This is Care Opinion [siteRegion]. Did you want Care Opinion [usersRegionBasedOnIP]?
Care Opinion

Reception

Posted By March888

"Reception"

About: North Devon District Hospital / Accident and emergency

(as a service user),

My partner has had a heart valve replacement, he was showing signs of a infection which is very dangerous we called 111 and they told us to come to hospital. I dropped my partner off at A&E went and got a parking space come to find him and they had put him out in the first part that you walk into.

When I asked him why he was out there he said they told him he had to because of his cough, well after having a heart operation he is more open to catch bugs, so they decided it was a brilliant idea to sit him out in the freezing cold and where they were asking people who has/had sickness or diarrhoea to wait.

When I questioned it and said so you have put a patient who has just had surgery out there they didn't seem bothered. I was absolutely fuming, luckily when we saw a triage nurse, they even said it shouldn't have happened and found us some where more appropriate to wait.

I'm so angry that the staff even put my partner in this position absolutely disgusting.

More about:
Do you have a similar story to tell? Tell your story & make a difference ››

Responses

Response from Sophie Hutchings, Governance and Operational Support Manager (Northern Services), Emergency Department (Northern Services), Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust 4 months ago
Sophie Hutchings
Governance and Operational Support Manager (Northern Services), Emergency Department (Northern Services),
Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust

Submitted on 04/12/2023 at 15:26
Published on Care Opinion at 15:26

Dear March888,

Thank you for taking the time to provide us with your feedback. I am sorry to hear of yours and your husbands experience within the department when you recently attended.

At present due to the current demand and capacity issues it is common for patients who are displaying any infectious symptoms to be asked to wait in the foyer of reception until they are seen by the triage nurse. The triage nurse will then be able to then identify the clinical need and/or requirement for isolation of the patient. If further isolation is required then the triage nurse will obtain the most suitable area in the department for the patient to wait. Which I am glad to read did happen for your husband. I would like to apologise that this was not explained to you and your husband clearly upon arrival to the department and for any distress that this caused. Alongside all Emergency Departments the national standard is for patients to be seen by the triage nurse within 15 minutes of arrival to the Emergency Department. I would like to apologise if your husband had to wait longer in the foyer for the triage nurse than this.

If you would like me to look further into your husband's care and treatment or have any further concerns or questions then please feel free to contact me directly via email sophie.hutchings1@nhs.net.

I hope your husband is recovering well.

Kind regards

Sophie Hutchings
ED Governance & Operational Support Manager

  • {{helpful}} {{helpful == 1 ? "person thinks" : "people think"}} this response is helpful
Opinions
Next Response j
Previous Response k