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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

NHS - this is why people don't care

399 replies

br0kenankle · 16/03/2023 20:14

In peads A&E with daughter as went over on ankle and it swelled up like a balloon. Been hear 1 hr 30 mins. Paeds A&E not busy - maybe 3-4 patients. Staff everywhere - must be about 10 people milling around tbe computers doing very little. No wheel chair so have been carrying her round the hospital to X-ray , toilet etc.

Just seem to be on a go slow. If I were this slow at my job, i would be in trouble. 🤷‍♀️

Expect to get flames for this of course. We were sat outside X-ray for 10 mins and when they came out, they didn't realise we had been sitting there. I have a hungry grumpy in pain 6yr old.

OP posts:
LittleMrsPerfect · 16/03/2023 20:16

How do you know they aren’t doing very much? Do uou understand the bloods they may be checking or the notes their writing or the X ray the may be booking?

You have been their 1 hour 30 and have already had an xray. That is not go slow?

Original poster
br0kenankle · 16/03/2023 20:18

Paeds A& E have their own X-ray. There is hardly anyone here. That is slow.

OP posts:
Original poster
br0kenankle · 16/03/2023 20:19

Not got the results yet but every few minutes someone in scrubs bimbles past the bay. It feels like a go slow

OP posts:
GettingThereCharleyBear · 16/03/2023 20:19

You can’t tell how many people are in A&E - they don’t all sit in the waiting room 🙄

Original poster
br0kenankle · 16/03/2023 20:20

It's paeds A&E we are all in a mini ward

OP posts:
ArmchairAnarchist2 · 16/03/2023 20:20

How on earth do you know what they're all doing? In our local hospital it's handover time.

Daisyismynameorisnot · 16/03/2023 20:20

I think you're making huge assumptions here.

AnneLovesGilbert · 16/03/2023 20:20

What do you mean by people don’t care?

I’m sorry your daughter is in pain but it’s been 90 minutes, you don’t know what they’re all doing as you’re not psychic and she’s already had an x ray, you’re hardly being ignored.

TomatoSandwiches · 16/03/2023 20:21

Pay for private health care then, honestly the NHS is shit sometimes but this isn't anywhere near the level of entitlement to grumble.

Try and request a wheelchair for your DD and hope she is on the mend soon.

bunintheoven88 · 16/03/2023 20:21

When you say 'people don't actually care' what do you mean?

I understand emotions will be running high as your daughter is in pain and you want it sorted, but as PP said you don't actually know what is going on behind the scenes.

I hope your daughter is seen soon 💐

XenoBitch · 16/03/2023 20:21

What do you think the people milling round the computers are doing? Playing Solitaire?
The staff you see could be from other departments. I find it hard to believe there are only 3-4 patients too. Can you see in the side rooms? Cubicles? Resus?
Who is slow at their job? Do you think all 10 of those staff are there just for you?

HollyFern1110 · 16/03/2023 20:22

So are you waiting to see the Dr for your xray results?

In my experience of A&E the majority of the wait is for a Dr. Reception checks you in quickly enough, a nurse triages you quickly enough (usually) but the wait is for the Dr.

Are any of the 10 people milling about the actual person you're waiting to see?

UdoU · 16/03/2023 20:22

NHS - this is why people don't care

What does this mean?

santastolemycat · 16/03/2023 20:23

If your not happy with the service the NHS provides for FREE then don’t use it.

CuteAsDuck · 16/03/2023 20:23

As others have pointed out you don't actually know what those other staff are doing?!

Plus there could be any number of ambulances that have arrived in during the time you've been there. Generally not entering through the same doors or into the same area as minors.

Original poster
br0kenankle · 16/03/2023 20:24

It means why people who are not in the NHS
Struggle to empathise .

Just had someone stop by and despite going to X-ray 30 mins ago, and there was no one waiting after us, apparently they haven't sent the X-ray through yet.

So yeah it seems like a go slow . Lots of chatting over the computers. It's a mini paeds a& e. Easy to see it isn't busy

OP posts:
Klunt · 16/03/2023 20:24

At our hospital the staff in paeds a&e cover the paeds wards too which is why things take so long.

echt · 16/03/2023 20:24

You literally have no idea what else is going on the hospital.

Original poster
br0kenankle · 16/03/2023 20:25

It's not free. I pay a
Lot of tax. I do have private cover which we can use once she is diagnosed

OP posts:
Original poster
br0kenankle · 16/03/2023 20:26

@Klunt unlikely here. We have been in the paeds ward and it is the other side of the hospital and you can't access from A&E

OP posts:
bunintheoven88 · 16/03/2023 20:26

You sound very entitled.

vodkaredbullgirl · 16/03/2023 20:26

🙄

Bunnyfuller · 16/03/2023 20:26

I do remember from paeds A and E, on several occasions, several nurses around the desk (6-7) clearly chatting socially, with the HCAs run off their feet, ditto the one doctor. I was in hearing so knew all about an extension, a wedding and a re org of shifts.

one night I was there with DD age 5, suspected appendicitis. The surgeons came and ordered a blood test. None of the nurses could do it apparently, we had to wait another 2 1/2 hours (until 3am) for the surgical student to come do the bloods. There were 3 patients in the department. 4 nurses plus 2 HCA and the boss nurse. There seems to be an unintelligent apportionment of tasks, with an inflexibility to step outside it.

The NHS is vastly overused, but Jesus, this doesn’t make it any easier

Original poster
br0kenankle · 16/03/2023 20:27

Why can't we critique the NhS? Why can it not just be that they are super inefficient and not trying that hard.

No issue giving bad hote and restaurants review when the service is bad. Same thing applies here

OP posts:
GlassBunion · 16/03/2023 20:27

Spent 21 hours with my mum the other day after a fall. No offers of a cup of water. I got some myself in the end.
As to food, a bowl of mushy weetabix was offered but before she could eat it ( having cannula fitted) a doctor appeared and removed it as he thought it looked disgusting.
I managed to find a banana in the hospital shop.

Plenty of nurses on computers and chatting about how awful the previous day was yet not one came to see her. Only HCPs or doctors came.

Just saying.

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