Queen's Hospital 2021-09-21 Person 1 5 0

I had little or no communication with nursing staff in A and E from the time I arrived by ambulance to the time I left. The only person I had contact with was the phlebotomist who was kind. I arrived at approximately 1720 was shown to a chair where I waited without any communication from any staff member until 2015. Having had an ECG and blood tests as there was nowhere to sit so I stood in the corridor.

I was led to believe that because I came in by ambulance I would receive a quick blood test and would have to wait a couple of hours for the results. After my tests I was walked to a totally different area with another patient (who had been in A and E simce1200) to be told by the duty nurse that I would have to wait 8-10 hours to be assessed. This was 9pm and I was not prepared to wait with approx 70 other patients for my results the following morning. My dr was going to request my results to be sent to him otherwise the whole event was a waste of everybody’s time. I can honestly say there was no system in place and experiencing other patients in distress and not receiving any attention from anybody was distressing. It was worse than a war zone. I would hope that the assessment of my tests has now been sent to my GP. On a positive note the ambulance crew were exceptional and very professional. I think the whole system of A and E needs to be restructured as the staff are working in unacceptable conditions.