Possible broken bone and NHS?

Last week we got registered with a GP, finally.  Well, today I dropped a weight on my foot and I think it may be broken.  I am going to wait until morning and see how it feels, but if I need to go to the doctor do I go to a GP for this or an A&E?  I know in the US a GP wouldn't be able to do anything but I have no idea how the system works here.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

I think it depends on the GP.  I cut my finger down to the bone and probably needed, at most, three stitches. I was told to go to A&E, which would be pointless since I would have been there all night.  I used steri-strips.

I would call NHS direct and see what they say!

I cut my finger down to the bone and probably needed, at most, three stitches. I was told to go to A&E, which would be pointless since I would have been there all night.  I used steri-strips.

Gonna give you a rep point for this.....

My coworker dropped something on her foot and thought it was broken. I'm pretty sure she went to her GP (who diagnosed it as broken), but her GP may have referred her to A&E. I think it depends on what sort of facilities the GP has.

A few years ago I broke two fingers and went straight to A&E!

Gonna give you a rep point for this.....

I called my husband was yelling at him to go buy some and bring them home.  Now we keep them in the house.

It was either that or hours at the only A&E in my region. I am sure my but finger would have been a priority! 

No scar.  Hooray. 

A few years ago I broke two fingers and went straight to A&E!

I did this exact thing 1 year ago, though I went the next morning.  I fell down some stairs one night.  Total dumb dumb moment! 

I broke my leg when I was 12 and we went straight to A&E, but it was a Saturday evening so the GP's office was closed and
wasn't an option anyway.

Some trusts have what are called Minor Injuries Units -- sort of like an A&E but for less urgent things like what you have described as compared to, say, a heart attack.  We have a Minor Injuries place here anyway.  I'd second ringing NHS Direct because they could tell you the most appropriate place to go, where you live.

Ouch!

If this happened to me, I would call NHS 24 (Scotland equivalent to NHS Direct) - but if I were in a great deal of pain with a broken bone, I'd probably go straight to A&E.  That said, it can still be really helpful to call them first, as they can fast track you through A&E or tell you to go at a certain time, so you can wait at home and then go in and be seen straight away.  The can also say whether or not its best to see your GP instead and they will send along helpful information regarding your call to your GP for better treatment.  

I really love the NHS 24 line - they are so caring and understanding and helpful! It's a great service.  

Hopefully its not broken and you're feeling better

Reading this thread makes me only want to say OUCH!!!!  

Thanks for all the responses, I guess I will call NHS because I have been up all night and the pain is getting worse.  I can't believe I did this right in the middle of our move, I really miss having my best friend right across the street.

Just wanted to update, I called NHS and they sent me to the A&E.  I did break my big toe, so now I not only feel silly but I will be in pain for a bit.

Just wanted to say that NHS Direct gave me a specific hospital to go to, which happened to be a fair distance from our house.  When we got to the hospital they took our address, looked at us funny, and then asked why we drove all the way over there.  Seems they didn't direct me to the closest one, but it all worked out.

Some trusts have what are called Minor Injuries Units -- sort of like an A&E but for less urgent things like what you have described as compared to, say, a heart attack.  We have a Minor Injuries place here anyway.  I'd second ringing NHS Direct because they could tell you the most appropriate place to go, where you live.

We don't have one here and I wish we did. It was proposed, but you know the Uni doesn't see a need for it. (Since their students all have access to a college nurse for issues like that.)

Some trusts have what are called Minor Injuries Units -- sort of like an A&E but for less urgent things like what you have described as compared to, say, a heart attack.  We have a Minor Injuries place here anyway. 

We have one at Guy's, and despite the limited opening hours, I love going here! They're so much quicker and friendlier than the A&E at St Thomas's, and when we dropped a fridge on my foot a few years ago (seriously!) they were able to confirm that it wasn't broken after some X-rays.

Considering I've already broken the same bone in each of my feet (once in Ontario and once in Pennsylvania), I didn't really want a third breakage in a third country to add to my list!!