111 madness ?
I have just seen an ambulance arrive and wondered (nosey I know) what was happening, they were here for about 10 minutes and left grumbling to themselves. Looked like they were a bit cross.
My neighbour next door but one was closing the communal doors so I just asked if she knew what was going on and it transpired her mother had a bad sore throat and was finding it painful to swallow, they rang their GP and was given an appointment in 4 weeks time, so she rang 111 just to get some advice how she could help her today. Answered loads of questions and was told she should go to A&E but she said she didn't think that was necessary and the call ended. Apparently the ambulance was dispatched because sheils had refused to take her mother to A&E and when they arrived and found a woman with a sore throat they were a bit miffed, they dissolved a paracetamol in water and said sip this because that was all the GP or A&E would suggest anyway.
We are told NHS is crumbling and A&E is failing because we are going there for inappropriate things but is 111 making this situation worse ?
Have to say my personal experience with them has been OK but then I have only rung with emergencies which have eventually needed an ambulance or A&E.