Facts? Hello! Facts???

[FatLazyContractor]

We don't need stomach pumps, we can vomit at will and get back on the sauce whilst wearing nothing more than vest tops in -20 C weather, and that's just the ladies (I admit 'ladies' is stretching it a bit for Geordie females).

HTH. Geordies in bloom.

[VectraMan]

You do get people going for no reason but the problem is everywhere you go someone is telling you to feel for bumps and check for blood in your poo as it could be cancer and early treatment could stop you dying.

And because people cannot get to see a gp they go to a&e cos it's better than dying.

BBC Breakfast had that GP-woman they have on from time to time this morning, and she seemed quite angry about the fact people are blaming a lot of this on GPs and was putting the case for how hard they work, which is probably true. But then every time she and others are on they're always saying "discuss it with your GP before you do X". No wonder the GPs are overloaded when people are encouraged to see GPs for what's essentially a bit of a chat and some advice.

[Zero Liability]

You do get people going for no reason but the problem is everywhere you go someone is telling you to feel for bumps and check for blood in your poo as it could be cancer and early treatment could stop you dying.

And because people cannot get to see a gp they go to a&e cos it's better than dying.

Yup, and that includes NHS sources. The real issue is the lack of GP availability as they're the gatekeepers of the whole system but the websites, posters etc probably contribute to demand for it.

[darmstadt]

This helps to explain some of it: Surviving a night in A&E: a doctor

[xoggoth]

This helps to explain some of it

Interesting, some things I mentioned like long waits to see a GP, but some obvious others there, most especially a shortage of suitable staff.

Maybe more things, like checking on elderly or infirm, could be done by volunteers but obviously proper controls are needed.

[vetran]

interesting comments too

The sheer disorganisation I have seen is scary.

The bed blocking by healthy people waiting to be discharged or elderly / infirm requiring community care is scandalous.

So many people who seem to have just arrived here are after expensive treatment.