"A and E trip"

Overall was an awful experience, waited for over 9 hours and still hadn't seen a doctor. it took 7 hours before I was properly assessed by a triage nurse and offered any form of pain relief. I was called up by a nurse about 2 hours into my wait for a blood test, having a blood test had been delayed because my paperwork had been misplaced and I then was told it would take 1.5 - 2 hours for the results. It was 5 hours later when I finally received the results and as mentioned above that wasn't by a doctor, the nurse had a look as she could see how frustrated we were at the wait.

I visited at 11pm and by 8am I still hadn't seen a doctor and so ended up discharging myself, having got no further in understanding what the abdominal pain I went in with was. If I had been in a serious way I genuinely believe that I wouldn't have been given the attention or care I needed.

When we arrived there was no mention of such a long wait time and by the morning it was being advised to patients that there was an 8 hour wait time.

I heard constantly how busy it was, yet in the waiting room there was never more than 8 patients present at any one time.

It was clear throughout the visit that there was no where near enough staff and in addition, there were a number of people in the waiting room that did not need to be in A & E, and should have been directed to more appropriate services. This did not happen.

this was by far the worst medical experience I have ever had and I would drive further in the future to avoid Macclesfield A & E. I would be genuinely concerned if me or my family were to go here with something serious, as I truly believe there isn't the right level of resource or effective management present to assist people who need emergency care.