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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:
Original poster
Moniq123 · 19/06/2022 14:17

What did you expect me to do? Trap him inbetween my legs? We tried snacks, videos, in the end he wanted to keep going outside because it was 32 degrees and the sun was shining. The waiting room was boiling and he was visibly uncomfortable. He cant communicate and he was getting frustrated. Sorry, i'm not a basic parent like you who would trap my child so they dont run around like toddlers do. DONT come at me for my parenting.

OP posts:
Original poster
Moniq123 · 19/06/2022 14:18

Why would i stop him? It was a lovely day, we had family who weren't doing anything that day come and sit outside on the grassy area and supervise while i was inside listening for his name being called. We made a crappy situation and turned it into a bearable one. Im sorry if you dont have family to lean on but I do and they're more than willing to help.

OP posts:
Original poster
Moniq123 · 19/06/2022 14:21

Hope you feel better soon that sounds awful! Prayers to you I hope your consultation goes well x

OP posts:

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Original poster
Moniq123 · 19/06/2022 14:22

If you read my posts, you'd see it was just DH and I in the waiting room. No one else is allowed to come in understandably, there is not enough space.

OP posts:
Original poster
Moniq123 · 19/06/2022 14:24

frydae · 19/06/2022 08:17

Besides, they weren't in the waiting room, they were outside of the building as DS kept running in and out,

This is something that you as parents should have stopped him from doing, not stationed others outside to supervise.

What i do is none of your business, worry about your own kids

OP posts:
Changechangychange · 19/06/2022 14:27

I'd rather spend £200 going private for my own sanity!

You have a private Paeds A&E Dept near you? Ok, suggest you use that next time. Quite unusual in the UK.

Didnt even check for a concussion, told me if he vomited or fell ill to come back in

That IS checking for a concussion.

Sirzy · 19/06/2022 14:29

But it is other peoples business when they are in A and E and they have to put up with a child running in and out.

Idroppedthescrewinthetuna · 19/06/2022 14:35

Moniq123 · 19/06/2022 14:18

Why would i stop him? It was a lovely day, we had family who weren't doing anything that day come and sit outside on the grassy area and supervise while i was inside listening for his name being called. We made a crappy situation and turned it into a bearable one. Im sorry if you dont have family to lean on but I do and they're more than willing to help.

So he wasn't sitting there bored and fed up, he wasn't upsettingly ill, he was happy running in and out, playing on the grassy area in the sunshine. But you still want to moan about the long wait. Not really sure the problem to be honest. It isn't like this was an emergency where he was so ill he couldn't move, he was fainting or vomiting. The 6 hour wait is actually quite little under the circumstances. Yes it was long but he didn't need emergency care. Gluing yes, but not life and death.

Theperfectdad · 19/06/2022 14:39

Its a Shame that a pharmacist or simlar can't deal with things like this. I doubt it's hard to clean and glue a cut. But then I suppose there may end up long ques out the door ? I don't know just thinking if would good if there was another way.

Original poster
Moniq123 · 19/06/2022 15:51

Theperfectdad · 19/06/2022 14:39

Its a Shame that a pharmacist or simlar can't deal with things like this. I doubt it's hard to clean and glue a cut. But then I suppose there may end up long ques out the door ? I don't know just thinking if would good if there was another way.

I agree, we were told to go to a&e, so we didnt think there was another way to be honest. It's really sad for those who are incredibly ill waiting long hours to see a dr. There needs to be some sort of change. Dont know why everyone is slagging me off on here to be honest he did need medical attention, if i had told them we werent bothered to go to a&e and i just plastered his cut up they would've moaned either way! The nurse had to change his dressing 4x we were there so yes, we were at the right place.

OP posts:
MissNothing1991 · 19/06/2022 20:44

Moniq123 · 19/06/2022 14:18

Why would i stop him? It was a lovely day, we had family who weren't doing anything that day come and sit outside on the grassy area and supervise while i was inside listening for his name being called. We made a crappy situation and turned it into a bearable one. Im sorry if you dont have family to lean on but I do and they're more than willing to help.

It's not a bloody play park. It's a hospital. I don't understand why you don't understand how inappropriate this is

frydae · 19/06/2022 20:59

What i do is none of your business, worry about your own kids

Oh, I do. The problem with children running in and out of hospital waiting rooms is really disruptive and potentially dangerous to other, more infirm people and of course your own child. It's everybody's business when people let their children do as they please. A&E is absolutely not the environment to let your child run free, even with adults posted outside to catch them.

frydae · 19/06/2022 21:01

Also this...

