AIBU to think people should treat A & E staff with more respect?

[Velicirapitor]

I was sent to A & E by the practice nurse at my GP surgery. it’s a good job I went as I have blood clots in both lungs. The staff were all really lovely to me. Yes I had a long wait, which isn’t their fault but I was seen, I had tests and I was admitted to a ward. Every single staff member from a consultant, nurses, cleaners, catering, porters was kind and cheerful. These people are amazing.

What wasn’t so good was the demanding, rude, even aggressive attitude of several people who were also there waiting. The staff have so much to put up with, yet they remain professional and caring throughout.

I’m sure some people have become more entitled these days.

You're not wrong. I was in A&E with my dad several weeks ago after he had a stroke. He was in a cubicle after suffering a massive seizure whilst there, whilst the staff were tending to him in the midst of this seizure, a woman wandered into the cubicle and demanded someone bring her a cup of tea and then got arsey when she was ignored

Not just NHS. Retail, service, any customer facing role.

You have to remember people in A&E are frightened, sometimes even terrified. That does not excuse them, of course, but it might explain why it happens.

I absolutely agree with you, but I'd also appreciate not being treated like a piece of shit by the staff.

I went to A&E a couple of years ago and was there for a total of 10 hours. I was surprised at how long it took, but was so worried about my situation that I just accepted it.

The clinical staff were neither friendly nor unfriendly, just functional, really. The staff at the main reception were exactly the same.

This particular hospital has the worst record for patients being kept on trollies and kept waiting.

Yes of course you are right. However, the most demanding seemed to be the ones talking loudly on their phones and munching Costa snacks. Of course I have no idea what they were there for but the older generation were just sitting quietly and waiting their turn.

The other thing that surprised me was how many people were called and no one stood up. That’s a mystery.

You’re right, of course.

If you watch the Dispatches under cover investigation of an A&E though, where people are waiting on hard plastic chairs for, literally, 2 days, it’s amazing how polite and patient a lot of the, some very unwell, people are.

Velicirapitor , it's a day out for some of em!

Yes of course they should. Lots of A&E departments have round the clock security and regular police attendance. That awful mixture of people in pain, alcohol and drug abuse, scared people, general arseholes and long wait times. The staff danger money to work there, the burn out must be so frequent.