"Experience of A&E Thursday August 15th 2019"

There are two sides to this review. The first is a complaint about the wait time, but the second part is to say how professional and thorough I found the treatment I received.

I went to the A&E unit on Thursday August 15th. Two days before I had fallen and banged my head but seemed OK. On Thursday afternoon I was in Boots chemist when I had a very dizzy spell. I spoke to the pharmacist who recommended I get checked out. I arrived at the hospital at 6.15pm. I left at 2.45am which was a total time of eight and a half hours which I find totally unacceptable. Indeed, the boards when I left were saying the wait time was eleven and a half hours. I understand it was lack of staff which was exacerbating the problem and although I feel the government have a lot to answer for and should look at how to improve doctors' hours and working conditions I still feel the wait time was unsatisfactory. I saw some people just going home - even one lady with a broken arm.Maybe patients could have access to the lists of patients so that at least you have some idea of how people are waiting to be seen before you.

However, the second part of this review is to say how professional and thorough I found the treatment I received. Unfortunately I do not know the name of the doctor who treated me I believe very few doctors were on duty but hope he can be traced and my thanks passed on. He was kind and friendly, explaining to me what he was doing and why, not just presuming the dizziness was definitely a reaction to the fall without looking at other possibilities. I appreciated this thoroughness and his reassurances that I had done the correct thing in getting checked out. He also gave no indication of having to rush me but answered my questions fully. So although I think the wait time was unacceptable the treatment was excellent. Also the receptionist was kind and patient when I and others went to ask her how many people were likely to be seen before us.

One other point is that I was alone I did not wish to leave the department so was unable to access a hot drink or something to eat which would have been welcome with such a long wait.