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Waiting in A and E

Posted By Amanda0864

"Waiting in A and E"

About: Daisy Hill Hospital / Emergency Department

(as a service user),

Checked into Daisy Hill hospital A&E recently in the evening. Got called by Dr at 7am.  I found the waiting area just atrocious. A patient came in after me, waited 6 hrs for ambulance only 2 be lead into waiting area to wait another 8hrs + at 7am they were howling in pain, that nursing staff put blanket on ground in waiting room and hooked them up to a drip, yes on the floor of waiting room near toilets.

Another patient b4 me came with asthma and left 5am without being seen.  2 patients checked in and they had the right idea, brought pillows and blankets with them.

Waiting room quite full. Inside the A and E area not a chair trolley or bed was to be got.  Patients on corridor some had screens dividing them but a lot hadn't. Not the fault of staff but poor management. Couldn't get a cup of tea. Was never so glad 2 b going out of it at 7.45am. Dr was just so nice can't fault them but management need 2 wake up and do something drastic to make patients more comfortable whilst waiting and they plan to close a and e Newry.   

All I can say is I believe it will just be carnage in Craigavon and or Royal.    So my advice is to bring a flask of boiling water, tea bag etc and a couple of sandwiches, pillow and blanket.  Wait won't be so bad.

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Responses

Response from Paul Smyth, Interim Head of Service Emergency Departments, Acute & Emergency Medicine, Southern Health and Social Care Trust 5 months ago
Paul Smyth
Interim Head of Service Emergency Departments, Acute & Emergency Medicine,
Southern Health and Social Care Trust

Submitted on 22/11/2023 at 09:26
Published on Care Opinion at 09:26

Good morning Amanda0864

I have shared your comments with the ward sister, she will check with her staff as we would not put someone on the floor. There is no doubt the waiting rooms and cubicles are crowded. This is because we regularly have 10 to 14 patients delayed in the emergency department for long periods waiting on an admission bed on the inpatient wards. This severely reduces available cubicle capacity and is the single biggest cause of lengthy waiting times. The patients on the corridor sounds like people waiting on inpatient beds on the wards. The inpatient team look after these patients and we will share your comments with them. We hope you are recovering after your attendance and experience.

Kind regards

Paul Smyth

Head of ED

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