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Original poster

A&e waiting times a joke??

173 replies

Moniq123 · 18/06/2022 01:58

Hi everyone,

DS (2.5) had a bad accident in nursery today where he fell down a few stairs and hit his head on the corner of the wall just above his eyebrow. His cut was quite deep and wouldnt stop bleeding, he clearly needed stitches or glue. We were sat in a&e foe 6 and a half hours and when we were seen from the moment we entered the room until we left was a grand total of 3 minutes exactly. Dr just disinfected it and glued it and stuck plasters over it. To think that this is just ridiculous?? I know there are other people with emergencies waiting to be seen but he was just causing havoc in the waiting room (understandably so considering hes only 2.5 and gets bored quickly!). I feel like ive been ran over by a truck, at the end of it had to get my in laws and my brothers in hospital to help my DH and I. Honestly can say I've never had a more exhausting day, never going back to a&e again i'd rather spend £200 going private for my own sanity! Didnt even check for a concussion, told me if he vomited or fell ill to come back in, i asked whether we would have to wait again and dr said yes. In my head i was thinking absolutely no way am i ever coming back here😂

OP posts:
ReeseWitherfork · 18/06/2022 02:08

Sorry to hear about your son, and your crappy day! Does indeed sound like hell. My local trust have a separate paeds A&E which sounds like yours is lacking! Unfortunately I think A&E waiting times are pretty unavoidable.

TomDaleysCardigan · 18/06/2022 02:44

Did I read that correctly that you asked an extra two or more adults to come to, no doubt a crowded waiting room, to help you handle one small child? And you had two of you there in the first place?

ChuckMater · 18/06/2022 03:01

You said he was running around so the doctor could quite clearly see he had no concussion and told you the signs to look out for. A & e departments are overrun and understaffed thats no secret across the country. Im pleased DS is ok and it wasn't serious.

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sunflowerandivy · 18/06/2022 03:06

Paramedic here.
Go private next time you need childrens A&E? Not possible unless you have a private paediatrician on call 24/7 with access to every type of equipment and monitoring.

If your son was "causing havoc" in the waiting room then it would've been obvious to staff that his head injury wasn't serious. Children with serious head injuries vomit, have altered levels of consciousness and behave abnormally.

Itsallok · 18/06/2022 03:06

TomDaleysCardigan · 18/06/2022 02:44

Did I read that correctly that you asked an extra two or more adults to come to, no doubt a crowded waiting room, to help you handle one small child? And you had two of you there in the first place?

This! Maybe all the people with heart attacks should get out the way for you.

Needmorelego · 18/06/2022 03:10

Did the nurses not do any observations? The standard (from my experience) is temp, blood pressure, the thing with the finger (whatever that is). That's very unusual if that didn't happen.

Fuckitydoodah · 18/06/2022 03:11

Is this a joke?

I understand it's frustrating but the NHS is massively struggling and if your boy was well enough to run around causing havoc then he was low priority compared to someone with for example, chest pains, stroke symptoms, fracture etc.

PaddleBoardingMomma · 18/06/2022 03:43

Surely this is taking the piss? 😂 you needed 3 extra adults to come and help you AND your husband look after ONE child in a&e? 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

Player001 · 18/06/2022 03:45

Something like this can be taken care of by the GP.

I had my hand ripped open by a stray dog. GP did stitches and tetanus shot with a script for antibiotics.

I was in and out in 30 minutes.

youcantparktheresir · 18/06/2022 03:55

Oh dear. This can't be real.

SD1978 · 18/06/2022 04:15

You were there for 6 hours- that pretty much is your concussion check- you're 4 hours past injury. Heads are really vascular so after strips is pretty much always the way. I'm sorry you felt rushed, but that's the standard treatment- hence why I keep steri strips at home now!!!

SD1978 · 18/06/2022 04:16

And sorry- four adults for one toddler? That is flipping nuts.

Bonkerz · 18/06/2022 04:22

My dd was always hitting her head causing cuts etc. we soon realised that steri strips at home and close observation was the way to go.
We did take her once to A&E and they glued her cut but within a few hours whilst asleep she'd rubbed it and split open again. Chemist gave us plasters and steri strips and all healed lovely.

