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Original poster

How long in a chair in a&e?

282 replies

ThisMustBeMyDream · 20/10/2025 01:42

My DH has been diagnosed with a perforated bowel. We've been in urgent care/a&e since 1pm. He doesn't care if they nurse him on a corridor, but he just wants to lie down. He's in a chair and exhausted and in pain. Lying down relieves the symptoms (he discovered when he had an ecg).
There's no sign of a bed for him. I asked about a trolley - no, none of them.
How long is it acceptable to leave someone in a chair? My head's a shed, can't think straight. I've had a hell of a week with my DF after collapsing and having CPR. He's been diagnosed with encephalitis and it's life changing. So having spent Monday night doing a 3 hour dash to my dad, then 3 days down with him. Coming back home and my DH becoming unwell today... I'm an emotional wreck. I just need a sense check on what's normal.

OP posts:
coxesorangepippin · 20/10/2025 21:41

Hope you're getting some clarity on things soon op, and your DH is attended to soon.

💐

3smallpups · 20/10/2025 21:51

I had a traumatic pneumothorax a few months ago, sat on a chair in the waiting room for hours, literally struggling to breathe. People moved away as I was making odd noises ! Once seen I was put on another plastic chair for more hours until the kindly hca who came to do my bloods, went and hounded a dr for some pain relief and then moved my chair to near the nurses station “ so someone might notice if I passed out “
it’s a national disgrace

Original poster
ThisMustBeMyDream · 20/10/2025 21:54

I can hardly believe I'm typing this, but we are STILL in A&E, still in a chair, 32 hours in. This is absolutely horrific. I've stayed awake the whole time. I am not leaving him in this awful shithole.
Only saving grace is that one of the anaesthetic consultants saw me in the canteen and recognised me from our MDT yearly training. He asked me what I was doing in, and I explained. He said he was the anaesthetist on call today. So he liaised with the consultant and checked that DH is safe to continue conservative management for me which was a relief. I didn't even ask him, he just said he wanted to check as normally he'd be going to surgery. Anyway, I feel happier that DH is trying to see if IV abx can manage it.
I've been awake now since yesterday 7am. So what, 38 hours now? My head is absolutely mashed. But I can't leave him. While I was typing this, one of the nurses came to ask us to move, but recongised us from last night. She quickly said he could stay where he was (found a wheelchair which is more cushioned than the waiting room chairs!). Thank goodness, as I don't think I'd of had much patience!

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Clutchball · 20/10/2025 21:57

MidlandsGal1 · 20/10/2025 14:58

He can’t be in that much pain then. If I was in agony and laying down relieved it, I’d be on the floor whether they liked it or not.

Show quote history

Are you aware of how callous you are? Genuinely fascinated by people like you and what goes through your minds when you post things like this.

JenniferBooth · 20/10/2025 21:57

ThisMustBeMyDream · 20/10/2025 21:54

I can hardly believe I'm typing this, but we are STILL in A&E, still in a chair, 32 hours in. This is absolutely horrific. I've stayed awake the whole time. I am not leaving him in this awful shithole.
Only saving grace is that one of the anaesthetic consultants saw me in the canteen and recognised me from our MDT yearly training. He asked me what I was doing in, and I explained. He said he was the anaesthetist on call today. So he liaised with the consultant and checked that DH is safe to continue conservative management for me which was a relief. I didn't even ask him, he just said he wanted to check as normally he'd be going to surgery. Anyway, I feel happier that DH is trying to see if IV abx can manage it.
I've been awake now since yesterday 7am. So what, 38 hours now? My head is absolutely mashed. But I can't leave him. While I was typing this, one of the nurses came to ask us to move, but recongised us from last night. She quickly said he could stay where he was (found a wheelchair which is more cushioned than the waiting room chairs!). Thank goodness, as I don't think I'd of had much patience!

WHAT THE ACTUAL FUCK THAT IS HORRIFIC Fucking disgusting. Poor bloke

CharlotteCChapel · 20/10/2025 22:00

OMG these are awful. I was taken to A&E in an ambulance after a wait of 15 minutes. Then waited about 5 minutes in the ambulance before I was taken in to A&E. Straight into a bed.

I was visibly very ill but I would have thought a perforated bowel would be as bad .

Theawkwardblonde · 20/10/2025 22:03

its sad reading that this is happening but it’s sadly not uncommon. I was admitted in Jan this year due to sepsis from an undetected abscess on my kidney. Only when I collapsed out of the chair in A and E after a 12 hour wait (and on iv abx in the chair) did I get a bed.

