Attended A&E in support of sister in law who had been taken there by ambulance after being taken ill whilst working as a volunteer at the local hospice. She had tests and was told to wait to see the doctor whom she saw after 10 hrs. She was diagnosed with a severe water infection and dischargged with antibiotics. During her wait she had bouts of severe shivering and shaking and felt very unwell. Her condition wasn't helped because the department was freezing. She was also worried that she was not in the system when she saw others who arrived after her being dealt with before her. I appreciate that priority must be given to those considered at greatest risk but not knowing where you are in the system was very stressful.Two suggestions to help make the experience more tolerable:
1.Ensure that the department is heated.
2.Allocate each patient a unique number and have a display which shows where in the system the patient is: awaiting tests , awaiting reatment, awaiting consultation with doctor, discharged.
"Left uniformed and Freezing"
About: University Hospital Aintree University Hospital Aintree Liverpool L9 7AL
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