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Accident and Emergency long wait and in pain

Posted By Mr P 321

"Accident and Emergency long wait and in pain"

About: Craigavon Area Hospital / Emergency Department

(as a service user),

Attended with my mother who is in her 80's with pancreatic cancer following referral from home visit gp. arrived mid afternoon, awaited approx 2 hours before triage, complained of severe diahorrea, stomach pains and dehydration. Asked to wait. Packed waiting area with no free seating, people sitting on floor. Got own wheelchair from car. Over 5 hrs later bloods taken advised to wait for doctor.

At approx  another hour later (late at night) asked at reception where on list / how long would it be, as in pain sitting so long. Advised that it was a busy night and could not advise.

Then 2 more hours later, advised reception that could wait no longer due to sitting so long and diahorrea ongoing. told to advise triage. After waiting approx 20 mins outside triage told to advise in ?OP room advised that there were sick people inside and nurse couldnt talk to me.

Advised reception of circs and had to leave and they took a note. Arrived home approx early hours of the morning. Hospital rang shortly after, advising doctor had to see Mum urgently due to abnormal blood results. Arrived back at hospital about 1.30am and they appeared to know nothing about it. Waited in cubicle, nurse took blood pressure. awaited doctor.

Doctor arrived eventually (no name given or badge) listened to symptoms. I asked regarding bloods advised 'no issue' examined stomach regarding pain, advised that it was probably due to underlying condition, regarding dehydration was told to drink plenty of water and take diorylite 3 times per day. left to write prescription. nurse arrived back with prescription for anti nausea tablets and discharged. Arrived home approx 3.55 am.

Overall approx 12 hours with no resulting advice (except drink more water) reassurance or help regarding her symptoms.

I am wholly aware of stresses on NHS but leaving an eldery lady in her 80's with stomach pain, diahorrea etc for over 12 hours sitting in a waiting area is surely not right.

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Responses

Response from Jill Green, Ward Manager, Emergency Department, Craigavon Area Hospital, Medicine and Unscheduled Care Directorate, Southern Health and Social Care Trust 3 months ago
Jill Green
Ward Manager, Emergency Department, Craigavon Area Hospital, Medicine and Unscheduled Care Directorate,
Southern Health and Social Care Trust

Submitted on 28/07/2025 at 15:04
Published on Care Opinion at 15:04

Good afternoon Mr P 321.

I am so sorry to hear that your mother had such a negative experience and long waiting time whilst in the ED.

Our ED is consistently overcrowded and the main reason for the long waiting times is that we have such a large number of patients in our cubicles that are awaiting an inpatient bed on the wards. This leaves us with limited capacity to see new patients and we have to prioritise patients according to their acuity. However, due to the regular overcrowding and long waiting times we do try to prioritise the frail and elderly so that they are not sitting in the waiting room for long periods. So I am unsure why this did not happen in your mothers case.

If you would like to discuss this further you can contact me by ringing the Emergency Department Telephone 028 3756 1750 and asked to be put through to the Sister’s office.

Thank you again for providing feedback and I apologise that you had such a negative experience. I hope that your mother is recovering well.

Sister Green.

  • {{helpful}} {{helpful == 1 ? "person thinks" : "people think"}} this response is helpful

Update posted by Mr P 321 (a service user)

Thank you for your honest reply. As said, totally aware of overcrowding issues, but would still maintain if a patient, particularly an elderly one, has already been seen by a medical professional, should at least be given priority of some sort. A woman in her 80s, with chronic diahorrea, (as well as pancreatic cancer) told to attend A and E by her own GP then have to sit in a packed room with no assistance is upsetting.

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