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Original poster

Do some people not understand how A&E works?

64 replies

YouFilthyAnimal · 19/12/2022 13:54

I’m in A&E with DS and this isn’t the first time that we’ve been taken straight through from triage and put on a nebuliser only to hear people kicking off about it in the waiting room because ‘they were here first’
Do people not realise that A&E is based on need and urgency and not what order you came in at?! Would they expect someone having a heart attack to get behind a broken toe because they were there first
Baffles me every time 🤦🏻‍♀️

OP posts:
picklemewalnuts · 19/12/2022 16:09

I was twitchy last time I was there, because sent by the walk in, told I needed antibiotics urgently to avoid IV antibiotics. I knew it was a stitch in time situation and could see the clock ticking.

I'd never have tutted at anyone else though. I'm naturally curious, so had to turn off my inner judge who wanted to assess how everyone else was, why they were there, and who's go in next!

I was admitted as it happens, and wonder whether if the GP or walk in had given me ABs I could have avoided an ambulance transfer and 36 hours on a ward.

startingagain17 · 19/12/2022 16:13

I was in the A&E waiting room for 26 hours vomiting blood 2 weeks ago. There were definitely people less sick going ahead of me, but I think sometimes they are sifting out the quick exit patients in order to deal with those who are more ill. I was admitted for a week eventually.

Unifolorn · 19/12/2022 16:13

MoreTeaLessCoffee · 19/12/2022 14:43

The thing is though that"how A&E works" at the moment is not how it should work, is it. No one should have to wait 7+ hours with a sick child. Just because your child is in need of immediate attention doesn't mean everyone else is a time waster who just needs to sit down and be patient. Those parents would be scared and stressed from the effort of waiting, I'd imagine. It's not personal, it's the system at fault.

Yes I agree with this. No one should be rude but similarly some people are waiting ridiculous amounts of time and of course it gets frustrating, they shouldn't take this out on other patients though. Amazing how many people have managed to triage others though with 'just a bruise' or a sore throat or whatever else, sure lots of people time waste but it's hard to tell whats wrong with people just by looking so perhaps everyone should be less judgemental.

DidyouNO · 19/12/2022 16:15

My husbands a Paramedic. People seem to be clueless how A&E work. In fact the entire 999 system seems to confuse them.

YorkshireLondonMiss · 19/12/2022 16:19

Frustrating but I think people are desperate. My friend gets so much abuse as an a&e nurse from people who have been waiting but she says some have been waiting 10 hours and have been sent by 111 so she almost gets it…just wishes they wouldn’t scream at her 🤦🏽‍♀️

lili2308 · 19/12/2022 16:23

Very sorry to to hear this and hope everything turns out well for you and your DS. I think a lot of people at A&E are in a panic state (even if what's happening is not a top emergency) - they don't necessarily know it's not a top emergency. Tbf to them it's not like anyone is ever educated as to what constitutes a top emergency and how prioritisation works so it's not their fault they don't know. In general i would say that in the UK general public'a medical knowledge is quite low in comparison to other countries (through no fault of their own). I would also add that you sometimes you don't tick all the necessary boxes but you 'just know' that whatever is happening is definitely bad and needs attention but you aren't being listened to. And then.. bad things do happen. Statistically, that's more likely to happen to women too...

Headabovetheparakeet · 19/12/2022 16:24

picklemewalnuts · 19/12/2022 16:09

I was twitchy last time I was there, because sent by the walk in, told I needed antibiotics urgently to avoid IV antibiotics. I knew it was a stitch in time situation and could see the clock ticking.

I'd never have tutted at anyone else though. I'm naturally curious, so had to turn off my inner judge who wanted to assess how everyone else was, why they were there, and who's go in next!

I was admitted as it happens, and wonder whether if the GP or walk in had given me ABs I could have avoided an ambulance transfer and 36 hours on a ward.

Why didn't the walk in give you a prescription?

Plingston · 19/12/2022 16:34

I think lots of people do understand the way triage works but don't care or don't think it should apply to them and just want to be seen quicker. It's only human nature really.

I was taken straight through a week or so ago as i kind of lay on the floor in reception. I couldn't stand any longer. I had neutropenic sepsis and was very ill. I probably looked like a healthy young woman being dramatic to anyone watching. My hair hadn't yet fallen out so it wasn't obvious I'm having chemo. I almost collapsed a couple of times and was on the verge of passing out as I walked to the entrance door. There were four people stood outside who all just watched me. Not a single person offered a hand. I thought that was quite bad but, again, they probably assumed i was generally fit and healthy and maybe even contagious given my age. It's certainly made me more conscious of not assuming anybody's health status or level of illness.

Lemonlady22 · 19/12/2022 16:59

Last time I was in ED there was a teen age girl with a broken false nail! Ridiculous…nurse pushed it down and bandaged it…‘that’s gonna look great on a night out innit’ she said!

hopeishere · 19/12/2022 17:01

The last time I was there some I had already been seen by the GP and OOH but didn't trust them so wanted their kid seen again.

BabyFour2023 · 19/12/2022 17:05

TheOrigRights · 19/12/2022 15:11

There's a big sign in ours telling people not to be twats if people are not seen in the order they arrive. Something like that anyway. I would think the very people who have been waiting there a long time have time to read the darn thing.

nb. I realise many, many people are not receiving the urgent treatment they need.

