"A&E"

I had the unfortunate experience of having to attend eastbourne A&E with my mother whom was acutely confused with a mental health crisis and a UTI.

My mother was clearly unwell, off legs on arrival.

We were helped to the toilet. Y a senior nurse whom was clearly annoyed to have to come and attend to us, didn't smile and when I asked if we should get a urine sample dismissed my request.

The triage nurse took a brief history, didn't take any observations and explained there may be a long wait for the mental health team, organized bloods with the HCA and gave my mother a sandwich.

The HCA was the only member the A&E staff whom smiled or showed any compassion for my mothers acute mental health crisis.

The poor junior doctor seemed out of depth when my mother started to act strangely and cry and talk nonsense.

We were made to wait in the waiting area. Told it was incredibly busy when there plenty of seats in the waiting area and when I used the disabled toilet it was clear that the staff were not busy.

I struggled alone to get the urine sample, trying to push the dodgy wheelchair backwards whilst holding my mothers urine in the pot that I had to ask for.

Not one member of staff asked if I needed help!!!

It was clear that due to my mothers confused state no one wanted to get involved as it take up their valuable time from sitting at the desk and chatting to their colleagues.

I felt I had to write this review as I felt that the staff saw my mother as a nuisance. Even the receptionist looked disgruntled when I asked for assistance which was only once! I was clearly struggling in the waiting room with her behavior, at one point she became aggressive and lashed out. The other patients and relatives were clearly shocked at the lack of help.

I would never attend this A&E again.

On the plus side when the mental

Health nurse arrived from the ward she was very proactive and arranged a quiet room for mum and communicated well with updates of the bed situation.