"ED nightmare"

1. Lack of seating. Even with patients using the main foyer, there were several people sitting and sleeping on the floor

2 Patient confidentiality - in  my experience, there is none! Everyone can hear a/ at reception; b) triage and c) clinical areas. If I was attending with a mental health crisis, I doubt I would stay.

3. Vending machines - lack of variety and they don't accept notes. Perhaps installing a change machine might help

4. I do applaud that they have increased the volume of the tannoy system so it can be heard in the main foyer.

5. There were several people on obs every 4-6 hours so it was less anxiety provoking waiting for 17-28 hours

6. I also applaud staff who were professional and considerate working under immense pressure

7. I noticed changes in staff allowing self-management. I was allowed to monitor my own blood sugar and take my own pain relief.

8. Patient flow -there were so many people there for more than 24 hours who needed admission. There was nowhere for them to be admitted to, meaning no further patients were seen at all between 0100 and 0600.  I could have gone home for a nap!

9. GP referrals to ED. They couldn't find my referral even though my GP told me a referral had been made a few hours before I made it to the hospital. Is there an issue there?

10. I was told to go get something to eat so my blood sugar wouldn't drop overnight. Good in one way in that the nurses knew I would be there all night but I had to leave the hospital and go home as I had no cash on me. Does a Care pathway for Diabetic patients in the ED exist?  If I can leave the hospital to get something to eat, can I not go home for a nap!  At least I wouldn't be sitting on the floor!

11. Patients leaving without being seen - are stats on this available to the public?  Have there been any SIAs because of this?

12.  I definitely wouldn't have attended ED if my GP didn't send me.  I left after 12 hours without being seen.  Thankfully my next ECG didn't say acute MI on it!

13.  The trust seem reluctant to allow any service improvement in ED, citing pressures, but in my view if there is one area that needs it, it's the ED.