A&E is much calmer and a better place now that patients can’t have visitors with them

[Sharpandshineyteeth]

I do understand some people really do need a family member. I’m pretty sure the staff wouldn’t turn away an essential family member.

But generally, it’s a much better place without tons of family members and friends all sitting with patients. Taking up seats and Sometimes kicking up an unnecessary fuss.

Surely it’s better for infection control in general.

I’m sitting here right now waiting to be seen and for a Saturday night it’s so calm. The staff seem calmer and the patients seem calmer as well.

I say keep this rule!!

@Sharpandshineyteeth my DH was told he was terminally ill in A&E without me or anyone else to support him. It was brutal, cruel and unforgivable. They allowed me in later as they couldn't console him. So excuse me as I as say fuck you.

I think large numbers drooping over a teenager or adult with a cut lip is ridiculous. I think if you’ve a husband who might be dying, you might want one of your children with you for your own support.
I think if you’re a young mother worried her toddler has meningitis, you might want the reassuring presence of your own mother.

Hospital are required to provide personalised care that meets each person’s individual needs and considers their preferences. Each case should be considered on merit balancing IPC risk against risk of psychological harm to the vulnerable.

Relatives should not be used for translation purposes but informal conversation is often helped by having an English speaking relative present. That might not be the spouse.

I had to take my son in once, the children's area was fine but by god the main area was filled with calm people and ALL THEIR FUCKING FAMILY MEMBERS, chattering away to each other quite happily whilst people clutching arms etc were sitting Britishly on the floor, not making a fuss.

@Pinkshrimp

People in A&E can be desperately ill. If your loved one was at deaths door at arriving at A&E could you wave them off and go home or would you rather be there, holding their hand, so they weren’t scared and alone?

I agree with PP that a limit might be a good compromise though.

Eh, why wouldn’t you assume OP was speaking about the walking wounded as opposed to those on their deathbed?

On the rare occasions I have been in A&E, I have definitely noticed full families in attendance or drunk people popping in with all their friends - both groups with only 1 injured person

Should only allow one other person and thats it

I would agree we this totally for minor injuries, but a bit more concerned if it was for a more serious illness. I think one person should be with a sick person to comfort and advocate for them.

When ive been in a&e and you in pain etc. The last feckin thin I need is lots of loud noise, no thank you. It makes it so much worse. So I agree a calmer quieter place is much better

Yes, but on the whole they aren’t the people causing the problems. They’re a few bad apples. I think a&e is generally quieter and calmer because a lot less people are going. Which is good re drunk idiots or families with siblings but very very sad regarding those that will just not get treated and die. I think a very small proportion of a&e’s are busy and chaotic because of the visitors. Now people are just avoiding a&e completely.

I understand that it probably lovely and calm however when my 87 year old mother had to go to A&E last week she was ushered in without a chance to say goodbye to my father. It didn't cross my parents mind that my father wouldn't be allowed in with her, they refused an ambulance and he took her as it was urgent but not that urgent iyswim. Luckily she was ok and is now home however if anything had happened it would have stayed with my father and all of us for the rest of our lives.

ListeningQuietly
Did the hospital lose the belongings though or were they nicked by someone elses visitors?
We have had pretty much everything that wasnt nailed down taken at some point.

For all those who have problems with explaining things to medical staff if they have to go to A&E, I have a suggestion. I have a huge list of chronic conditions and medications and have been taken in by ambulance on numerous occasions. So, I have typed out a list of those conditions, plus the medications and doses, together with details of my doctors and consultants. I update this every time something changes.

Copies go with me everywhere in my handbag, washbag etc. I have a small bag permanently stocked with essentials and DH knows where everything is. The medical staff have found this very helpful on many occasions.

I hope this is of value to someone here.

serin
I have no idea. They were there at admission. They were gone by the next morning. Hospital do not care.

Patient + 1, anything less is cruel.

Until there are enough staff and assistance on maternity and post-maternity wards, partners are essential too.

thank you GurlwiththeCurl
Unfortunately it's such a struggle to get a copy of anything medically related, and there's no such thing as a centralised system, it's very good advice but it's painfully difficult to achieve!

I know exactly what you mean with some family members being problematic, but I also think it's miserable to be in A&E on your own .. not to mention that some people are obviously really unwell, injured or in pain.

I think there should be a 1 person limit with each person in A&E. This would help a lot, without making people sit there on their own. If something was wrong with me that was bad enough to have me in A&E I think I'd be scared, and I'd feel much better if my partner was there with me.

@GurlwiththeCurl and for anyone with an iPhone, you can do the same thing with your phone’s medical ID. Medical staff can access it in an emergency from your Lock Screen (it’s on the “slide to power off” screen rather than your normal Lock Screen)

@SantaClaritaDiet I haven’t got copies of anything from doctors. What I mean is that I have typed up an A4 sheet myself.

When I went to A&E I needed DH. I was ill and in pain and had a reaction to one of the drugs I was given. The nurses were patronising, telling me I imagined it because I was upset. If DH hadn’t been there for support I don’t know what I’d have done.

GurlwiththeCurl

such a shame you had to! I don't understand why we are refused copies of our medical files in this country.

@Frappuccinofan yes, I have that too on my mobile, but I have such a long list of conditions and meds that it was easier to type it out in Word!

I’m single and have no close family. Any time in the last 30 years that I’ve been in A&E I’ve been on my own. I just got on with it because, y’know, I have to.

1 accompanying person seems a good compromise. And then VERY limited visiting hours, with just one visitor allowed per patient. When I was in with DS I was sooooo glad there were no visitors (other than me as staying parent) allowed.

SantaClaritaDiet

Yes, I agree with you!

There are times when having an extra person is necessary. My DF was in A&E, told HCP that he’d just got back from Australia that morning, was just overtired from flight and had an over-dramatic wife. He claimed he could walk and run “for miles” so definitely didn’t need bed guards. Was completely convincing and appeared to believe it himself.

He had lived in a care home for the previous 2 years, widowed for 20 years, in a wheelchair for 8 years, and was there because he’d fallen out of bed fracturing his hip.

HOWEVER I do remember how hellish postnatal wards were with the shed loads of other people’s visitors at all hours and no ability to follow “rules” / common courtesy’s.

I think it should be patient +1. Whether the patient is a young child an adult a frail old lady. Unless the paitent is at deaths door. Of course there may well be exceptional circumstances.