Hospital / NHS waiting times

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My elderly mother has been in hospital for 48 hours but hasn't been assigned a bed yet. She has a collapsed lung and severe pneumonia and has been told she might now have a 3rd night sitting on a chair. She has IV antibiotics and has eaten something but just keeps saying that they're doing all they can. Because she's technically still in A&E she isn't allowed any visitors.

I know there's nothing I can do but I am so worried and sad for her, sat alone with no one to talk to and nothing really to do.

The situation in the nhs is just unreal.

Just needed to vent.

Is she really on a chair? Not on a trolley? Trolley is still awful but at least you can lie down. I’m a junior doctor and agree it’s appalling, but I’ve never seen someone say on a chair at night, maybe once, but for one night only and it was exceptionally busy. I work in hospitals so am in A&E fairly often. I hope she’s ok xx

I'm so sorry your mum is going through this, sadly it's not unusual at all.

All trusts have different rules, but you should be prepared that they may not allow visitors once she is on a ward, especially respiratory wards.

I hope you both get better news soon.

She has no bed at all?! If so that is appalling for this long. Could you contact pals? The visitor thing, whilst horrible, is pretty standard I've found lately. But an elderly person who is very poorly should at least be on a trolley so she can rest and sleep. 3 nights in a chair is shocking.

On a chair? Not even a trolley? A trolley in A&E isn't ideal but at least she stands a chance of lying down & possibly sleeping.

In our local area, blue light ambulances are taking an average of 2 hours to arrive and anything less than life threatening (elderly having falls etc) can be anything up to 20 hours. I believe the reason is the crews are stuck at the hospital waiting for hours to hand over their patients before they can leave.

Beds are full, so A&E is full, so ambulances are waiting. We're not even at the worst of the winter yet.

Part of the problem is the social care crisis. Patients medically fit to leave but cannot go home without a package of care - and no carers available.

It's extremely worrying.

I hope your poor mum is taken to a ward very soon.

Sorry your Mum is experiencing this. I've just been told today I probably have stage 4 cancer and the doctor did not even stay long enough to answer any questions just said it was pointless answering questions now and left me with the nurse and said would see me in 2 weeks. I may try and find someone privately as I have lots of questions and no-one to help. They also said they would cancel my surgery if stage 4, just sounded like they had given up on me. I have 2 kids at home, one with SN who need me.

@Silkieschickens

Sorry your Mum is experiencing this. I've just been told today I probably have stage 4 cancer and the doctor did not even stay long enough to answer any questions just said it was pointless answering questions now and left me with the nurse and said would see me in 2 weeks. I may try and find someone privately as I have lots of questions and no-one to help. They also said they would cancel my surgery if stage 4, just sounded like they had given up on me. I have 2 kids at home, one with SN who need me.

I'm so sorry to read this.

Please ask whether your hospital has Macmillan Nurses who you can talk to. My mum's Oncologist was rather matter of fact & blunt but she found the Macmillan Nurses so so helpful.

Sending hugs & flowers .

Thanks Coffee Yes I think there are MacMillan nurses but not got anyone. I really want to talk to a doctor, may go private as it was like this previous time and also concerned they said they would cancel surgery. Am trying GP, trouble is its Friday so no-one until at least Monday.

@CoffeeRunner I'm so sorry to hear this, I hope you are able to speak to someone very soon.

Yes - 2 nights so far on a chair. She's been told she will be on a ward before midnight tonight.

The ambulance took 7 hours (she was advised to wait to have oxygen levels checked etc).

It's just sad. She's also been told that when she moves to a ward it will be a "covid free" ward and she won't be allowed any visitors.

I think she is going to be fine, and is already feeling better after her meds. Just a worrying state of affairs all round really.

Thanks all x