I wish it actually said this 😂

BabyFour2023 · 19/12/2022 17:08

hopeishere · 19/12/2022 17:01

The last time I was there some I had already been seen by the GP and OOH but didn't trust them so wanted their kid seen again.

To be fair, I was that mum once. GP told me baby DS had a viral infection, OOH just repeated the same without properly checking him. Went to A&E, got a doctor to listen to me and examine him and he did a lumbar puncture within the hour. DS had meningitis.

Andsoforth · 19/12/2022 17:12

I was referred to a&e several times one summer with a recurring issue that was a very low priority in triage and spent 5-12 hour stints in the waiting room.

One of the lessons I learned was that making an enormous fuss in a posh voice did actually get you seen quicker. I remember one such someone kicking off because a child bleeding from the eye was seen before them, and the staff consulting with each other to get them in quicker because they wouldn’t shut up about it.

I felt a right fool sitting quietly for hours but I still wouldn’t feel right about pushing in front of others.

I hope your ds is ok.

picklemewalnuts · 19/12/2022 17:13

@Headabovetheparakeet because they thought I might (but might not) need IV. I don't object, but was getting more twitchy with every passing minute. I'd have liked a dose or two to get me started!

Hawkins001 · 19/12/2022 17:15

Reindeersnooker · 19/12/2022 13:56

They're tired and sick and being forced to use A and E as a GP surgery. They're in a hard place. Have some empathy.

I hope your little one recovers quickly.

But at the same time those waiting should also realise it's based on proirty and urgency, not who got their first. Where's their empathy ?

grapehyacinthisactuallyblue · 19/12/2022 17:16

I think a lot to do with worry and uncertainty. Especially if involve children. I feel sorry for staff who have to deal with them though.

Oblomov22 · 19/12/2022 17:18

Yes we do know. But I was there 2 days running last weekend and should have been prioritised and wasn't. In the end I was told a Dr couldn't see me for 8 hours. Next day my GP was furious, I was sent back and I had 2 nurses, 3 doctors and 1 consultant apologise to me.

Darthwazette · 19/12/2022 17:19

Not A&E but the GP sent us up to the paeds assessment unit the other week for suspected sepsis.

A nurse saw us briefly for obs and we were left for 4 hours. I was shitting myself thinking my DC had a life endangering illness. I did remain polite and did not hassle staff and it was eventually explained to me they had ruled it out early on. I can understand how stress can affect people though.

im forever seeing posts on social media asking about current wait times at A&E, surely if you’re deciding whether or not to go based on the waiting time then you shouldn’t be at A&E?

Museya15 · 19/12/2022 17:22

I just did three night shifts in a and e and we are having to get security to stay in the waiting rooms because of this very reason. People are starting to fight over who gets priority.

FTY765 · 19/12/2022 17:29

I'm amazed so many people know whats wrong with other people in A+E.
Ours is all private triage in rooms, so unless someone shares, you'd never know the fully story, even if you could visible see that they had a problem with their leg or whatever.

Pelo22 · 19/12/2022 17:31

FTY765 · 19/12/2022 17:29

I'm amazed so many people know whats wrong with other people in A+E.
Ours is all private triage in rooms, so unless someone shares, you'd never know the fully story, even if you could visible see that they had a problem with their leg or whatever.

When people check in, they ask what the issue is here and you can hear what people say

Headabovetheparakeet · 19/12/2022 17:31

picklemewalnuts · 19/12/2022 17:13

@Headabovetheparakeet because they thought I might (but might not) need IV. I don't object, but was getting more twitchy with every passing minute. I'd have liked a dose or two to get me started!

Ah, fair enough!

RichardMarxisinnocent · 19/12/2022 17:33

startingagain17 · 19/12/2022 16:13

I was in the A&E waiting room for 26 hours vomiting blood 2 weeks ago. There were definitely people less sick going ahead of me, but I think sometimes they are sifting out the quick exit patients in order to deal with those who are more ill. I was admitted for a week eventually.

It's possible that the less sick people who were called from the waiting room were going to a different part of ED than the one you needed (e.g.they went to minors which had space for them, you needed majors which was full)

Lemonlady22 · 19/12/2022 17:41

hopeishere · 19/12/2022 17:01

The last time I was there some I had already been seen by the GP and OOH but didn't trust them so wanted their kid seen again.

i did this GP in the morning OOH at tea time, A&E in the evening with a seriously Ill child that nearly ended up in PICU, so it happens!

RoseLavenderBlue · 19/12/2022 17:41

I was at A & E last night with DS who was experiencing breathing difficulties. I had rung 111 at home but after waiting on the line for 1 hr 20 min, I hung up and took him to the hospital.

We arrived at approx 23:15, saw the triage nurse at about 01:00 and then the DR at about 03:30. My DS has autistic traits (waiting for assessment) and panics a lot, so when he’s wheezing and can’t get his breath, what are you supposed to do on a Sunday night when you can’t get through to 111 for advice, it’s out of hours for the GP, and no pharmacies are open. We felt pretty helpless so felt it was the only option.

A nurse came out and explained there were twelve ambulances waiting to offload patients, a further ten on their way and the wait to be seen was therefore 8-10 hrs. She was very apologetic. The children’s section didn’t have such a wait, fortunately. Quite a few people got up and left.

One man had been waiting in A & E since 11 that morning, waiting to be admitted into a ward. He was well and truly fed up.

On a positive note, at around 2am, a couple of nurses came round with free cups of tea and sandwiches for anyone who wanted them, which was very kind.