2nd night in A&E

[aliasname]

DD (18) was taken into hospital yesterday for cardiac monitoring after she has had heartbeat issues for a few weeks.

She's had an x-ray, is waiting for a scan, and is on an ECG all the time. She spent last night in a chair, no sleep.

When I phoned this afternoon, they said they were still waiting for a bed for her, and some patients had been waiting 3 days! Actually I don't know if it is A&E or if its an assessment ward, but I do know she has been sitting in a chair for over 24 hours.

No visitors so its hard to know exactly what's going on, but is this normal?! So worried about her...

She just messaged to say she's in a bed, although not on the cardiac ward where they wanted her... I think they panicked when she was threatening to discharge herself and have found one from somewhere. Phew, even if she's in a corridor or a broom cupboard, at least she can lie down and hopefully get some rest.

I doubt it would of been through her ‘threatening’ to discharge herself
Hospitals dont work like that

God this is so alarming isn't it. Where the hell is it going to end up

It is "normal". It does not mean it is right but patients can be 2 or more days waiting on a ward. Some are facilitated in AMU type areas and still be on a chair/recliner.

Rest assured your child will be looked after wherever she is in an ED/AMU, if she is on a cardiac monitor she is being closely watched and I hope she gets moved to a bed or sent home soon.

As per @WaterAndRichTea "threatening" doesn't get a bed, it just means a bed in an area suitable for your child has arisen. I'm glad she is settled and hopefully more comfortable.

my experience of adult A and E hasn’t been good even before the double delight that is Brexit and COVID. (And we all know the Tories will use the pandemic as an excuse for the disastrous consequences of Brexit…). I remember a couple of years back sitting with my stoical, uncomplaining 85 year old dad all night in A & E when he was in agony with suspected gallstones/kidney stones. He has other health issues too. He was fainting with the pain and the only help he had was me trying to keep him from sliding unconscious off his chair. That’s when I knew the NHS was in trouble. Same night I remember seeing a doctor on duty when she thought no-one was looking, looking at a list of patients or whatever it was and looking broken at the thought of it, sighing and as if she was about to cry. My dad finally got a bed at 5.30 in the morning and had a scan a few hours later.

I would dread to think what adult A and E looks like now post Brexit and COVID. Children’s A and E is bad enough.

@WaterAndRichTea

I doubt it would of been through her ‘threatening’ to discharge herself Hospitals dont work like that

Okay, I didn't mean that they magicked up a bed! Just that they could see she was visibly distressed so they have found one but it's still on the acute/assessment area. Still not admitted to a ward, but at least she got a few hours sleep

How is your DD now, alias?

@YeOldeTrout

How is your DD now, alias?

Still on the A&E assessment ward! They are trying to find a cardiac bed so they can do the monitoring. Also means no visitors... thank goodness for WiFi

Tell us she's on a ward now, I hope (?!)

Thank you for coming back to check!

Yes, she's on a ward, although it's not cardiology. Waiting for an echocardiogram, but told that won't be till at least Monday.

DD very upset, we managed to see her but she's saying she feels fine and doesn't need to be there although her heart rate is very high. It was about 115 sitting down, 140 walking about, went up to 170 when she got upset. I've no idea what that means (she's a healthy 18yo, a little underweight)

@RosesAndHellebores

It's disgraceful and it's time for it to stop. Please email PALS, your MP and the hospital CEO and say something like:

Dear

My daughter currently needs her heart to be monitored. She was admitted to x hospital on, xx hours ago. After xx hours she is on an ecg, sitting upright in a chair. This has prevailed through one night as well as all the daylight hours.

My dd is 18 and I am not allowed to be with her despite the fact she is, due to her condition, a vulnerable adult.

I would be grateful if somebody would telephone me as a matter of urgency to explain when my daughter, who is ill, will be provided with the bed and rest her condition requires. I would also like to know why I am not allowed to be with her and trust you are able to confirm that in my absence her every physical and emotional need is being met.

I look forward to hearing from you without delay to be informed of the clinical and pastoral plans that are in place for my daughter. My MP is copied because they need to be aware of the gravity of the situation for patients and their families at present.

