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Original poster

To wonder why was the hospital empty today?

191 replies

SpicyEnchiladas · 01/01/2021 19:56

Can someone please explain this if they knew. We live in one of the highest areas of cases of covid in the north west, and are constantly told by the local papers about our hospitals not coping at all!

So my friend had a car accident on boxing day and although she wasn't visibly injured, she was taken to the hospital to check that she's fine as she was very shaken after that. She dreaded going with the medics and avoided going to the hospital for the fear of long queues and catching Covid! She was seen after 10 minutes, had her x-rays taken, two consultants checked on her and was done within an hour!! When she came back home she said that they were only a few patients inside and it all went smoothly. Much better than her experience in hospitals before Covid.

Today, I had to drop my mum off to the A&E for severe pain in head and ears. She was fainting and couldn't even walk but they didn't let me in with her as per the guidelines. TBH what's what we expected anyway. I left her after the nurse reassured me that they will keep a close eye on her in case if she faints again in the waiting area. I left and before getting in my car, I received a call asking me to return to the hospital as she will be transferred to the ambulatory care immediately. They said that it's fine to have me with her to provide company and reassurance as it's likely that she'll be there for a few hours.

We stayed for nearly 4 hours, during that time I've been in and out of the department to use the phone, move my car from the drop off area, go to the pharmacy... it was nearly empty!! Only a few nurses insight. I was actually a bit scared whilst walking to the hospital's pharmacy as it was all dark all the way. Very quiet and unusual!! There were 5 people in the ambulatory care and plenty of empty beds and patient rooms.
I noticed the same whilst passing other departments.

I'm not doubting that Covid is indeed straining the nhs, but can someone explain why was the hospital not busy and nearly empty on both occasions despite us being constantly told that a&e isn't coping in our town?

OP posts:
Hoghgyni · 01/01/2021 20:10

I had to take DD to hospital today. She was triaged by phone in the car park, then had a phone consultation with a doctor before being seen in person. The site has been split into a hot possible covid side & cold non-covid side. Luckily her temperature was low enough to be sent to the cold side. She was in & out relatively quickly because nobody is bringing in children with scrapped knees or coming in with a hangover anymore.

NerrSnerr · 01/01/2021 20:10

Did you expect there to be people with in the X-ray department or a&e? The people with Covid are on the wards and ICU. The staff working in those areas are on those wards being very busy caring for them. If someone comes in with Covid symptoms or already tested positive they're not going to be plonked in the a&e waiting room infecting everyone.

Gooseygoosey12345 · 01/01/2021 20:10

This is how it should be the majority of the time. People aren't going to A&E for things they can treat at home at the moment. Anyone who has Covid symptoms won't be allowed to hang around in A&E so that's totally separate.

iklboo · 01/01/2021 20:11

Please.

countbackfromten · 01/01/2021 20:11

I’m so sick of this. Me and my colleagues across the country are exhausted and I honestly dread the long term impact of this. Today I have cried for hours after a night shift after a patient died and her family couldn’t be there. We are doing our best and yet constantly hear conspiracy theories and crap day in day out about what is going on.

On our unit there are 4 times the number of patients undergoing the most specialist treatment imaginable for lung failure because of covid. We are expanding our number of intensive care beds daily and still more patients are coming in. We think the peak is coming in a few weeks and I am terrified for what that means when it is already like this.

ItsClemFandangoCanYouHearMe1 · 01/01/2021 20:12

I had to go to the hospital a week ago (while covid positive) so was seen in majors with other covid patients.

I wasn't going to die, but I had a Covid induced flare up of a condition I have so it needed to be monitored.

Nurses and doctors shouting at each other, patients begging for help, critical patients being cared for out of the back of ambulances (I was next to the nurses station and could hear a lot)

I guess all hospitals are managing differently but this was horrendous and I felt sorry for the staff and patients.

Afeckinchoo · 01/01/2021 20:13

Someone I know had been in a major hospital all the way through.
Not a nurse but still essential to patient care.
She works alternately with other staff in the department between covid wards and non covid wards.
Gradually the non covid areas have become covid areas. Other departments that aren't covid areas are closed, because the staff have been redeployed to the covid areas as more and more staff are having to isolate or in need of medical care themselves.
It's not "just covid" they're treating, people who are admitted with other things are tested, and then end up in a covid area if positive, still needing treatment for their original issue and maybe not even needing covid specific care. So more staff are needed to move over to covid areas,not just to deal with Covid, but to treat other conditions the patient has been admitted with, but who also happens to have Covid.
If I fall and break my leg, I'll be treated for that, but if I test positive at the same time, I'll be treated for it in a covid area.

