I have no problem with people being whisked in then finding out that it isn't serious, that is completely different to having a cyst on your neck for five years which is not causing any problems, ie not a sudden change, that is a GP matter. Also the lady who had a gynae problem, again not worstening, for thirteen years, that is not a medical emergency either. These people came into A&E under their own steam. Likewise someone who knew that he was taking too many OTC painkillers and become addicted, that is a problem for the GP too since he was no different that day to preceeding days, months, years.

None of your stated cases are even similar, you didn't abuse the system at all.

I have been to A&E three times in 67 years. The first time was the day that I was discharged from hospital in Surrey after open heart surgery, I was being driven to Sheffield by my daughter's fiancee and was feeling ill on the way there, arrived and promptly was 'ill' and then had a funny turn. My future son-in-law, a doctor, phoned the hospital where I had the surgery and they said to go to A&E immediately. They did not admit me that day but a few days later I was rushed in via a GP and almost died. The second time I telephoned them on a Sunday as I am on warfarin and when I looked in the mirror that morning there was a massive bruise on my forehead so I phoned for advice and was told to come in, it turn out to be from when I banged my head a few days previous, the bruise was only just obvious. The third time was in October when a GP took me in, I ended up in ICU.

No way would I go for a condition which I had had for some considerable time which hadn't suddenly changed.