"Quick and efficient service but poor cleanliness"

My daughter fell and hurt her hand so we went to ED in Altnagelvin to make sure she was ok one Sunday morning. The reception staff were very friendly however I felt confidentiality was compromised by the glass panels and the distance between the seating area to the reception desk. For children especially I didn't like this.

The environment was clean at a first glance however when we went looking a seat in the children's area I was horrified.  I could see a number of used cardboard cups from the vending machine lying around, a few on the table that had a white coating over the top of the liquid. some handkerchiefs clearly used lying in a sick bowl and a hospital blanket on the floor.

It was a very dark dreary corner with no lighting, TV not on and a damaged plastic screen cover over it. Patches of wall where the paint looked like it was scrapped off and generally grubby looking. Very unpleasant to sit in.

The sensory room I was told was in use by a patient already so I was just hoping to get in and out as soon as possible which we did. The specialist practice nurse  was so pleasant and very good with children. He assessed my daughter thoroughly before ordering an x-ray.

The x-ray staff were just as nice. Very quick. efficient and it felt like no time til we were back in the grubby waiting areas waiting to be called in and sure enough we were.

The same specialist practitioner took us back in and fitted a splint. Explained aftercare and even showed my little girl her x-ray making the whole experience exciting and interesting for my little girl. He is an asset to this trust.

I felt very content and at ease with his advice and after a total of 1 hour and 5 mins we were outside going home. I am very grateful to have such a wonderful service its just a shame the environment doesn't match up to the quality of service.