When is an emergency not an emergency?

I once temped at a doctors surgery and you wouldn’t believe the number of people who rang asking for an emergency appointment for Tuesday week......

I don’t think I have ever been to A&E for myself (touches wood!), but I took DH there in the car when he fell off a ladder. It was a nightmare journey, but at least we could park. They have since moved the A&E to a hospital on a huge site, where parking is a nightmare and you could end up looking in any one of several car parks for a space, nowhere near the A&E entrance, so calling an ambulance would make more sense in a lot of cases. We still have a minor injuries unit at our local hospital and that is where I hopped off to when I tore the ligaments in my knee.

People also have to be reminded that they are not a free taxi service. I do not think our generation treats them as such but I know many do.

People need reminding that A&E stands for Accident and Emergency not Anything and Everything.

We are lucky to have a minor injuries clinic just down the road in Stratford. Think if there were more of these it would take the pressure off A&E.

I have called an ambulance twice, both times for my DH. The first time he had Legionnaires Disease and the second time he had a hypo as his sugars were too low.

Never called an ambulance for anyone, but have had one for me twice. The first time was when I started miscarrying really heavily at 4 months, (DH called it), and the second time was when I fell over in M&S and broke my shoulder and the shop called the paramedics. I suppose it's sometimes difficult to know what constitutes an emergency.

I am another with only two trips to my credit(?) One in labour when I had to be transferred from the local GP unit to the main hospital 5 miles away. The other when I tripped over my feet in the street and fell over and cut my face and needed stitches. A traffic warden rang for an ambulance.

The only time I have ever called an ambulance was when I had fallen down about 3 steps and had a fracture/dislocation of my ankle.

Never again will I leave my keys out of reach because I was crawling around on the floor attempting to reach my handbag. Now I have a keysafe outside so if necessary I could shout the code through the catflap.

I did not have a choice but I was not happy doing it. It definitely is an age thing.

I've been twice in 18 months. First time, I broke my shoulder and had a large 'egg' on my head too. An ambulance was called as it would have been far too painful to sit in a car. The next time, five weeks ago, I was bleeding copiously from a gash on my eyebrow and bystanders called an ambulance. The paramedics were able to stem the bleeding but decided to take me to A&E for stitching. When paramedics are called they won't necessarily take the patient to hospital but will give first aid and make an informed decision. The third time I fell (last week) I was about 25 metres from the local surgery and a doctor there gave me the once-over - bruised ribs, painful but getting better with time.

I suspect that some people call an ambulance nowadays because they can no longer call their own GP, as in days of old. It's as though there nothing between 0 and 100 nowadays.

I've had three ambulance trips in recent years. One was most definitely required, as I had a double leg fracture. The other two, I had severe labyrinthitis. Back in the day, a GP may well have come to the house, given me the same medications I was given in hospital and hopefully the condition would have resolved itself.

On the other hand, I went by ambulance to hospital when I went into labour with my first baby, over forty years ago, and that was standard practise! No one gets an ambulance today when they're having a baby, unless it's an emergency.

Going to A&E by car/taxi is fine if you have someone to take you. I’ve been to A&E four times in the last 4 years and each time it was necessary but as I live with DH he was able to take me. Had I lived alone I would have in one case called 111(as I did) and was told to go and the other 3 times I would have called an ambulance. I think we should not be too judgey although I accept that some calls might not be necessary - but that can be hard to know yourself and hindsight is always 20/20

I'm a community first responder here in East Anglia and help the ambulance service by caring for the patient until an ambulance arrives.
Please don't feel guilty calling for an ambulance as all the questions you are asked during the phone call help the ambulance service decide whether to send a crew or refer you to another service.
So many elderly people say "I didn't want to call for an ambulance but 111/ GP surgery called one for me. I don't want to be a nuisance." No you are not a nuisance.
A few weeks ago I attended an elderly gentleman with breathing problems which had started during the night. He didn't call 999 as there were roadworks going on all night outside his home......so I gently explained that an ambulance crew would be allowed to his home no problem.
Another reaction is "I am not going to hospital". I leave that one to the paramedic to discuss with the patient!

Only been in an ambulance ( for my own condition) twice too.
Yes, I think they do get a number of calls which they have to
Attend and turn out to be either hoaxes or very peculiar people.
Sometimes though, it’s genuine people who need to be seen, even if not ‘taken away’.

Believe it or not I've only ever been in an ambulance twice in my 78 year life. Once in 1945 when I had scarlet fever and the second time about 4 years ago with a rapid pulse.
The second time I was trying my best to avoid calling them but after 4hrs realised I could either have a heart attack or a stroke but it wasn't an immediate call.
The paramedic said it " was an age thing " that the elderly were reluctant to call them out, but kindly and gently told me off !
Blue light and sirens as soon as he started the engine and do you know what ? I felt ashamed ! I told the crew that too. That's how reluctant ( stupid ) I am.