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AIBU?

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Original poster

Is this normal? A&E Wait?

27 replies

Thatsmylife · 22/11/2024 01:38

Just wondered if this is the usual procedure or if I just got lucky with not having to wait (and unlucky for being unwell!)

I’ve unfortunately had to visit a&e a few times recently

when I had last been before (several years ago), I would usually check in at reception and give a few details about what was wrong, then go and sit and wait to be called for triage. Don’t know if it varies by health board but usually at ours that’s at least a 30 minute wait just to go into triage

when I attended several weeks ago, the receptionist told me to go and take a seat then she left and disappeared for a few minutes, then immediately a nurse came out and called me in. I wasn’t sure if they realised I was really unwell and I basically skipped the triage queue or if it was just a coincidence and maybe the receptionist just disappeared for a different reason and the nurse just happened to call me through quickly

then a few weeks later I had to go to a&e again (completely different hospital in a different healthboard as I was away from home when I took unwell) and this time I explained it to the receptionist and a nurse immediately came round (not even sure where from tbh) and I was taken straight through without ever even sitting down

I wasn’t sure if this happens if they think you’re really unwell or if I just got lucky and didn’t have to wait both times? I’ve had the same problem before and had to wait 30+ minutes in triage (and then immediately sent through to resus) so wasn’t sure if there was something on my notes about not waiting or if it was just a coincidence I didn’t have to wait and perhaps it wasn’t particularly busy so that’s why I got taken straight away?

i know nobody can say for sure but just wondered if anyone else had experienced this?

OP posts:
Catza · 22/11/2024 07:53

If you are more unwell than every other person in the room, you will be seen before them. I assume you are attending for a serious health condition which will be prioritised over minor injuries or UTI

Lifeglowup · 22/11/2024 07:58

What dis you tell them was wrong with you? I think this is key here.

Our local A and E has the lowest waiting times in the country. Nurses at reception, some people are told to make their way to minor injuries (at least 20 mins drive away), others are filtered to ambulatory care where there are super long waiting time but it isn’t counted toward A and E times. Generally people are stablised and admitted to ward within 4 hours.

Brandnewskytohangyourstarsupon · 22/11/2024 08:02

Depends on what’s wrong?

Recently sat in A&E with a relative on a hard back plastic chair for 30 HOURS.

Was triaged after 3 hours.

It was an emergency, covered in blood, looked like they were dying, blood pressure very low… could have died there in that blue plastic chair and not one fucker would have noticed or cared.

You did well there op.

coffeesaveslives · 22/11/2024 08:04

What was wrong with you?

pinkdelight · 22/11/2024 08:24

Hard to say without knowing how really unwell you were and whether that would've triggered a fast track response. We skipped the reception/triage stages when my DS's arm was so broken it was z-shaped and he was crying in agony, so they waved us straight in to get medical attention asap. If you're well enough to be checking in and giving details, then it's more likely that they happened to have enough capacity to see you sooner (assuming the waiting room wasn't packed) and so they skipped a stage and got on with it, but no way of knowing.

Prescottdanni123 · 22/11/2024 08:34

I took a relative to hospital recently with sepsis symptoms. We were rushed straight through. Thankfully it wasn't sepsis but the medical staff were worried that it could be and reacted exactly as they should. Yes if they think that you are really ill/have a potentially life threatening problem, they should see you quicker than everyone else.

Devilsmommy · 22/11/2024 08:38

Brandnewskytohangyourstarsupon · 22/11/2024 08:02

Depends on what’s wrong?

Recently sat in A&E with a relative on a hard back plastic chair for 30 HOURS.

Was triaged after 3 hours.

It was an emergency, covered in blood, looked like they were dying, blood pressure very low… could have died there in that blue plastic chair and not one fucker would have noticed or cared.

You did well there op.

Bloody hell it's fucking awful that people have to go through this. And tbh I'd say this was more like what most people go through at a&e

Jellycatspyjamas · 22/11/2024 08:41

My exDH is usually rushed through A&E because he has a complex health issue that means if he has certain symptoms he’s in serious danger. I think his medical notes have an alert on them to watch for X if he presents at A&E.

xILikeJamx · 22/11/2024 08:45

As others have said, the important factor is what was wrong with you.

Did you have a knife sticking out your neck?

Iceymaidens · 22/11/2024 08:51

Heart related stuff always got me a fast pass through A&E

ViciousCurrentBun · 22/11/2024 08:57

DH and I have both been patients in A&E this year. He has never been as a patient before, last time I went was about 12 years ago. He was seen immediately as was blue lighted after being knocked unconscious and the ambulance arrived in 15 mins. I had to wait I was in absolute agony after being sent by a GP but it was not life threatening. Triage does get it wrong sometimes especially if people do not have the words to describe their issues. But that’s the point genuine emergencies go to the top of the queue. As someone with a problem that has caused pain for many years if it’s pain that isn’t going to kill me that’s ok with me.

autumn1610 · 22/11/2024 09:03

i passed out at uni while on a night out (was actually feeling a bit unwell think cold and wasnt drinking) anyway we went up to A&E and I have never been rushed through so quickly…put on trolley everything within about 15mins of arriving. was cannulated straight away by a dr had bloods back within a couple of hours at most. Well turned out they thought I had meningitis which is why I was whizzed through. The way the reacted me and my friend were panicking. Turns out I had severe tonsillitis. But when they think you are very ill they do react quick.

