"Staff excellence"

Re Ulster Hospital Dundonald A&E. Yes the NHS is broken, under-funded, struggling to cope, a political football etc etc, but the actual doctors, nurses, support staff and every individual on the front line deserve a medal.

My mother, who is active and in her late 70s, recently had a fall and we spent 9 hours in A&E. Triage worked, x-ray within 2 hours, however it was 6 hours later before a doctor came with the results and diagnosis and a plan. This on a weeknight which should be quiet, I dread to think how long on a weekend.

Every single NHS person working that night was polite, helpful, informative, friendly, calm, empathetic, but working in an impossibility challenging environment. The care was there, the support was there, but I believe the mismanaged system lets down the employees who don't have anywhere near the resources they need to do their job. It demonstrates how vocational health care is, these people work for love not money.

We had a relatively good experience, apparently 12+ hours is the norm. Why? How?  We left the Ulster Hospital feeling incredibly grateful to the people who looked after us but we also feel incredibly sorry for them and angry at the situation they are forced to work in.