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AEC - designed to be worse than A and E (but…

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"AEC - designed to be worse than A and E (but…"

About: Yeovil District Hospital

Currently sitting in ACE having had my 90’year old mother referred here via our excellent GPs for an urgent liver scan as bloods and skin colour indicate severe liver failure.

Triage happened and as she is deemed stable we are now in our 3 rd hour with no updates unless I dare to approach a very tetchy nurse.

Apparently not awaiting a liver scan as advised by GPs but awaiting a consultant when one is free.

She’s AF, severe dementia, breast cancer and I can’t even leave her to get her some food.

ACE is clearly a weak and lazy way to get A&E quiet.

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Responses

Response from Fiona Higginson, Matron , Urgent Care and long term conditions, Somerset Foundation Trust 3 weeks ago
Fiona Higginson
Matron , Urgent Care and long term conditions,
Somerset Foundation Trust

Submitted on 10/04/2024 at 17:04
Published on Care Opinion on 11/04/2024 at 09:51

Thank you for highlighting your concern. AEC is designed to find alternative pathways to provide the same care as an outpatient instead of admitting to the acute hospital. Unfortunately this can lead to lengthy delays whilst waiting for senior doctors to attend the unit as it is not appointment led, unfortunately this was not explained to you by your GP.

We are working to improve communication within department to help in addressing these concerns.

We have fed back to the nursing team to be mindful of the way patients and families are being addressed. Please do not feel that you are not able to approach staff to ask for updates.

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