Chuchuchu · 22/11/2024 09:06

If in the past you have presented with the same condition that ended up with you being seen in resus after triage then that suggests they are now assessing urgent need correctly at front desk!

Overthebow · 22/11/2024 09:08

Yes if you’re seriously unwell they will generally see you sooner, unless there’s many equally unwell people waiting. We took DC in recently and she was seen straight away, whilst other children were in the normal queue which had a 2 hour wait.

Grahamhousehushand · 22/11/2024 09:09

It could be what you notified the receptionist was wrong when you arrived. It may be something flagging on your notes, at least in your own health board (I am guessing you are in Wales or Scotland, we have ICBs in England but A&E is still delivered at the level of the hospital trust so different hospitals don't always have interoperable systems), anything cardiac for example might get triaged v quickly. It could be improved systems in the A&Es you visited which is good. Triage was an innovation in the seventies but there's a lot more that can be done to signpost people to the right care pathways quickly. As others said - having primary care physicians on site to redirect to etc can take a lot of strain off A&E so investing more trained nurses in quickly screening should this person be here or be waiting in the GP led centre next door will cut waits for everyone. I would guess that initial screen was still brief and you had subsequent waits but it sounds like a good system - if it worked well do get in touch with PALS or the equivalent to tell them as constructive feedback is really important.

GrannyAchingsShepherdsHut · 22/11/2024 09:20

I went to A&E last weekend in the middle of the night, the longest wait time on the board in the waiting room was 6 hours to be treated, but 0 minutes to see triage.

I was taken into triage immediately, and then waited about 30 mins for a blood test /cannula / some iv fluids and pain relief. Then I got sent to surgical assessment about 3 hrs later when they opened in the morning.

I assumed it was because of these awful media reports of people not being triage at all and dying in the waiting room.

BillStickersWillBeProsocuted · 22/11/2024 09:22

I've only heard of this happening once before

My friend had a metal splinter in his hand. His hand turned red and the redness was making his way up his arm. When he got to A&E it was just above his elbow and he was rushed straight through - apparently he was about an hour or so from having his arm amputated and 2/3 hours from death

So anecdotally based on that I'd guess you had symptoms that made them think there could be something very serious wrong

ElaborateCushion · 22/11/2024 09:24

Definitely depends on the A&E I think, as well as who else is waiting, etc.

I know of two hospitals that now triage before booking in. Someone I know went in on the advice of his GP because his blood oxygen was v low (83%). He was triaged practically as he walked in the door and was on a nebuliser within 30 mins.

Anything cardiac, or potentially cardiac, usually gets a prompt response too.

fivebyfivebuffy · 22/11/2024 09:26

Happened to me once, I had checked in and was pacing about, triage came out to shout a name and then pulled me in and said I looked grey with pain
They gave me morphine straight away

Invisimamma · 22/11/2024 09:27

I have not had to be seen myself, luckily. But anytime I have taken my children, mostly suspected broken bones and dislocations or stitches (sporty boys!) we've been seen very quickly. Sometimes minor injuries and sometimes a&e, I usually phone 111 first and they give us a timeslot.

Always see the bad press about a&e and gp appointments but never had any issues.

LeBonBon · 22/11/2024 09:33

I went to A&E once as I had a bunch of worrying symptoms that had developed over a week but no idea what it could be. Was seen by triage fairly quickly, and actually told off for not coming in sooner! Rushed straight through to be seen. Pulmonary embolism as a very fit 26 year old and pneumonia to top it off. I was very ill so I'm glad they acted quickly!

CoastalCalm · 22/11/2024 09:41

Yes it depends on what you’re there for and how you appear too , I’ve been taken straight through to a bed on arrival twice once in a wheelchair

BarbaraHoward · 22/11/2024 09:54

Yes it can depend on how sick you appear IME. I arrived with a wheezing DC once and within less than 20 minutes of pulling up outside she was on a nebulizer.

Singleandproud · 22/11/2024 10:05

Our hospital has redesigned A&E and had lots of building work done to restructure the building and entrance way.
You get triaged straight away there is a Nurse cubicle at reception, they see you and talk through your symptoms on arrival and take a history, take basic vitals and then send you through to treatment, triage or the Out of Hours GP clinic attached to the hospital depending on your presentation. There is a completely separate A&E section for ambulance arrivals now. The reception person is now more of an admin person filling in the forms and getting them to the right department

FedUpandEatingChocolate · 22/11/2024 10:22

Been in lots with my youngest and it varies. A few times we've gone straight to resus without triage. Last week we waited 90 minutes for triage, which is pretty crap when she came in with breathing problems. This week, same issue, straight to triage and then resus. She was seen by adult triage and resus as paed backed up and they recognised the urgency.