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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To be very frustrated in A and E just now.

206 replies

changeitatanytime · 10/12/2021 18:50

I'm in Scotland, was advised by my doctor to go directly to A and E as have been having shortness of breath for few weeks and today I had an episode of chest pain.

Arrived at A and E at 4 pm. Was told to stand outside as shortness of breath was Covid symptom. Then brought into own room so I'm isolated (negative LFT). Was seen by doctor fairly quickly and was told would get bloods done, an ecg and a chest X-ray.

Had my bloods taken at 5 pm and chest X-ray at 5.10.

I have now been sat in this room alone for 1.5 hours without anyone even popping their head in to let me know what is happening. And no one has done an ecg.

I understand that they are very busy but someone presenting with shortness of breath and heart pain not being checked on for an hour and a half? Surely that's not right.

I'm not the most patient person and can feel my heart rate going up and blood starting to boil.

Am I allowed to just walk out the hospital without saying a thing? Do you think I'm being unreasonable? What time should I give them to until leaving?

OP posts:
RoomOfRequirement · 10/12/2021 18:53

Allowed to? Of course. It would be incredibly stupid though.

Haggisfish3 · 10/12/2021 18:53

I wouldn’t leave. I would go and ask when someone is going to be able to discuss results with you.

Brewandhoney · 10/12/2021 18:53

Sorry you’re I’ll

Have you spoken to anyone to find out what’s going on?

earsup · 10/12/2021 18:54

Our local A and E has waiting times of about 10 to 12 hours....at present...if you just go you wont get your results etc and may just end up going back another day...can you ask some one..?

FindingMeno · 10/12/2021 18:55

I would ask, but not get cross.
I'm sure they're trying their best.

SilverHairedCat · 10/12/2021 18:56

Flouncing out the door wastes their time and doesn't get you any treatment, so you'll only be back again.

Just speak up - ask what's going on. For all you know, they are dealing with multiple seriously ill people who are on the brink of death - the last time I was in A&E with DH (pericarditis again), they had 9 people arrive in serious condion from a multiple vehicle pile up. Took hours for him to be seen even clutching his chest with a suspecred heart attack. No, it's not great, but sometimes there's more to it than is immediately obvious.

So go speak to someone.

bestbl · 10/12/2021 18:57

With respect 1.5 hours is nothing. Can you pop your head out the door and ask someone what the current wait times are?

ForbiddentoForbid · 10/12/2021 18:57

Waiting time of approx 7hrs here in the A&E DH works in, unless you're actively dying.

They just don't have enough staff to keep on top of everything.

NeedsCharging · 10/12/2021 18:59

Have they given you an ECG?
That and a blood test will tell them if you had a heart attack. They will need to wait for those results.
EXDH went to A & E last Thursday at 10am as his GP told him to due to chest pain/shortness of breath. He was given a diagnosis of angina around 2pm the next day. Irs a long wait.

Katyppp · 10/12/2021 19:00

You will get ripped apart on here OP, but I feel your frustration.
Every time I have been in A&E (probably only about 10 times ever, to be fair) I was seething by the time I got out at the utter inefficiency and attitude shown by some staff.
My latest experience was when I had to drop my 84-year-old dad off in A&E for a routine transfusion (yes, I did question this but was told by his GP 'it should be quiet if you go now').
I was not allowed to stay with him but the reception staff refused to agree to call me when he was ready to collect.
My 85-year-old mum had a horrific day trying to get through until she eventually managed to get through at 10pm, to be told he'd been ready since 8.
The lack of consideration was disgusting frankly and I can't imagine this would be acceptable in any other setting.
Yet I guarantee you will get posters of here defending the staff, as all NHS workers are beyond reproach

Original poster
changeitatanytime · 10/12/2021 19:00

@NeedsCharging

Have they given you an ECG? That and a blood test will tell them if you had a heart attack. They will need to wait for those results. EXDH went to A & E last Thursday at 10am as his GP told him to due to chest pain/shortness of breath. He was given a diagnosis of angina around 2pm the next day. Irs a long wait.
Nope not had an ECG yet
OP posts:
Outfoxedbyrabbits · 10/12/2021 19:01

Your complaint is that you're not being dealt with quickly enough, and your proposed solution is... to leave? Yeah, you're being unreasonable Confused

Also assuming you're not an A&E doctor or nurse so not in a better position than the staff there to judge which patient(s) is/are the priority? An hour and a half is NOTHING given current waiting times, sit tight and be polite when they do come in.