Rainbowqueeen · 18/06/2022 04:25

Sorry you had a tough time.

next time I’d try your GP or the after hours clinic.

I think they did check for concussion - not a medic but my understanding is that it’s just observation. My DD had one once. She vomited at the GPs who told me to go straight to hospital if she vomited again and that she would probably be sleepy but to sit with her while she slept and check that she would react to a gentle prod. So that’s what I did.

Hope your little one is ok. It is scary but if there had been something seriously wrong with him I’m sure he would have been prioritised.

Itsallok · 18/06/2022 04:27

SD1978 · 18/06/2022 04:16

And sorry- four adults for one toddler? That is flipping nuts.

Yep. The OP is pathetic. Four adults?? One toddler? You don't need A&E you need some parenting classes, some cement to eat and a dose of reality. Can only assume you were massively spoilt and overindulged child if this is a display of your lack of coping skills

Isaidnoalready · 18/06/2022 04:32

You almost have a point I would personally have a system where there are nurses and medical staff to deal with the easy stuff glueing and stitching the quick turnarounds to keep things moving but we don't have the staff

MrsDrSpencerReid · 18/06/2022 04:33

That’s a frustrating wait time.

But….you needed your in-laws AND your brothers to help you and DH in the waiting area? 😳6 adults?

Our emergency room is strictly one adult per child!

autienotnaughty · 18/06/2022 04:57

The nhs is in dire straits. My ds had a nasty accident on a metal scooter cutting his mouth and chin open. He was bleeding profusely (worsened by saliva) waited 6 hours at childrens a&e not because he wasn't urgent but because there was no doctor to see any of us!! When we eventually saw a doctor he didn't know what to do and rang another hospital for advice and we were sent there instead. (They were fantastic) It healed badly and he's covered in tiny scars on his chin.

Op is there a minor injuries near you? We have one a 30min drive away (hospital is 10min away) I drive past the hospital to go there as it's so much better, never waited longer than 30min to be seen.

PuffyMcPuffFace · 18/06/2022 04:57

"I feel like ive been ran over by a truck, at the end of it had to get my in laws and my brothers in hospital to help my DH and I."

Wow. Let's hope you never have anything serious to deal with, huh?

onlythreenow · 18/06/2022 05:10

Couldn't you have just gone to a GP? .

MumofSpud · 18/06/2022 05:38

Yes you are absolutely right - waiting times are shocking .... mainly because of time wasters!
I don't get how they even let 6 adults in with you?!
6 adults for 1 toddler - causing havoc?
Unbelievable

ChaosMoon · 18/06/2022 05:38

I'm trying to imagine what all those extra adults needed to do. Did they take a limb each and pin him down? Or maybe all hold hands in a circle around him so he couldn't run as far?

In all seriousness, everyone knows that this is what A&E waiting times are like. If you'd called 111, they probably would have sent you to your GP or a minor injuries unit and you'd have been treated much faster.

Butitsnotfunnyisititsserious · 18/06/2022 05:44

How out of control is your 2.5 year old that you need that many adults? Or how poor are you and your DH at parenting? As others have said it is clear he didn't have a concussion as he was running around for hours.

ShoesEverywhere · 18/06/2022 06:42

My daughter had a seizure and had to go to a&e. The wait was around six hours overnight and I ended up sleeping on the floor on her coat with my newborn baby while she watched TV.

And honestly I have nothing but gratitude for the nurses and doctor who checked her out and let me know she is safe.

My son once sliced his head open at school and was seen at the MIU within an hour - I wouldn't go to a&e with that personally. Hope he's feeling better now!

gamerchick · 18/06/2022 06:51

TomDaleysCardigan · 18/06/2022 02:44

Did I read that correctly that you asked an extra two or more adults to come to, no doubt a crowded waiting room, to help you handle one small child? And you had two of you there in the first place?

These are the types of people who complain a lot.

This smells like it has a flavour though.