"Accident and Emergency"

I took my husband to A & E as he was suffering from kidney stones and was in extreme pain. We had seen our GP in the week before who had ordered an emergency scan and she had told us that should he have problems over Christmas with the pain to go to A & E.

Unfortunately it was early afternoon on Christmas Eve so we anticipated a wait. The receptionist was really caring and took the information and asked us to take a seat. He was in severe pain but after a short wait he was called to triage. The nurse was very abrupt told him there was little that could be done and that he would probably be sent home after a 10 hour wait with painkillers. We felt as though we shouldn't have been there and we were just a nuisance to them, it was very rude. They took him through to another waiting room with beds and chairs. This room was full. After about 2 hours there, when not 1 patient was called or seen, the kidney stone must have moved and the pain reduced a little.

We decided that it might be worth asking what the possible treatments might be because if it was to be painkillers and sent home, we could help the queue a little by leaving as he had painkillers at home. We approached a doctor on the desk and he explained his condition, told the doctor he realised he couldn't give him advice without examining him, but just wanted to know what the possible treatment could be. The doctor then checked the patient list and told him in a very abrasive manner that there were people there who had been waiting 7 hours and they could not put him to the top of the queue. This was not what we expected at all. We were just trying to help them and us.

Overall we found the attitude of the staff was dreadful. I understand it was Christmas Eve and they are busy but surely being rude and obnoxious to people who are ill will not improve anyones experience either medical staff or patient.