you required an ambulance. You rang 111 and after 30 minutes of 'getting the run around' you put the phone down.
Did you call an ambulance and go to hospital?

I hope you have not experienced such a nasty episode since but like others you can never feel you are being a time waster given those circumstances,, just call for an ambulance, they know what a time waster is and that certainly ain't the likes of you.

Crun phoned NHS Direct, not 111 which is a much better service.

Anyone with such a pulse rate shouldn't wait 14 hours to phone whatever service!

river walk

I missed that, yes it was NHS Direct!

I totally obsessed with 111 getting negative comments. Sorry crun!

"Did you call an ambulance and go to hospital?"

I rang the surgery, and asked for a house call. We then had the usual inquisition "why can't you come in?" etc., followed by a weary "OK the doctor will be round in a few hours". Fortunately she must have had the sense to speak to a doctor, because 90 seconds later I got a call from the GP telling me that he was calling an ambulance.

"do not worry about being or appearing to be a time waster"

You're having a laugh aren't you? I still get treated like a timewaster even now that I have been diagnosed with AF, and even after I have been referred for an ablation (heart operation). The more I'm seen as crying wolf, the more I'm ignored even when there's really something wrong, and more I'm ignored the more I'm seen as crying wolf.

Crun what kind of support system do you have - family, friends, etc? I'm thinking you shouldn't have to do this all by yourself when you're feeling so ill.

This treatment is just not acceptable. When DH was ill last winter and trying to get an appointment, he was given the run around too. I took over on the phone and made it clear that he needed an appointment or GP visit PDQ. Thank goodness I did as he was admitted to hospital that same day.

You are not repeat not " crying wolf"! Tell them Soutra says so.
Now this should not make a difference and I apologise in advance if I am speaking out of turn, but How you relate your symptoms can make a difference. I am not suggesting exaggeration or fabrication, but do not give them any leeway to fob you off.
Example, DH had a cough shortly after being in hospital for emergency blood transfusions. He tried to get an appointment for a doctor just to listen to his chest without success. I rang, and was offered 10 days time (!) to which I reiterated (politely) that he needed to be seen today as he was on immunosuppressants, had recently come out of hospital and couldn't risk a possible chest infection as he couldn't fight it.
Phone call back, could we come in at 11.10. Job done.

crun, surely with those symptoms, the better course would have been to ring 999 for an ambulance. I've heard that 111 is a waste of time because the people who answer the phone are not professionals.

"what kind of support system do you have"

Outside of the NHS, I can count on the fingers of one hand the number of conversations I have had with another person in the last year.

anno

You have made the same mistake as I did.

It was not 111 it was NHS Direct.

crun, that's very (unless it's by choice, of course)

crun that's terrible.
It's hard to stick up for yourself when you're feeling ill, especially in the face of disbelief.
Do you have an advocacy service in your area? Here is a link to one in Sunderland, for your info:
www.ageuk.org.uk/sunderland/our-services/advocacy-service/

Crun yes that is very

I stand corrected, Pogs. However, I still think the symptoms would have warranted 999 and an ambulance. Or have I been watching too many episodes of Casualty?