"Pain relief availability"

I found myself in A&E after a fall, I have a rib fracture. The department itself was very busy, which I didn’t mind. I was seen for my initial assessment in good time. We were kept informed by a very pleasant doctor, who came out and advised us it would take some time to be seen, which I appreciated. I was seen after a time and given prescription strength medication, which I also appreciated. During consultations with 3 different healthcare professionals, I was told to expect quite a bit of pain. The advice I was given from all of these individuals for a fractured rib was rest and pain relief. However, when I asked if stronger pain relief would be provided for me to take home, I was told that ‘Minors don’t provide medication’. I find this quite unsatisfactory, as I had been told to expect considerable pain multiple times, yet without the provision of medication to deal with this overnight this advice directly conflicted.

This was a Sunday evening, so I had no other option but to leave, knowing I would have a painful night ahead of me. To see my GP the next day seemed like a long time away at that point..