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Queen's Hospital 2024-04-26 Person 2 5 0

I waited 20+ hours in A/E, to think it was the A/E. I arrived 8pm, I was taken bloods at around 10pm, and from then on—it was dead waiting. Nurses and other staff were nice, there was just a lot of wasted time. There was a patient who came around 12mn, with relentless asking from staff, he was able to get a response from the doctor around 4am maybe to do a scan. If this was possible in 4 hours, how is it any different from other patients who have been waiting even longer? Do we need to pester nurses all the time to get the attention of doctors? Because amazingly, the doctor turns up eventually for that a relentless patient. It is not fair. I was seen by the doctor AROUND 9-10AM and would have to wait for a scan, which I perceived is not going to be a short wait. I think nurses, attendants, doctors should take into consideration how long patients are waiting, if I did not pester them at around 4pm to where is the scan, I would have waited for God knows how long. After telling them that I have been there since 8pm, at 4pm the next day, they were able to call porters, ultrasound, and shortly after, I was sent to ultrasound. What if I do not follow up? Do I just sit there and hope that they have a certain system that they follow? The staff from ultrasound asked me how long I was waiting in A/E and I said 20 hours, they were shocked and told me that how come they only got my request on that period of time? I was as shocked! So how are things managed? How can you feel that there is proper triage and prioritization of those that have been waiting for a long time. Yes, priority to those who are more ill, but it does not mean you have to push further behind those that have been waiting since night time. 20+ hours of waiting time, and it is called an A/E.

I asked about my current bloods, was given fluids around 4am. From 10pm-4am there was nothing, so much wasted time. If this is a norm in A/E (and really I do not think anyone gets seen by the doctor at this time, except maybe those who came at 1pm or something), then they should advise patients to go home for the meantime and rest. Waiting for that long, hoping that there will be something is just stressful, on top of not getting the proper rest and sleep. I think you should be realistic with your timelines with the patient. If you know how the waiting time works, advise them that “ hey, if you live nearby you, get some rest on your bed, because you will not be seen in the next 4hours”— i think that will be helpful, rather that all us looking at the staff and waiting (and hoping) that we will be the next one to be seen. It is frustrating enough being unwell, and to wait for nothing for the longest period of time. Prioritize everyone, not only those who pester or follow-up frequently, because when I came I hoped there was a proper system and I was prepared to wait, but 20+ hours?!? Seen by the doctor after 13+ hours??? It was okay if I was waiting, and there were some procedures being done in between. Came 8pm, bloods 10pm, nothing until fluids as 4am. Would it be helpful if some procedures can be done in between? So that by the time the doctors see you by daylight, something can be done, but no.. you wait another 8 hours to get a procedure done. If there was something in the scan, so do you wait another day?!? It is ridiculous. The waiting time should be allotted for certain procedures that patients need, by then, when they see the doctor, time spent in A/E would be lesser. I did not expect that the more you follow-up the quicker you get seen. It is just not fair.