Many thanks to all those who gave advice. Yesterdays 'attack' of faints and afib was pretty dire. So I called 111 and the clinician I spoke to advised I go,by appointmnet...yes, that is what I said, to A. and E. Mine is the John Radcliffe Oxford. I was recieved and put immediately into an area where within minutes I rec. an ecg, and bloods plus blood pressure check etc.Gradually the Afib returned to normal and sky high blood pressure also calmed down. The best is yet to come. This morning after getting home at a very respectable 5pm. I had set out about 10.30 from home by taxi,I had another 'do' this morning ...not as bad. Went to my bed and it passed. Then got a call from my cardiologist nurse to say come into my congenital etc. cardio dept. next Thursday for an echo and an appoint with my cardio.They had heard I was there in A and E and acted upon it.Then another call to say if it all happens again and i have to go to hospital I should ring the cardio team and they will arrange another ecg by appoint.at A and E. Have any of you heard of this happening via a clininician from 111 or Have i been in the dark about this ? It was very useful because it probably saved me many hours waiting for attention in the A and E reception area.
The saga of faints and Afib - Atrial Fibrillati...
The saga of faints and Afib
On a Sunday two weeks ago after dialling the NHS 111 no., I was given an appointment at A&E for the same afternoon at 2.30pm. Went in on time and lots of tests followed. At 9.45 that evening after sitting for hours in a different area I was admitted.
So no, the same happens down here in Devon too, but I'd never heard of it before. My story will save for another day.
Jean
The whole concept of an appoint. sounds a step in the right direction amid the chaos some people are experiencing so I hope it continues .It has to be an improvemnt on sitting on a hard chair for 15 hours, or more.I was actually given a bed where I stayed for the rest of the day apart from loo visits...a commode!
It certainly does sound like a step in the right direction, ringing the 111 no for advice is the thing to do. At our main hospital there's also another better department that runs alongside (but nowhere near) A&E. Only your GP or the 111 people can direct you straight there. It has lovely reclining chairs with footrests and private areas to sit in, it's called AMU, don't know if every hospital has one of them, but I guess they would. Was called MRU until recently. If admitted to our A&E unit you're given a bed in a largish boarded off cubicle if needed. When I've gone in by ambulance they've taken me straight to one. You know I think things are improving.
Jean
We have AAU locally. Sometimes A and E direct you there and you used to be able to walk in there for worrying things but not exactly A and E.My GP neglected me badly 2 years ago, long story, but I went to AAU and they sorted me out big time including giving me a dose of Spironlactone which overnight got rid of gallons of fluid from my thighs and legs..... and I went back to them at their request over several days.They also cancelled my useless Verapamil among other things. They open from 9am until 9pm.
It really interests me to know that Spironolactone works! it seems to make my problem worse! My swelling is on the top of my feet above my toes. There is nothing in the morning when I get up, but they slowly swell .My GP gave me 10mg indapamide tabs. they had no effect. The Cardio said no, you need potassium sparing tabs prescribed half a Speractin tab - didn't work, GP increased it to a whole tab no more because it is bad for the kidneys! I think it makes them worse. the only time they do not swell is when I'm on an anti-biotic for some other reason !!! GP has no idea why !Am seeing the Cardio of Tues. for annual checkup, see what he says, but he is not all that interested in swelling on the tops of my feet
Which hospital in Devon is this Jean
Sorry to hear you've been unwell jeanjeannie50. I hope you are on the mend!
I am thank you.
We have the same in my local area. I was bashed on the head by a garage door, tried desperately to avoid A&E but was told by GP surgery I had to go and given an appointment through 111 - ‘get there in the next half hour’. As soon as I arrived at reception a nurse came to meet me and I was examined and sent for a CT scan. I still had to wait a long time but at least I was assessed straight away. It’s a great system if you aren’t so bad you need an ambulance, a big improvement on the time I sat in the waiting area with severe chest pain for half an hour because I didn’t think I should call an ambulance!
I seem to have missed something? What saga? Does sound dire but I can’t find it 🧐
yes, appointment scheme in operation my local A&E department, too. 111 have made me an appointment on a couple of occasions. Works well.
We've had our doctor pre alert A&E and also !11, no appointment as such and still very long waits but this was last winter. I think you do get triaged a bit quicker.
I hope everything is calming down for you. now - best wishes.
never heard or experienced that - sounds fantastic- hope your problems settle down
Good this worked out for you.My Cardio team are also at JRH.
I've had quite a lot of contact with them this week for various reasons.
They are under great pressure, lack of staff and resources, but in my 5 years of experience with them, they always treat me with the utmost care and compassion and always have/or make time, to talk through any questions or concerns, and they always ring back if you have to leave them a message.
I feel blessed to have them looking after me.
My GP on the other hand . .🙄
HelloJulie.I now have a follow up visit to echo. and Cardio. next Thursday following the A and E saga last Thursday. A nurse rang me from Dr. Lin...a lovely cardiio I have met before .They rang me having rec. notes from A and E I had been in there re. faints and a nasty Afib 'attack.Yes. they do always ring back.
I had a similar fainting do a few weeks ago. I rang 111 and the duty doctor phoned me back and cut down my Bisoprolol. Been ok since. I was grateful he advised me. I had got my own recorded BP readings and heart rate to give to him. Good luck.
i always ring 111 and have always been reassured by someone calm and kind. We have a system in this area called sdec you have to be sent by 111, gp or ambulance service, they guarantee to sort you out - might take all day bu they do it!
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