"Patient waiting times at pilgrim hospital"

On the morning of 19th June I fell and broke my ankle. As this was not urgent I phoned 111 and was very surprised at how quickly the ambulance arrived. On arrival at Pilgrim Hospital A&E Dept I had to wait for a considerable time on the ambulance trolley before an A&E trolley became available. This delayed the ambulance crew, preventing them from being on call for any emergencies. (There was also another ambulance crew waiting with a patient. ).

Eventually I was transferred to an A&E trolley which had to be left in the centre of the department as there was no available cubicle. Later there was also another patient on a trolley left beside mine. A passing nurse looked at the obvious large swelling on my ankle and said “That will need an Xray”, then after a while a second nurse looked quickly at my ankle and said “That's one for Xray”. After a further wait a doctor said that I needed an Xray and that he would ask for a porter to take me in a while. After more waiting I was taken into a cubicle where I was left waiting for a further time, then I was moved to a different cubicle where I had yet another wait. A porter at last took me to Xray where I waited for my turn, then I waited for another porter to take me back to A&E.

I did not have anyone accompanying me so it was quite a lonely and confusing experience.

I waited again in A&E until the doctor said the Xrays did indeed show a fracture, which was no surprise as I had known it was fractured since I fell hours earlier. After another wait a porter took me in a wheelchair to the plaster technician and HE was waiting for ME!

He was very efficient, supportive and helpful. A friend arrived to collect me and took me home at approx 6.00pm, very thirsty, hungry and needing a wee! ! I am not complaining about any of the staff, just the inefficiency of a system which seemed to waste many hours of everyone's time unnecessarily and should be modernised.

............ If only the following could have happened: -

When I enter A&E on the ambulance trolley a doctor glances at my swollen ankle and asks a porter to take me to Xray in a wheelchair with a leg-support. After Xray I am taken to the waiting room of the fracture clinic. When the fracture is confirmed I am taken to the plaster technician, then I can go home in time for lunch!

This would save ambulances wasting their time, patients being left for hours on A&E trolleys and taking up cubicle rooms where more serious cases should be, and it would also be much quicker and more efficient for everyone involved in A&E.