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Wait times for a bed

Posted By Unknown245

"Wait times for a bed"

About: Craigavon Area Hospital / Emergency Department

(as a service user),

I was in Craigavon a&e for 3 days awaiting a bed in Haematology. Thankfully nurses got me a bed but I was sat on the corridor in the green area, unable to sleep due to the noise and people and patients constantly walking past you. How can people be left in chairs and corridors for days on end it is an absolute disgrace. I couldn't even have a shower as there was no shower facilities in a&e and it's basic human rights to be able to have a shower. Seeing doctors on ward rounds and them examining and discussing ur medical problems with people all around the corridor to see is a disgrace and no privacy. Something needs done. I was told if I couldn't get a bed on Hematology I would get one on the medical ward but still left for 3 days in a corridor is not ok. 

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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 last month
We are preparing to make a change
Jill Green
Ward Manager, Emergency Department, Craigavon Area Hospital, Medicine and Unscheduled Care Directorate,
Southern Health and Social Care Trust

Submitted on 12/12/2025 at 14:46
Published on Care Opinion at 14:50

Good afternoon,

Thank you for taking the time to post about your time in ED. I am sorry that you had a negative experience, this is not what we want for any of our patients.

unfortunately the ED is consistently overcrowded, with large volumes of patients awaiting beds on an inpatient ward. This leaves us with more patients than we have cubicles available, and some people end up having to be nursed in inappropriate areas, as new patients that come in needing urgent assessment need the cubicles. I would like to reassure you that this is also frustrating for our nursing and medical staff, as we do not want any patient to have to be looked after in a corridor. I am sorry that you had to be one of those patients.

ED is not built to be able to cater for patients that are there for prolonged periods. We do have a shower in the yellow area, although it does give us some issues with flooding out the door at times, so I have recently worked with the estates team who made some adaptions to try and fix this. I am also currently working with the estates team to put plans in place to get another shower in the ED that patients can use.

Again, I sincerely apologise that you had to wait 3 days on a corridor. I agree that it is completely unacceptable, and as you say patients dignity is compromised. The ED staff have no control over when a bed becomes available, however the senior nursing team consistently escalate the overcrowding and need for patients to be allocated to wards.

Thank you again for telling your story, I hope that you are now being cared for in the appropriate place and that you are on your way to recovery.

Best wishes

Sister Green

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