"Waiting in A&E, then hefty parking fee"

About: Musgrove Park Hospital / Accident and emergency Musgrove Park Hospital Accident and emergency Taunton TA1 5DA

Posted by Allan871 (as a friend), 6 years ago

I had to take a friend to A&E at Musgrove Park Hospital in Taunton last Friday arriving at about 22: 30, after he slipped on a wet floor at home. He rang 111 and they advised him to go to A&E.
He were seen by a Triage nurse fairly quickly and also had an x-ray.
Even though it didn't appear to be that busy, he wasn't seen by anyone then until about 02: 30. Even then he wasn't seen by a doctor just a clinician nurse. The x-ray showed that he had fractured the top of his arm. He was give some pain killers and his arm was put in a sling. The staff were very good and helpful, however we didn't leave A&E until after 03: 00.
I believe that is too long to have to wait for treatment when it didn't appear to be that busy.
My main complaint however, is that because we were in A&E for 4 and a half hours, I haid to pay £10: 20 to park in the car park - this is scandalous!

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Responses

Louise Hill

Matron, Paediatric services,

Taunton & Somerset NHS Foundation Trust

Submitted on 31/05/2017 at 16:23

Published on Care Opinion at 17:00

I'm sorry you had to pay such a fee for the parking,unfortunately that is not within our control. I'm glad our staff were good and helpful and you were seen at triage fairly quickly. Our nurse practitioners are skilled clinicians that are appropriate to see the injury your friend sustained. There are many parts to the emergency department-minors, majors and resuscitation so although the waiting room may not look too busy other parts of the department that you wouldn't see are often full which means our staff are busy in those areas. Looks can be deceiving. However, I appreciate it is frustrating to have to wait and I am sorry we couldn't see you sooner. I hope your friend recovers well.
Best wishes
Louise

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Philip Shelley

Facilities Manager,

Taunton and Somerset NHS Foundation Trust

Submitted on 31/05/2017 at 17:23

Published on Care Opinion on 01/06/2017 at 09:29

Visits to hospital particularly A&E can often be unplanned and although your visit involved a time of waiting for treatment, I am glad that your friend had a successful outcome and that recovery continues at a sucessful pace.
Over a number of years, the Trust has had issues with the lack of parking on site and therefore a partnership with an agreed contractor took place to build the Cedars Multi-storey. This has managed to meet many of our challenges but the financial commitment to the car park means that our staff and public must pay for parking. The tariff is set out in the contract and because it is time controlled there will always be occasions that the cost seems unfair. We will continue to review the tariff to try to minimise parking costs where possible.
I am sorry for any inconvenience caused during your visit to Musgrove Park.
kind Regards
Phil

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Update posted by Allan871 (a friend) 6 years ago

Thank you for both replies and for clarifying the situation to both waiting times and parking charges which were both very enlightening.

Louise Hill

Matron, Paediatric services,

Taunton & Somerset NHS Foundation Trust

Submitted on 02/06/2017 at 09:23

Published on Care Opinion at 09:34

We appreciate you giving us the chance to explain. Best wishes.Louise

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