"Waiting times in A&E"

Having been advised by my GP on the Friday morning that if my symptoms and the level of pain I was enduring increased it would be advisable to go to A&E. My pains levels were unbearable one evening in November and I was forced to go to A&E, arriving shortly after 11pm. I was triaged shortly after arriving, and prescribed a small dose of oral morphine for my pain. This did not even take the edge off the pain, which I tried to explain. However, trying to wave down staff while I was sitting in the waiting room was impossible. 

Around 4am I asked the reception when I might be likely to see the Doctor, and was told in no uncertain terms that the department was busy. I appreciate that in these strange times the hospitals are busy. I had seen a constant stream of ambulance staff booking patients in throughout the night from my painfully hard plastic chair. However, to be spoken to like the number of patients in the department was my fault is rather uncalled for, I didn't want to be in A&E anymore than the staff wanted me there. 

I was finally seen by a doctor around 6am, who gave me a cursory examination, and quick diagnosis and referred me for an x-ray. While waiting for my x-ray, a nurse approached me in the waiting room handing me a diclofenac suppository, suggesting I use the toilet in the waiting room as it was a bit more private. Never mind the indignity of everyone hearing what had to be done and watching me walk to the toilet in front of them all. 

The look of glee in the faces of the staff as they all streamed past us poor unfortunates still sitting in the same seats they had seen us sit down on hours earlier was a little hard to take. The doctor who had ordered the x-ray showed me at 9am just how wrong their original diagnosis was while handing me over to another doctor while taking great pleasure in telling me that they were now finished.

This second doctor told me that they were waiting for a specialist to look at my case. I was then told that they were referring me for an MRI scan, and would try and squeeze me in before lunch. I was finally taken for an MRI scan at around 245pm. At 330pm I was told the MRI was inconclusive and told I was free to go. No explanation as to what might be causing me the pain, no offer of further pain relief and the doctor could not have ushered me out quick enough. 

So that was 16 hours sat on the same crippling hard plastic chair, which may have made my symptoms worse. Very little communication, no food or drink available except a cup of tea and a biscuit at 230am, nowhere to access food, and I had to rely on my wife bringing something to the door. I am now no further forward in a diagnosis after a 16 hour wait than I was when I arrived at A&E. Hopefully my referral to the fracture clinic will provide some relief, and treatment for my symptoms.