Yours sincerely

What a ridiculous suggestion! First of all, the DD is an adult. So in reality the hospital don’t have to liaise with her parents. Secondly, do you not think that if there was a bed available she would have already been put in it? Thirdly, by expecting the world and his wife to respond to such a snotty email is only going to take staff away from the job they’re trying their hardest to do in what is a crisis situation.

Get a grip!

My toddler DD was admitted to hospital last night and it took until 6 this morning to get a bed on the ward. They’re slammed everywhere I think.

Hope your DD is ok.

Hang in there, Gals. x

@SameToo

My toddler DD was admitted to hospital last night and it took until 6 this morning to get a bed on the ward. They’re slammed everywhere I think.

Hope your DD is ok.

Hard isn't it, and doesn't get any easier as they get older! Hope your DD is okay

There's a social care crisis.

Patients cannot be safely discharged , even though they don't need to be in hospital. And when capacity is taken up by bed blockers, there is simply no space for new admissions.

@Soontobe60 may I respectfully ask why you think I need to get a grip. If the public had been complaining 5/10/15 years ago about sub-optimal care we might not be in the situation now. But then again we are all supposed to be so grateful for it.

And what, pray, makes you so sure the open dd isn't a vulnerable adult. She is 18, is in hospital alone, with a heart issue and nobody to advocate for her. I bet that more than suits the average A&E department.

although her heart rate is very high. It was about 115 sitting down, 140 walking about, went up to 170 when she got upset. I've no idea what that means (she's a healthy 18yo, a little underweight)

Teenagers would normally have a heart rate no more than 100 (except during physical exertion, when it can rise significantly, to as much as 200)

I hope they find its all innocuous, but I think they are right to investigate

Google Inappropriate Sinus Tachycardia and Postural Tachycardia Syndrome. Both usually found in young women. Treatable with beta blockers.

Hope she gets on the right ward soon

My local hospital had 12 hour wait times for an A&E bed to be assessed, let alone moved to a ward bed. Luckily my doctor referred me straight to the assessment ward so I only had a 6 hour wait for a bed. (and operated on same night, can't fault the staff).

RosesAndHellebores
"It's disgraceful and it's time for it to stop. Please email PALS, your MP and the hospital CEO and say something like:

Dear

My daughter currently needs her heart to be monitored. She was admitted to x hospital on, xx hours ago. After xx hours she is on an ecg, sitting upright in a chair. This has prevailed through one night as well as all the daylight hours.

My dd is 18 and I am not allowed to be with her despite the fact she is, due to her condition, a vulnerable adult.

I would be grateful if somebody would telephone me as a matter of urgency to explain when my daughter, who is ill, will be provided with the bed and rest her condition requires. I would also like to know why I am not allowed to be with her and trust you are able to confirm that in my absence her every physical and emotional need is being met.

I look forward to hearing from you without delay to be informed of the clinical and pastoral plans that are in place for my daughter. My MP is copied because they need to be aware of the gravity of the situation for patients and their families at present.

Yours sincerely"

Soontobe60 says you shouldn't send this. I, as a (soon to turn 60, myself..😂) frontline HCP says do send it.

It's completely reasonable to ask why a first world country in the 21st century has this crisis unfolding in its health care.

As for 'what can your MP do?', well, if they're Tory, hang their head in shame and worry about their ongoing position; if they're not, here's the evidence that should be informing your opposition.

This really is an unfolding disaster. We need to stop 'putting up with it'.

Bloody hell! I'm not in the UK but I simply cannot understand this flag waving over the "wonderful NHS" when I read some of the stories on here. The person waiting outside the hospital for nine and a half hours with suspected appendicitis

OP I was in hospital being monitored for cardiac issues at 22 and also felt fine. I was in 5 days, nothing serious in the end, but apparently I was at a risk of a heart attack until diagnosis and treatment. But the nurses were alarmed enough when I was allowed to get unhooked to have a shower, I got told to hurry up so they could get me hooked back up.
My point is that even if she feels fine it doesn't mean the monitoring is not essential.

@gofg the issue isnt the NHS. The issue is chronic underfunding.