Wishitsnows · 20/10/2025 22:04

The NHS is a disgrace. Not just A&E that are leaving people to die or sending them home as they seem to have no clue what sepsis is. Looking at another thread on the horrific midwives is it horrific. I had to get a blood test last week and couldn’t get an appointment for weeks. When I got there it was empty! I took a photo to send to friends as so shocked. The nurse claimed it was the calm before the storm. Well as they are specific appointments then that simply wasn’t true. I had a teams meeting just after my 2 min bloods got taken and in the next 40 minutes only 2 people came in. So sorry for everyone and this experiences. I wish there was a private A&E not just so rich people can be seen quicker but so there are less people in the regular A&E. They pretend people are triaged and its people with broken fingernails going but it is clearly not the case.

FizzPlease · 20/10/2025 22:13

Abhorrent treatment OP. I hope your husband is OK. What a living nightmare for you as well as him. This is 2025 and not OK. Truly sickening.

My frail 81 year old Mum is on a ward. Staff are rushed off their feet - thankfully very nice but she isn't comfortable, isn't getting her pain meds or prescription meds - broke her back and rib weeks ago and is more or less left to fester, with the buzzer mainly out of reach. No overview, no allocated consultant/named doctor. She has fallen twice going to the bathroom without assistance as they are too busy.

The NHS is in tatters.

Hazelmaybe · 20/10/2025 22:14

This is terrible, I would personally email PALs. That is a potentially dangerous situation to be left in and how are antibiotics going to cure a rupture. So sorry. I hope he gets surgery asap.

JenniferBooth · 20/10/2025 22:15

Which hospital is it?

Tweakie123 · 20/10/2025 22:16

Chafing · 20/10/2025 15:10

I do think sometimes there is a logistical difference that could be done. For example, when I had my youngest I was high risk with cholestasis and admitted with ruptured membranes onto the general pre and post natal ward. When I went into very fast labour later that night they just kept telling me there were no labour rooms available, because they had a new system for delivery where you had the baby in the labour room and if uncomplicated, were discharged from that same room 24 hours later or so. This was lovely for those families, but meant delivered women were blocking labour rooms and people like me just kept being told 'no rooms until they are discharged tomorrow morning'. In the end I gave birth on the prenatal ward which felt very unsafe (and I kept being told I couldn't - I pointed out I couldn't just cross my legs!)

I was then moved to a private room due to some complications. When we were due to be discharged a few days later, we were told around 11 am we would be going home, but we had to get some medication signed off by a pediatrician. This took until 5pm. That 6 hours we were room blocking and as we left there were pregnant women waiting for a space who could have had our room. I even asked if we could wait in the day room but was told once you are in a room, you are in it until officially signed out.

Having a discharge space would free up quite a few beds several hours earlier, wouldn't it?

About 6 years ago my dh was waiting to be discharged. We were told it would be midday so i arranged childcare and went to pick him up. 5 hours later i had to leave without him as we were still waiting for the medication and I had to get back for kids. He finally got home around 9pm... with the wrong medication. Absolute shambles. And as you say blocking a bed unnessasarily for an extra 9 hours

Kendodd · 20/10/2025 22:17

potato08 · 20/10/2025 14:43

14 years of tory austerity and brexit, then covid.
🤷
Its not going to get better

About right.
I had to go to A&E six months ago. I was fine, nothing wrong with me, but a nurse banned me from driving until I'd been seen at A&E so I had to go. After initial wait in bit waiting room I was taken to wait in a curtained cubicle. There wasn't even a chair in there, I just had to stand in the corner for two hours.

blankcanvas3 · 20/10/2025 22:18

Fucking hell OP, this is awful. I hope they find him a bed soon. You desperately need to sleep, too. I took my severely disabled DB into A&E earlier this year with suspected sepsis and we waited 11 hours to see a doctor. He ended up in an induced coma after he went into septic shock. Doctors in ICU told me it wouldn’t have been as bad as it was if he’d have been seen sooner. I took him in as soon as I spotted the symptoms, it was A&E who failed him. One of the nurses said ‘it’s difficult because he can’t speak so he can’t tell us how he’s feeling’ 🙄.

Medstudent12 · 20/10/2025 22:20

I’m a doctor. I thought you’d be complaining about a sore ankle. A bowel perf should 100% have a bed. Politely complain.

