I understand a&e units are busy with lots going on behind the scenes but is it normal to wait at least half an hour for triage with serious problems. It worries me that trips (one for me and one for a relative) has resulted in waiting over half an hour to be triaged in order of when we arrived. Once actually seen by the triage nurse one of us was treated instantly in majors and the other in resus but reception were happy to let my relative be slumped in a wheelchair struggling to breathe with low sats and unable to stay awake (would wake if shaken but would fall back asleep instantly), I had been sent there by my nurse as they figured my family could get me there quicker than an ambulance. Treatment by the medical staff has been amazing but what if we hadn’t arrived at quiet times? My relative has ketoacidosis, sepsis and pneumonia and was rapidly going downhill yet he had to wait in order of when people arrived to be triaged. What if he has been the 10th person to arrive? I’m so impressed with the care received once triaged but it does worry me