Sorry, i'm not a basic parent like you who would trap my child so they dont run around like toddlers do. DONT come at me for my parenting.

Basic parent? Trap my toddler? Have a word with yourself. I commented on your parenting in one specific scenario, based on information you gave. I have no information about my parenting, so it's a bit silly to be throwing names about bass on nothing.

MissNothing1991 · 19/06/2022 21:22

frydae · 19/06/2022 21:01

Also this...

Sorry, i'm not a basic parent like you who would trap my child so they dont run around like toddlers do. DONT come at me for my parenting.

Basic parent? Trap my toddler? Have a word with yourself. I commented on your parenting in one specific scenario, based on information you gave. I have no information about my parenting, so it's a bit silly to be throwing names about bass on nothing.

I agree with you @frydae. My LG is a handful at times with her many developmental delays, but never have I made a trip to somewhere like an A&E like a family day out with her flying in and out the door to family outside. Its A&E ffs, from previous roles in health and social care sector, I'm well versed with hopping out of an ambulance with someone. I would not expect to see kids flying in and out the doors at their own will.

gamerchick · 20/06/2022 17:55

OP you've basically told us you're am entitled parent. You do not allow a child to run in and out of a hospital. You just don't.

Notanotherwindow · 20/06/2022 18:19

DONT come at me for my parenting.

I think the point here is that you weren't DOING any parenting...

OliviaBond · 20/06/2022 18:22

So one parent in a&e and one outside with the child. It still doesn't require 6 adults.

buttercuplizzy · 20/06/2022 18:23

These types of injuries are best sorted at an MIU. If unsure, you can also call 111 to assess.

My son badly broke his leg at the weekend and was seen within 20 minutes of arriving at A&E. There was another child in resus. They are prioritising the most at need children and something like a small head cut can be dealt with by a nurse at MIU.

Summerwetordry · 20/06/2022 18:58

SouperNoodle · 18/06/2022 09:10

All the walk in centres in our local area say that for under fives, head injuries should go straight to A&E. They won't even see you, they'll just send you on your way so in OP's situation, I would've gone to A&E as well.

Same here. I took DGS with a head injury from someone hitting him on the head with a tennis racquet at school. Having waited ages to be seen the nurse refused to look at his head and we had to go to A&E, which is a long journey. He has lost some of the hair on his head and has a permanent bald spot.

youcantparktheresir · 20/06/2022 19:19

Moniq123 · 19/06/2022 14:18

Why would i stop him? It was a lovely day, we had family who weren't doing anything that day come and sit outside on the grassy area and supervise while i was inside listening for his name being called. We made a crappy situation and turned it into a bearable one. Im sorry if you dont have family to lean on but I do and they're more than willing to help.

Why would you stop him?

Because you're in a hospital for goodness sake. Not some place for a family outing on the grass outside.

People who are actually wanting in A&E for an accident or emergency don't need to deal with a toddler running in and out all the time.
You're saying you made an unbearable situation bearable - probably quite the opposite for the sick people there waiting to be seen though.

MumbleAlwaysMumble · 21/06/2022 09:15

buttercuplizzy · 20/06/2022 18:23

These types of injuries are best sorted at an MIU. If unsure, you can also call 111 to assess.

My son badly broke his leg at the weekend and was seen within 20 minutes of arriving at A&E. There was another child in resus. They are prioritising the most at need children and something like a small head cut can be dealt with by a nurse at MIU.

That’s only if there is a minor injury clinic in the first place!!!

I mean who on Earth would go to A&E knowing they’ll end up waiting hours and hours when they know they could be seen more quickly at MIU. Do you really think people are that dim??

fwiw there is NO MIU where I live. You have no choice but to go to A&E.

bambibb · 21/06/2022 09:21

This thread is so odd. I can't fathom the idea of 6 adults needing to be there for 1 child in A&E.

Especially as at our A&E only one parent is allowed in with a child. So if anything, I'd have thought if you really needed an adult outside, that you would have stayed inside and your husband sat outside. Roping in your in laws and BIL seems a little excessive and unnecessary.

MissNothing1991 · 21/06/2022 13:59

OliviaBond · 20/06/2022 18:22

So one parent in a&e and one outside with the child. It still doesn't require 6 adults.

Didn't you know? The injury was that serious, they turned it into a family day out with family sitting on the grass area and the child running in and out the door. Personally if my child was supposedly seriously injured I wouldn't dream of doing so, and the nerve of the hospital for not seeing such a seriously injured child first 😐

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