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"Calling NHS111 before attending Minor Injuries"

About: NHS 24 / NHS 24 (111 service) NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde / Flow Navigation Centre Queen Elizabeth University Hospital Glasgow / Minor Injuries Unit

(as a service user),

I used the NHS 111 service as advised to seek advice and book an appointment for minor injuries to avoid long wait times. I contacted the service at around 11am, then call returned after 12pm, at which time I was advised I’d have a video consultation at 3pm.

This happened and I was told they had booked an appointment for me at QEUH Minor Injuries Unit 30 minutes later, to make my way there asap. I arrived 15 minutes early and booked in. I then waited in the queue just like everyone else. When I asked at reception how long the wait should be after an “appointment time” (2hrs in and still waiting), I was told there are no appointment times, it’s just arrival times!

2hrs 30 minutes after my “appointment time”, I was then triaged yet again, (making this the 4th person I have discussed my injury with) and sent for an x-ray, even though the triaging clinician from NHS video call, had already told me I would require this. So my question is, why are patients being misinformed like this? I could have attended first thing in the morning and been home! Why are NHS resources and finances being wasted within a call centre, when these calls are futile and the money could be utilised on the ground, where the actual wait is!  

It was a waste your time, breathe and energy, as that call means absolutely nothing when you turn up, the wait will be the same as anyone else walking in the front door at the same time as you, even though you’ve already waited half your day in the house, waiting for advice.

Absolutely appalling information being given out by NHS adverts.

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Responses

Response from Laura M, Patient Experience Officer, Nursing and Care, NHS 24 8 months ago
Laura M
Patient Experience Officer, Nursing and Care,
NHS 24
Submitted on 26/02/2025 at 14:24
Published on Care Opinion at 14:24


Dear Ethan43#

Thank you for sharing your story on Care Opinion. I am sorry to learn of your experience when you contacted the 111 service for advice and an appointment at the minor injury unit.

I respond on behalf of NHS 24, regarding your initial call to the 111 service. I thought it might be helpful to explain that after contacting NHS 24, any onward care arranged including phone calls, appointments and home visits, are arranged and managed by your local Health Board. Based on the information in your story, it appears that your local Health Board would be best placed to address your feedback in relation to the appointment system / waiting time. I note your Health Board has been tagged in your story.

If you have any feedback regarding your call to the 111 service, please do not hesitate to get in touch with me, including your Care Opinion username, at patient.experience@nhs24.scot.nhs.uk, and I would be pleased to review this for you.

Kind Regards

Laura

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Response from Edward Pool, Lead Advanced Nurse Practitioner, Flow Navigation Centre, NHSGGC 8 months ago
Edward Pool
Lead Advanced Nurse Practitioner, Flow Navigation Centre,
NHSGGC
Submitted on 27/02/2025 at 13:15
Published on Care Opinion at 16:53


picture of Edward Pool

Dear Ethan43#

Thank you for taking the time to share with us your experience of using our services. I am really grateful that you have shared this account with us as your story does not describe the standard of care that we aim to provide. I would like to apologise for the poor experience you have described.

I am going to discuss your story with my colleagues in the Minor Injury Unit so that we can understand why you waited so long from your appointment time. It is not essential, but if you were comfortable to share with me your name and date of attendance, we will be able to gain much more detailed information. Please contact me at edward.pool2@nhs.scot if you are willing to share this information or you wish to discuss further at this stage.

Thank you once again for highlighting your concerns, it is incredibly valuable to learn how processes are working from a service user point of view. I hope your injury is well on the way to recovery and I will share further information with you as we investigate this.

Kind regards

Ed

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