"A five star service deserves a more generous..."

My accident took place at a Council recycling facility where a stumbled and fell on my face.

The wounds to my face and hand were bleeding badly and were dressed by the site First Aider.

My wife drove me to Worthing A & E where I was seen by a triage nurse within about 15 minutes and then a Nurse Practitioner about an hour and a quarter later.

The NPs first priority was to check for concussion.

Verbal and visual tests coordination tests were satisfactory. Thorough nasal and ear examinations followed. Had a slight pain to my right side and the NP who did further series of checks lungs and finding points of pain.

Crack rib diagnosed.

My NP then removed first aiders dressing to look at the hand and finger wound and found two distinct areas of pain.

Thought it best to have X rays and these were completed within a half hour.

The X Rays were assessed by both an A&E Doctor and my Practitioner re significance of possible hairline fracture but they agreed it was not recent trauma damage and anti-biotics not necessary.

Long saline wash under the skin flap was painful at times. Sutures or steristrips could not be used in the joint area. Tissue was applied and the hand bandaged so that little finger cannot move.

As advised I have made an appointment with the Pulborough Medical Practice for a progress check on the injury and redressing it in a few days time.

Although approaching my fourth decade I am not normally confused and I think that physical fitness from gym and swim activities and fast reactions helped me save my face and dentition from what could have been very serious damage.

My initial thoughts here are that the paving between the car parking bays and refuse containers for different items is marked in yellow lines

There are lower areas on which it is easy to trip into and these will be dark or shadowed and those trip areas could be better marked and a photograph of the accident scene shows an object that could have cause me to trip.

There were no "front of the house " staff to guide users to the correct disposal points and the relevant notices were at high level in a zone in which there are different ground levels.

It seems to me that my accident and the consequent environmental impact of the journey to A&E plus the cost to the NHS of treatment could have been avoided by more adequate staffing, support and markings at the disposal facility.

The excellent support, kindness and expertise of the Worthing A&E is most appreciated