"Unnecessary long wait times and uncaring staff"

Absolutely shocked at how appalling A&E at L&D was on Friday 5 July. My mum who is 80 recently left L&D hospital after staying for a week and was advised by her GP to go back to hospital as an emergency. We decided to drive rather than wait for an ambulance. We arrived at 3pm and she did not get a bed until 11pm. At all times we were polite but the initial nurse at booking in and the triage nurse in A&E were completely unfriendly to the point of being hostile. We were treated as a problem rather than needing care. My mum was an NHS nurse for 50 years and knows holistic care very well. A simple act of kindness can help the condition of a worried patient. She could barely walk and was told to walk herself down long corridors and then walk to a different area to get bloods done without any offer of help from the triage nurse. We waited for nearly an hour to get bloods done but there didn't seem to be any reason for the wait, the bloods area was empty and staff sitting around. After bloods we were then told to go an wait for a doctor but they didn't tell us where to wait, they just waved their hand and told to us go in a approximate direction. There was no shortage of staff working, staff even had time to enjoy a box of chocolates and chat at the desk of the head nurse. Back in A&E patients were very unwell, one person violently throwing up into a plastic bag and not a single member of staff came to assist in any way. At all times the attitude of staff was "I don't want to know because if I do I have to do something". I don't include ambulance or consultants in this, they were always polite and friendly when we asked for help, the attitude issues seemed to be the nurses. There was one lady nurse, possibly south african, who was very helpful when we asked her for some information, so we were thankful for that.

I have already looked up the details of alternative A&E and will try the Lister next time! My mum gave her life to the NHS and its so sad to see how the NHS treats her and what it has become!