"All staff were professional"

Whilst visiting the area in our motorhome I developed abdominal pain and rang 111 for advice.  They wanted to send an ambulance but we were confident that I could safely make it to a&e in our own vehicle.  We arrived at 10.30am and I was triaged within 20 mins but offered no pain relief and sent back to the waiting area.  The waiting area has metal chairs that are extremely uncomfortable and I was in considerable pain.  At 11.20 I was called for a blood test then returned to the waiting area.  At 12.30pm I was seen by a doctor in minors who examined me, told me they think I have diverticulitis, offered me paracetamol which I never received and left me waiting again.  At  1.45pm the doctor came and told me I was to have a CT scan.  At 14.45 I had the scan and was then told to go back to the waiting room.  At approx 4.30pm I was collected from the waiting area, taken into a small room with just two chairs in it and was put on antibiotic drip.  Shortly after that I was admitted onto a surgical ward.

I fully understand the pressure that a&e is under and I'm happy to have been assessed and a CT scan done within 4.5 hours and to have been admitted with 6 hours.  I found everyone I encountered to be professional and good at their jobs.  My husband visited security and he was given permission to stay onsite in our motorhome with our pets whilst I was admitted.  My only complaint was the waiting area, I was in considerable pain, I also suffer with RA, the metal seats made it impossible for me to get comfortable in any way.  I did make staff aware that I also had RA but no alternative to the metal seats were offered or any pain relief until I was admitted after 6 hours.