CandyLeBonBon · 01/01/2021 20:14

Are you Debbie Hicks?

Hardbackwriter · 01/01/2021 20:14

I think you're mistaking bustle for busyness. The hospital has felt very - eerily, really - quiet every time I've been in since March but if I really think about it that's because there aren't many visitors, nearly all patients are unaccompanied, and there aren't lively, chatty areas like the coffee shop, which has been closed. But that's all superficial - it doesn't tell you anything about what staff are doing.

shouldistop · 01/01/2021 20:14

I'd assume that Covid patients aren't sitting about A&E...

SendHelp30 · 01/01/2021 20:15

Be sure there are seperate, secure covid wards which you wouldn’t of been privy too and because less people are now visiting a&e for their trivial ailments

itsgettingweird · 01/01/2021 20:15

Evasive those areas are usually full of visitors and people going in for clinics.

Those people on wards are still in wards.

And now - alone and not visited.

AldiIsla · 01/01/2021 20:17

Can't believe they didn't give you a guided tour of the ICU @SpicyEnchiladas. You should complain.

Bizawit · 01/01/2021 20:17

YANBU OP.

hettie · 01/01/2021 20:18

It's not hard to understand op. You were in the non Covid area. It's actually probably quieter than usual (less travel, sports, people who should have seen their GP).

Pippa12 · 01/01/2021 20:19

A&E is separated into red and green areas, and never the two shall meet.

I’ve worked a 9 hour shift today on icu, it’s packed and the covid cases are brutal. We have expanded our capacity 3 fold so we can continue with elective surgery. I cried in the shower when I got home because I’m sick to the back teeth of my husband and children seeing me broken after work.

I don’t blame you for asking the question, you don’t know what you don’t know. I think it’s good to be inquisitive rather than jumping on the lazy nhs band wagon!

iamyourequal · 01/01/2021 20:19

I support you in the wonderful work you and your colleagues are doing @countbackfromten.

OP this is for you Biscuit.

Imapotato · 01/01/2021 20:20

@Bizawit

YANBU OP.
????? Really?
DownToTheSeaAgain · 01/01/2021 20:21

I was in A & E at a central London hospital yesterday. They have created 'clean' ie non COVID areas and that's where I was. I was seen quickly and efficiently and it wasn't rammed busy. However talking to the nurse it was clear that the hospital as a whole was very very busy. Just because you didn't see it OP doesn't mean it's not true.

PinkiOcelot · 01/01/2021 20:22

@GetOffYourHighHorse me too. GPS aren’t even dealing with COVID patients anyway.

Hospital corridors are quiet. COVID patients aren’t being treated in the corridors. A&E quieter because some are no longer just pitching up for the crack along with a number of family members.
Outpatients is quieter as the numbers allowed to be seen face to face has been vastly reduced. Patients are also advised to attend themselves unless require a carer.

Davenotdave · 01/01/2021 20:23

Because you didn't go into the covid areas, which are completely separate in most cases, you'd have gone through a different triage, assessment and ward to anyone suspected with covid.
After nearly a year we've got pretty slick at keeping tests like you safe from covid. Believe us we are busy and we are exhausted.
I'm glad you and your family recieved good care dispute the strain the NHS is under, you should be celebrating it not questioning.

x2boys · 01/01/2021 20:24

Hospitals are always quieter on bank holidays and weekends ,less 9-5 staff ,no clinics etc ,however assuming you weren't wandering around ICU or non COViD areas as others have said people with non life threatening conditions are more likely to stay away

AnyFucker · 01/01/2021 20:24

You have no clue, op, no clue at all.

Afeckinchoo · 01/01/2021 20:24

@countbackfromten @Pippa12 and anyone else dealing with this on a daily basis, thank you.
I (and not only me, many, many more too) appreciate and value what you're doing.
I hope things improve for you soon, I hope numbers start to drop and you get the rest and time with your families you deserve.

Davenotdave · 01/01/2021 20:25

I made an autocorrect error... But it was probably for the best