To share ways to make A&E more bareable

[silvershark22]

Given lots of people find the 12 hour plus waits in A&E tough wondering what things make it barable.

Mine is an oodie can vbe warn if in a draftie place or rolled into hood to make a pillow or sat on to make uncomfortable chairs better.

Agreed @InevitableNameChanger my GP has also said to go home and pack a bag when they suspected appendicitis. Following a gp triaj call have also been told to bring a DC in for an f2f but bring a bag as Hospital was a possibility.

That's just fucking stupid.

Not all serious injuries or illnesses mean you can't stand up, and plus that never happened anyway.

A friend of mine recently spent 26 hours in waiting rooms and trolleys in the corridor with sepsis. Where are people that they're admitted after 2 hours?

Don't talk such twaddle! DH's best friend had to be driven to A&E with a bramble (thorn) stuck in his eyeball after a freak gardening accident. He could walk into the building perfectly, but was, ultimately very lucky to keep the sight in it because help was sought promptly...

I can't fathom a situation where A&E was required but I'd also have time to pack up a bag of miscellaneous stuff.

It seems as though the bar for what constitutes an accident or an emergency goes ever higher. You can't fathom a situation in which someone has broken an ankle? Had a burn? A dislocated collar bone used to be a perfectly justifiable reason to visit A&E. Apparently not any more.

My DSis sat for six hours in A&E with her son, as his ear oozed blood and pus. He's normally a very stoic child but was crying with pain. She was on holiday visiting me, and 111 had been worse than useless. My own surgery wouldn't see him. She couldn't get through to their own surgery at home. What exactly are you supposed to do in that situation?

With a few exceptions it's not the general population's fault that A&E services are so stretched, but the blaming "stupid people" is quite fun I suppose.

Yes, it’s always fun when people quote scenes which are obviously from tv shows as if they’re fact though, isn’t it? 😂

Admission for my mum has taken up to 24 hours (spent in a bed in majors) but has also been as quick as a couple of hours. That's in hospitals in Surrey and South London.

The other day OH went to hospital after ringing non emergency number with a broken finger, she was given a time to arrive, was triaged, x-rayed and splinted in 1.5hrs and saw a specialist 3 days later, who put a better splint on and went through her x rays more extensively. Initial visit was central London on a Friday evening

I've been there twice and waited for around 8 hours both times. Once with suspected DVT and the other time pulmonary embolism. The drinks machine was broken both times so there was no tea, coffee or water. Take drinks.

If you need immediate care eg heart attack you dial 999 as you will probably need the care of a paramedic / ambulance equipment before getting to hospital. If someone has eg a broken leg then you can wait 5 mins while someone packs a bag - although mostly when people are packing a change of clothes /PJs it's because there is a likelihood of them being admitted .

I actually think its often the more serious something is the longer you have to wait.

At my hospital the times to be seen in minors are about half that of majors atleast. Someone whos experience is of broken bones and stitches is probably quite a quick flow.

Even time wasters in majors can be seen quite quickly eg a junior dr can prescribe 3 days of antibiotics for a uti and send someone on there way. Its if someone say requires iv antibiotics, scans and being seen by surgeons that it takes a while.

My A&E frequently announces if someone isnt actively being treated on iv atpressent for staff to clear cubicles and send them back to the waiting room. We wouldnt otherwise expect someone who is sick to sit on a hard chair so how do we make this more comfortable.

I am usually on a trolley pretty quickly as the only times I have been to A&E for myself has been for heart issues. I have been there for up to 10 hours though! I always take my hospital bag, just in case. Pyjamas, dressing gown, toothbrush/paste, regular medications. Tea bags/coffee/sweetener (have to have decaff - heart issues!) Snacks. Tablet, book, chargers. Water! And always my little softy pillow - a small feather pillow.

Softer cushioned chairs would be great. However they will never be introduced as keeping things uncomfortable seems to be a great way of getting time wasters out!

But its also a great way of making unwell people feel worse or meaning people who really need to go resist going until they are really unwell

Agreed, last time I was there saw lots of people arrive and be despatched during the time I was there. Meanwhile I had to wait for tests, wait for results of tests.and then wait for a consultant and then wait for meds.

Next time I get sent there by a GP (never I hope 🙏🏻) I will be sure to bring a pillow and blanket.

Not the case everywhere. I've sat 12 hours overnight with a relative who was diagnosed as having advanced sepsis and was admitted for a stay of 2 weeks when eventually seen the next morning. I've also taken a very elderly relative twice in the last year and sat for 10 hours each time before leaving her on a trolley in the corridor as had just been triaged and there were no beds but she was too ill to be released.

What were you in A&E for? If this was something requring an admission can you please share where in the country you are as the posters with 8 plus hour waits would all be keen to join.

I had pneumonia and was sent to a and e by my GP. Got there at 10.00am. Was found a trolley at about 2.00 am the next day. I had a cannula put in at about 3.00 pm and bloods taken so had no option but to wait although I was so poorly I was barely conscious at some points. My husband drove up and took turns to take my place in the waiting room for me so I could lay down in the car outside. I was finally given intravenous antibiotics and morphine next morning at about 9.00 am

So sorry you had to wait 16 hours for a trolley and 23 for treatment. Great tip waiting in the car though and getting someone to tag team with the waiting.

Really wondering where you live ?

Tbh no I think that's an insane thing to do if you are losing consciousness.

Better to lie on the floor if needed - hence bringing pillows etc is a good plan

Do timewasters really care about comfort of the chairs? Feel more wipe clean with cushion rather than hard mettal with bar arm rests would be better.

@InevitableNameChanger my local hospital complains if anyone lies or sits on the floor that they are a trip hazard and says they need to be on a chair or standing.

However, i do hope the poster had people with them you would like to hope they would have been seen quicker had staff been able to eyeball how sick they looked.

Agreed, at the neurology clinic I go to we have high backed well cushioned chairs but they are wipe clean and pinned to ground. Much easier to wait on

It's a fair point but I would be making it clear they would be lying on the floor till a bed was found and I bet someone would magic something up or stop nagging. It's outrageous the way people are treated.