MEDICS have condemned a patient who turned up to A&E on New Year’s Eve complaining of ear wax.
Royal Stoke University Hospital had declared a “critical incident” just 24 hours earlier, but that did not deter the unnamed patient from turning up with the trivial complaint.
AFPMedics have slammed a patient who turned up to A&E on New Year’s Eve complaining of ear wax.[/caption]
According to accident unit sister Lesley Meaney, at the hospital, the patient had “no pain, no discomfort juts ear wax.”
She tweeted: “Seriously what is up with the general population? A major incident declared, ambulances queuing, and you decide to come to the emergency department on New Year’s Eve with ear wax.”
It comes after it was revealed that patients are waiting up to four days in A&E instead of the target four hours because of the NHS crisis.
Top doctors are calling for “urgent action” and a Covid-style major incident as the service collapses under surging demand and staff shortages.
They say dozens of patients are dying every day because of delays.
Royal Stoke chief executive Tracy Bullock later responded to the Tweet.
She said: “Oh for goodness sake, I do hope they were sent immediately home.
“Ear wax is not an accident or an emergency – no wonder we are stuffed.”
How you can treat earwax build-up yourself
Most of the time, ear wax will fall out on it’s own
If it does not and blocks your ear, put two to three drops of medical grade olive or almond oil in your ear three to four times a day. Do this for 3 to 5 days.
It is recommended you use a dropper while lying your head on one side for a few minutes to let the oil work its way through your ear canal(s).
You may find it easier to do this first thing in the morning and then just before you go to sleep.
Over about 2 weeks, lumps of earwax should fall out of your ear, especially at night when you’re lying down.
Source: NHS
Doctor Adam Calthrop, who works in the emergency department at Royal Berkshire Hospital added: “I’ve seen sun burn, paronychia, and itchy genital rashes come to the ED overnight.”
When to go to A&E
A&E department (also known as emergency department or casualty) handles life-threatening emergencies, such as:
loss of consciousnessa sudden confused statefits that are not stoppingchest painbreathing difficultiessevere bleeding that cannot be stoppedsevere allergic reactions (anaphylaxis)strokemajor trauma such as a road traffic collisionfeelings of self-harm or suicide
When to visit your GP
GPs and nurses have an excellent understanding of general health issues and can deal with a whole range of health problems, such as:
voimiting ear pain stomach ache back ache
When to see a pharmacist
Pharmacist can advice and treat a range of symptoms. This can avoid the overuse of GPs or A&E departments.
You can see a pharmacist if you have the following:
Diarrhoea Runny nose painful coughheadache
When to call NHS 111
You can call NHS 111 if you need medical help right now and they can tell you what to do next.