111 excellent service

I'm glad to hear you got some help so quickly. I hope that resolved the issue for you.
I had a similar experience earlier on this year when DH woke up with what we now know was AF. I called and was told someone would ring me in half an hour. I had no sooner put the phone down when a GP called me back and said take him in its quicker than an ambulance they are expecting you in the assessment unit we went straight in and he was fast tracked in ITU where they fixed him (he still needed a few days in a ward but no problems since.

That is wonderful. So good and reassuring to hear. You were also lucky to have a pharmacy open (that is if it was on a Sunday). Hope all is well now.

Good to hear you had prompt help from 111 Franbern. About six years ago a friend rang me in distress. She was having a vaginal bleed. I rang 111.They arranged an appointment and within the hour I had taken my friend to the local hospital. She was diagnosed with uterine cancer. Following a hysterectomy which thankfully left no cancer cells behind, my friend is a fit and healthy lady of 79. We are very grateful to the 111 service.

I have to say my OP dept visit this week was 5 minutes early, the staff were friendly and I had an unplanned (for me anyway) trans nasal gastroscopy which although uncomfortable went OK. We were out of the hospital in 35 minutes so just missed getting free parking by 5 mins. But £3 was OK.

Sorry, just realised this is about 111.

The service is like the curate's egg. We have had both very good service and bad service from 111.

Bertha I had a similar experience to yours with regard to 111, back in late May.
Husband really unwell, so I rang 111 and was very impressed with the service.
Upshot was I too was advised to drive him to the hospital, on arrival he was fast-tracked through A and E, dignosed with AF so treated and monitored closely in Resusc, eventually moved to ICU, for a couple of nights, then home.
Never had the need to use 111 before but credit where its due, for us it worked well.

I rang 111 when I found it very uncomfortable to walk. I had done nothing all day but lie on the sofa. My neighbour came in and I said if no improvement I'll ring 111 tomorrow .She advised me to ring it immediately. It took 30 minutes for them to answer but they sent paramedics within 10 minutes.I was admitted at 8 pm and by 10pm was in theatre and then ICU.
I cannot fault the NHS or the 111 service.
The paramedics amused me when they commented that it had taken them 2 minutes and 22 seconds to reach me ( no blue lights). I knew living close to the hospital was a good move forty years ago.

My MIL had an odd assortment of symptoms dismissed by her own GP. She was very ill on a Saturday afternoon and a call to 111 resulted in a visit from a locum GP who ordered an urgent blood test. At one a.m on Sunday morning the phone rang to say that an ambulance was on the way and she must go to hospital immediately. To say it was a shock was an understatement. She became unconscious in the ambulance and spent 3 days in ICU. Without the diligence of 111 and the GP she would have died in bed that night.
She had had a rare life threatening reaction to the long term use of PPIs, completely missed by her own GP.

I think it depends when you ring. If it’s in the early hours of the morning and not much on the queue ….then you’re lucky. If it’s mid afternoon with already over a 100 waiting for a callback, not so. Although they do have senior clinicians monitoring all calls and picking out the ones they think need an urgent assessment.

It’s difficult. A lot of people play down their symptoms… ( I couldn’t possibly be having an heart attack, but have been persuaded to ring) others say yes to everything !

what caused the swelling on your jawline though. were you given antibiotics

It has been assumed just some sort of infection. It is very painful, both to touch and if I try to eat anything. Can drink, so am using cup-a-soups (which I have for emergencies). Can maange scframbled eggs, but not on anything.

I am sleeping a great deal. If no real improvement by Monday will contact GP. It came on so suddenly and so large.

Suppose any other weekend, I would have got my daughter to take me to local A&E department, but she was away, However, the Toldpuddle Festival which she was attending in tent, has now been cancelled due to adverse weather conditions, so she is going to pop over to see me soon. First time I have used 111 = but found them very professional and very helpful.

Last year DD2 felt very unwell at work and her left leg swelled to twice its normal size. 111 advised her to get to her local A&E immediately, where she was admitted to ICU with sepsis. She was in 6 days and told had she gone home and to bed instead, she’d probably have died through the night.
Yes, very grateful for their advice.

9 months later, she’s had the last of her follow-up treatment at Out-Patients.
It was a close call.

So pleased to hear the good news of your daughter's recovery Georgesgran

Thank you Aldom. All caused by an insignificant graze on her foot, but she does have pre-existing mobility and circulation issues.

111 have been brilliant for my elderly friend who she been having a bad series of health problems and lives alone
I can’t fault them

Last year, I phoned 111 at 10am when it was obvious that OH had more than a sprained ankle after a fall. The clinician arranged for an appointment at the local minor injuries clinic within the hour and by 1pm when I picked him up, he had been x rayed and treated for a fracture. Excellent service.

Two years ago I rang 111 to get help for DH, they told me someone would call me back, I am still waiting for the call.

I’ve only used the service once, when I fell and broke my arm while out walking during lockdown. It worked really well in that they booked me in at A & E, so that when I got there I was expected, and straightaway assessed, X-rayed, sorted out with a sling, medication and advice. DH had dropped me off and gone home, 20 minutes away, to wait for me to ring for him to come back and get me. He was just unlocking the front door when the call came.