"Long wait times with limited services"

Arrived at ED just before midnight, quickly triaged and daughter given pain relief, ice lolly and fresh water. 

Returned to waiting room to wait to be seen by a DR. 

What followed I feel can only be described as inhumane and a system not fit for purpose. 

A children’s emergency department, in the early hours of the morning, bright fluorescent lights not turned off or dimmed in any way, a loud and disruptive family who even went as far as FaceTiming someone and giving them a tour of the ED pointing a camera in our faces. 

2 staff members were on duty however the 2nd left shortly after midnight and it felt like the remaining one spent the evening scrolling their phone in between checking the 4 or 5 patients who arrived throughout the night. Vending machines poorly stocked, coffee machine out of order and no open shop or cafe for essentials. No offer of tea/coffee/toast etc throughout a 9 hour stint. 

There was no information clearly visible displaying cleanliness score, no visible dashboard displaying stats, lack of transparency and no information with regards to wait times until you try to seek it out to them be told 8 hour minimum wait to see a DR which contradicted the information published on government website in real time stating 4 hour wait. 

In the early hours little to no patients were called in to see a DR and when in receiving pain relief majority of cubicles in ED were empty. I later overheard another parent complaining to be told that they are always short staffed overnights and more so at weekends. 

I find it incomprehensible how anyone thinks that this service is fit for purpose. 

Why can children not be triaged, and given an appointment time to return 8 hours later for the Dr? If the bays are empty in ED why is it deemed appropriate to leave sick children in a cold, noisy, bright waiting room all night instead of offering them a trolley for as long as possible until it would be needed for something more urgent? 

If there is no work for the staff to do beyond checking patients does it not make sense for them to ensure patients are comfortable, offering pillow or blanket or water etc without having to disturb others. 

If the ED is short staffed to the point where patients cannot actually be seen in a timely manner the early hours then why do they remain open?

I must say thank you to the staff members that we did see, they treated us with compassion and helped with our issue. I feel it is a shame that the system does not support these people better to deliver care in a timely manner to all patients attending.