"Crazy"

The staff in the A&E department work incredibly hard in an environment that is not fit for purpose. Staff work beyond hours, without breaks and under tremendous pressure.

I commend them for their care and dedication. However....

Limited space means patients are wheeled back into ambulances effectively putting the crew out of action. Patients face long waits on trolleys in the corridors. If cubicles are occupied expect to be examined by a doctor in full view of other patients as privacy is at a premium. Basic infection control is compromised by public ignoring hand gel etc. Management need to put their house in order and implement changes to allow the staff to work effectively in order to become an excellence of acute services.

Starting by........

Limiting the number of people accompanying patients in A&E to allow staff and patients to move unhindered and along corridors.

Having a tracking system to locate key staff - too many work hours are lost by tired nurses walking about with patients notes trying to locate colleagues.

Better placement of medical and diagnostic equipment - much time is wasted searching for obs machines, gathering phlebotomy items and sending to labs.

Better signposting and information for patients. Staff are too busy saving lives to do it.

More trained staff to monitor and treat waiting patients.

Remove unnecessary additional stresses of parking and charges - show how patients have directly benefited by raising funds in this way. A bit of good PR would go a long way.

......and finally perhaps offer more routine evening x ray and scan appointments for patients who work. This would free up equipment for more urgent need.