Sorry you're not feeling well, I hope they come soon and you're all sorted quickly. (Bear in mind that "quickly" in hospital is not instantaneous.)

Calmestofallthechickens · 10/12/2021 19:01

I’m sure they would much rather be able to see you and do your tests sooner, but are unable to because they’re dealing with patients who are either sicker than you or have been waiting longer than you.
The only person who is going to suffer if you walk out, is you.

viques · 10/12/2021 19:02

I would pop out of your room, ask where you can go to buy a cup of tea and then ask if they have any update on your results/ waiting for the ecg. That way they are reminded you are still there and waiting (and with the best will in the world they could have forgotten you though unlikely), you will feel a bit more in charge of what is happening, and you will have some lovely hospital tea to calm yourself down!

NeedsCharging · 10/12/2021 19:02

Change please stick around.
Exdh was all set to leave after 4 hours but he stayed and now has a diagnosis and medication which may save his life.
It was worth the wait.

EmmaWoodhousestreehouse · 10/12/2021 19:05

Well leaving isn’t a good idea, that’s not going to get you seen.

Hope you get seen soon. They also need to check you’ve not had a pulmonary embolism as shortness of breath is a symptom of that.

Sundancerintherain · 10/12/2021 19:06

Have they taken bloods?

crazymare20 · 10/12/2021 19:10

I was in A&E in august. 13 hours for a scan. Then was sent to day ward for further tests. In total 19 hours. Your being unreasonable.

NovemberNovemberDarkNights · 10/12/2021 19:10

No one can make you stay, so it's up to you, but it would be a particularly stupid thing to do. It just wastes everyone's time, especially if you don't tell them you're leaving! And it's not like going any other time is going to get you seen any quicker!

I know it's annoying, but should you get any worse, you're already in the best place! Try to take some comfort from that!

Oh & don't think that being taken in by ambulance will get you seen any sooner, it won't. (I was in by ambulance after an accident in the summer and waited 12 hours in A&E with a fairly serious injury)

Everyone's doing their best, even if it doesn't feel like it!!

MadeOfStarStuff · 10/12/2021 19:11

Leaving now is absolutely pointless. You’ll have wasted your own and the staffs time for nothing and will most likely end up coming back and starting the whole thing from scratch again.

Yes it’s frustrating but getting angry doesn’t help anything.

Tinacollada · 10/12/2021 19:11

Presumably you've been sent to A&E by your doctor as they deem it serious enough for you to be there.

It would be rather unreasonable to leave.

DrinkFeckArseBrick · 10/12/2021 19:12

The average wait time at a and e near us is over 6 hours. Even in an ambulance its over half an hour of queuing outside a and e to get in. They have triaged you, there will be elderly people who have had a fall, people in rta, people who've had accidents at work, stroke victims, DV victims etc etc who need to be seen quicker. Yes its annoying, no one wants to be spending time sitting in a and e, and I'm sure nhs staff dont want this either. But getting angry and / or walking out will achieve nothing

Yummypumpkin · 10/12/2021 19:12

Are you on your own? It's pretty rotten being on your own at a time like this.

mummyh2016 · 10/12/2021 19:12

You should've had an ECG however this wait will be for your bloods. I get you're frustrated but they can only work as quick as they can.

Kite22 · 10/12/2021 19:12

Of course it is frustrating, but seriously, it is less than 2 hours.

Even before COVID, the expected wait time near here would generally be 4 hours, and people were often then in a lot longer, awaiting one test or another - the 4 hours was to be seen initially.

Since COVID - well, don't you have any sort of newsfeed into your life ? Hmm

Of course it is far from ideal, but until people actively campaign for change rather than doing things like giving a round of applause then things don't change. Politicians think we all "accept" the appalling situation that A&Es up and down the Country are in. That is waits of several hours, that is ambulances queuing up waiting to hand over patients (meaning they are not able to attend to the calls coming in), that is people waiting on trolleys and waiting in corridors.

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