To be very frustrated in A and E just now.

[changeitatanytime]

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?

Sorry you were frightened OP. Glad to hear its not a heart attack. But you were right to get it checked out.

@changeitatanytime

I just had ecg done asked the nurse how long would the doctor take if he knew and he said 'well I'm not sure what she's planning on doing with you yet'. Does this mean it's bad news?

No, it means that the doctor hasn’t had a chance to compare all the tests you have had done, liaise with colleagues, make the judgement as to whether you need further examination and whether that can be done in clinic or if you need to be admitted. Give them a chance! I think there are far too many of the A and E programmes on Tv where decisions are arrived at and judgements made on four or five different patients all within the hour of the programme. It really really really doesn’t work like that in real life.

But you are going to keep getting replies from people who haven't read your update.

@changeitatanytime

Sorry I've had a drink of water and see how bratish I've been. I've been seen by doctor. Everything is fine. Just waiting on pcr results which take around 20 mins at hospital.

I don’t think you are being ‘brattish’ at all. It’s a sorry state of affairs and the Government should be ashamed. Hope you feel better soon.

Just because long waiting times are normal doesn't mean it is acceptable. The NHS has little resilience and its a dangerous position to be in. What can be done, I have no idea.

Glad to hear you are OK , being isolated on your own in a room, whilst worrying about what might be wrong is never a good combination, hope you are home soon with a big mug of [tea] or huge glass of

Anyone who can go home from A&E and can relax with a huge glass of wine shouldn't be in A&E in the first place.

Tbh hun I would count your blessing you got seen so quick by a doctor and had ect and I imagine checked over in that time. People go to a&e here with same kinda problems and it's at least 5 hours before even seeing a doctor nevermind them getting an x ray the fact you've had an extra done and ecg so quick I would say that's pretty good.

@whatisheupto

People need to realise this: In this country we are able to receive diagnoses and treatment within a few hours of visiting a hospital, which we can just turn up at unannounced and without an appointment, any day of the year, without paying a penny upfront. And sometimes that treatment is life saving. Seems pretty good to me. If it takes 4 to 6 hours then so be it.

Agree!!

Id want to leave too because I'd be feeling upset and vulnerable. I understand why you wanted to, sometimes when you feel no one cares you just want to go. Im glad you stayed.

@DrinkFeckArseBrick

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

Is having a heart attack not counted as being serious anymore ?

Reading threads like this is a good indication of how low the bar is for the NHS now. It's both tragic and appalling.

Is having a heart attack not counted as being serious anymore ?
Apparently not!

Its normal for the results of the blood test to take this long. They are checking if you have had a heart attack. An ecg might tell you but it also might not. If you are in A&E I am guessing you are in a room where someone would notice if you had chest pain? That is what would be of most concern to me.

You can leave any time you want, but please let them know so they don't waste time looking for you.
I'd wait... they aren't keeping you there longer than they have to. They will be desperate to get some people out of the department, so as soon as they can, they will get to you.
The no ECG is unacceptable, though.

@Bunnyfuller

Hope all these saying ‘shocking treatment’ didn’t vote Tory. You did this.

Not true. I'm not a Conservative voter, but the problem is the NHS itself, not any particular party. It was no better under the Labour party.

I don’t think you’re brattish OP, just worried and stressed; but I’m glad you’ve realized it may not be a reasonable expectation. I’m in the USA with private insurance and when I was sent to the ER as a cancer patient (even a fever at the time could kill me), I waited longer than that. It’s just the name of the game sometimes.

@GreenLunchBox

Is having a heart attack not counted as being serious anymore ? Apparently not!

I have been in with a suspected heart attack. The medics who first examined me were pretty sure it was not that, but I had all the tests anyway. OP has been told ecg and blood tests show no sign of a heart attack. That may have been fairly obvious to the first medic. But they always double-check with tests.

I had something similar. I went to the GP with a pain in my chest that had been happening on and off for 12 hours. Was told to go straight to A&e. Had ECG done and then was left sitting on a ward for nearly 6 hours. I had bloods taken and an X-ray in that time. But I had to keep going and asking what was going on. Nhs staff are so busy, and I know when it wasn’t a heart attack it’s not urgent, but communication is so poor it’s frustrating.

Hoping you’re ok !

On Tuesday at 6:15pm I noticed my 10 month old had a large purple pinprick rash down one leg, it didn’t Blanche under the glass. I was on hold to nhs direct for 20 minutes whilst I rang my husband (obviously a different phone) to leave work and take me immediately to a and e. At 8:20 I was finally triaged, it was then 10pm before a blood test was taken, and we managed to get home in the early hours

The waiting room was PACKED, I kept my eye on the rash like a hawk, prepared to fight my way to the front if it started spreading, but this is the state of a and e these days. One man left to go home because he had an ‘early start’. Another man said his symptoms had been getting steadily worse for 3 days and now he felt he had to see a doctor.

The problem is that people forget what a and e is for

If you feel that you may be seriously unwell - I hope that you aren’t - then of course you are being unreasonable. Leaving would be stupid.
Presumably as you are now in a cubicle, you have been triaged?
Staff di generally know how to prioritise. Not sure that posting
on social media would be my default were I seriously concerned about my health.

Glad all is OK OP.

I can't complain, we were in and out in 90minutes last week for a broken collar bone. Very impressed.

It takes at least an hour for bloods turn around in quiet times, it might feel like forever, but what can they do?

I love in a county of 120k with a tiny wee hospital, yes it's frustrating when you need/want help but in a genuine emergency they've got you.

@changeitatanytime

Sorry I've had a drink of water and see how bratish I've been. I've been seen by doctor. Everything is fine. Just waiting on pcr results which take around 20 mins at hospital.

I think it's frustrating when you're tired and in pain (particularly when you don't know what's wrong) and you're waiting and waiting. DC (primary school age) was in A&E last night on doctor's guidance. Arrived at 7pm, waited, waited, waited, had bloods taken and seen by doctor, waited, waited. Didn't get home until after midnight. Thankfully it wasn't anything terrible, but we needed confirmation as otherwise might have needed to stay overnight.

Hopefully now you'll feel less worried and the wait will go smoothly. Friday nights in A&E are always hellish around our way.

If you're well enough to post on mumsnet and consider getting up and leaving then you aren't on death's door. Appreciate you're unwell but there are people waiting hours and hours for ambulances, elderly people waiting hours on the floor, queues outside hospitals because paramedics can't handover patients. Considering the pressure on the nhs you have had a fairly quick turnaround, they will have triaged you and you have no idea what is going on in other areas of the hospital, there could be people in cardiac arrest or major traumas.