King George Hospital 2021-09-13 Person 2 5 0

Firstly I work for the NHS in a separate trust so I understand the pressures in hospital and a+e in general and the need for reaching a 4 hour target. I spent 12 hours in a+e which is absolutely shocking. Alot of the nursing assistants expressed their shock too and how 'this can't go on!'. The doctors who i saw were good- they treated me with kindness and kept updating me. Some of the nurses need to be more compassionate and caring particularly one of the nurses in charge who was on the day shift on Saturday 11th September. Patients are sick that's why they come to A+E. I work with patients and I ensure that patients are treated with dignity and respect even when they may get frustrated about waiting times etc. At the end of the day they are sick. There were only few occasions in the 12 hours I was waiting when I asked one of the nurses 'how long do I have to wait for my scan', 'when can I go home' 'when will the doctors see me'. The responses from the nurse were terrible. If she doesn't want to be there and she doesn't like her job she should quit. This is just one particular staff member who was senior that I am referring to, the other staff were kind and compassionate.

Remember your job involves caring for patients who are unwell. Show empathy and kindness and treat them with respect. The shocking waiting times need to be addressed ASAP. Some staff members mentioned there were a lack of staff due to sickness etc. There needs to be back up staff or the a+e should be closed if they can't handle the patients. The a+e wasn't even busy when i came and still I waited 12 hours another waited 18 hours. I've worked in a+e in a different trust and this a+e was not busy