Kirbert2 · 20/10/2025 22:21

ThisMustBeMyDream · 20/10/2025 21:54

I can hardly believe I'm typing this, but we are STILL in A&E, still in a chair, 32 hours in. This is absolutely horrific. I've stayed awake the whole time. I am not leaving him in this awful shithole.
Only saving grace is that one of the anaesthetic consultants saw me in the canteen and recognised me from our MDT yearly training. He asked me what I was doing in, and I explained. He said he was the anaesthetist on call today. So he liaised with the consultant and checked that DH is safe to continue conservative management for me which was a relief. I didn't even ask him, he just said he wanted to check as normally he'd be going to surgery. Anyway, I feel happier that DH is trying to see if IV abx can manage it.
I've been awake now since yesterday 7am. So what, 38 hours now? My head is absolutely mashed. But I can't leave him. While I was typing this, one of the nurses came to ask us to move, but recongised us from last night. She quickly said he could stay where he was (found a wheelchair which is more cushioned than the waiting room chairs!). Thank goodness, as I don't think I'd of had much patience!

Completely unacceptable.

My son ended up almost dying due to septic shock caused by a bowel obstruction. He was in intensive care for 7 weeks and almost didn't survive.

Keep an eye out for any sepsis symptoms. I really hope he can get his surgery soon xx

Medstudent12 · 20/10/2025 22:22

I’ve read your updates. I’m appalled. There will be someone on a trolley who doesn’t need it as much as your husband.

Tell then your staff and understand the complaints process. I’m so sorry this has happened!

anonymoususer9876 · 20/10/2025 22:24

I hope your DH is soon getting treatment OP. I can’t believe he’s been left like that!
What I’ve read so far on this thread is horrific. I really would write to not just PALS but your councillor or even MP. Those in power need to be deluged with what is going on!

JenniferBooth · 20/10/2025 22:25

Medstudent12 · 20/10/2025 22:22

I’ve read your updates. I’m appalled. There will be someone on a trolley who doesn’t need it as much as your husband.

Tell then your staff and understand the complaints process. I’m so sorry this has happened!

Its not the fault of another patient.

FizzPlease · 20/10/2025 22:26

anonymoususer9876 · 20/10/2025 22:24

I hope your DH is soon getting treatment OP. I can’t believe he’s been left like that!
What I’ve read so far on this thread is horrific. I really would write to not just PALS but your councillor or even MP. Those in power need to be deluged with what is going on!

I was going to suggest you ask a friend or relative to contact your MP or PLS on your behalf. This is actually horrific to read, never mind you and your poor DH going through it. The risk of sepsis must be high. I am so sorry this is happening to you.

janehopper · 20/10/2025 22:28

This is absolutely outrageous. I feel like we should be tagging Wes Streeting on twitter or something. Not that he can conjure up a magic money tree. But seriously ill people sitting in chairs for days!

DiscoBob · 20/10/2025 22:28

StarCourt · 20/10/2025 21:14

It doesn’t, I was taken to A &E 10 days ago by ambulance also for a bowel issue. Was seen for initial ecg, bloods, obs etc then told they were going to take me to a waiting room which would be better as i’d be seen faster.
This turned out to be the general population A&E waiting room with about 150 people in. I was left in there in my nightie and dressing gown, I had a seat but literally couldn’t sit still from the pain and (sorry tmi) diarrhoea shooting out of me every 20 mins or so. No chance of lying down at all. After 2 hrs in there it was announced that it would be a further 7 hours until anybody saw a doctor. I got an Uber and went home. I’d only allowed the paramedics to take me in because they’d said the wait would be a long one but i’d be able to lie down in the ambulance while waiting and they’d be able to give me some pain relief.

Show quote history

That's awful. I'm so sorry. I hope you're alright now? X

NotNormally · 20/10/2025 22:29

This thread is terrifying. I’m so sorry OP , I do hope your dh gets the treatment he needs. You really need to get a few hours’ sleep or you will collapse from exhaustion (and you should not drive if you have not slept in over 30 hours, sorry to mention it).

DeftWasp · 20/10/2025 22:29

Clutchball · 20/10/2025 21:57

Are you aware of how callous you are? Genuinely fascinated by people like you and what goes through your minds when you post things like this.

Show quote history

I don't think it's callous, its logical - I was in A&E with a kidney stone a few years back, couldn't sit up, so I lay on the floor with my coat as a pillow.

Lying on the floor is not ideal, but if the position relieves the pain, it's the sensible thing to do. It will do no harm.

DeftWasp · 20/10/2025 22:31

janehopper · 20/10/2025 22:28

This is absolutely outrageous. I feel like we should be tagging Wes Streeting on twitter or something. Not that he can conjure up a magic money tree. But seriously ill people sitting in chairs for days!

Edited

I have worked as a contractor (supplier) to the NHS, they have a money tree and know how to spend its fruits - the waste is eyewatering.