"Duplication of patient data"

My 86 year old mother had a fall at home and was taken to hospital (Treliske) by ambulance where after several hours it was established that she had broken her arm.

What I found particularly bizarre was the number of times she was asked what medication she was taking and if she had any allergies. I quite understand how important such information is but, and it's a big BUT, one surely it is asking for trouble to ask people who are being brought into hospital as emergency cases vital questions like this. They are probably in pain and a state of anxiety, the elderly are probably confused, I wouldn't expect them to know what drugs they are taking or be sure what if any allergic reactions might be anticipated. Yet, not only is it unlikely to elicit accurate information it is also duplicated but, and again this is a big BUT NOT as a means of cross checking the responses, simply to allow another member of staff to complete yet more forms. Medical Staff filling in forms are staff not doing something more useful, the volume and multiplicity of forms requiring completion seems to be one of the primary functions of staff, rather than the treatment of patients. And one must assume that these forms once completed then require further processing if they are to serve any purpose, so necessitating yet more unproductive effort.