I cut my finger badly with a kitchen knife and waited an hour and a half for it to be dressed. That's ok, it wasn't so urgent, but I had plenty of time to see what was happening in the waiting area.
The exit has a sign over it saying 'emergency exit' or 'fire exit' so people trying to get out were wandering around looking lost.
When I came in, the reception window was on the wall behind me, and there were lots of signs but i couldn't see any signposting reception. I had to ask a patient.
There's a phone for calling a taxi but that didn't seem to have a sign on it either. I watched another patient look and look for a phone before asking at reception.
There was a woman crying and shivering and there didn't seem to be any blankets anyone could offer. She sat on the floor for a while because there weren't enough chairs for everyone waiting.
There are a few chairs round the walls that are easier to get to, but people with limited mobility were struggling to get in and out of the rows of chairs.
When the staff came out to call people, we often couldn't hear who was being called because it was too noisy. At the GP surgery there is a screen that flashes up the name and which room to go to. It stays up there for a while. So if you can't hear or are distracted or go to the toilet you can see the info. There was a screen in the a and e waiting area but it was switched off.
There's a sign on the outside door saying please close carefully but it was banging all the time, people on trolley chairs or with mobility issues couldn't help but bang it.
I don't know how long the temporary area will be in operation but could someone take a look at the signage and banging door? There seemed to be loads of signs but not with the info people needed, maybe the signs I ask for are there but they need to be more obvious and stand out so we can see them when we are in distress needing a and e!. I don't know how the staff cope with working there!!
"A and E staff are lovely but temporary waiting..."
About: Royal Sussex County Hospital / Accident and emergency Royal Sussex County Hospital Accident and emergency Brighton BN2 5BE
Posted via nhs.uk
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