"Visit to A & E"

Do not know what has happened but Colchester Hospital's A & E appears to have undergone a change in procedure. Having attended for a fairly routine, one that has been undertaken

numerous times in the past, taking at much 1 day to attend to with satisfaction.

This time the I had to be transferred to the appropriate department for treatment which meant

spending overnight in the Assessment Unit before being transferred to the department that deals with my particular problem. All in all I was an in-patient from Sunday to Thursday.

No wonder there are a shortage of beds and people being unable to be admitted when it would appear that my admittance was unnecessary whilst costing the NHS additional expense.

Another member of my family who recently treated in the A & E department was attended

by a Doctor who only asked their name, what had happened and that she was being admitted, these comments were made on three separate occasions over a period of 1.1/2 to 2 hours, the last comment only given when asked by the patient as to what exactly was happening.

Colchester A & E has always been known as one of the better departments in which to receive treatment, sadly this does not seem the case anymore.

Perhaps it is time for a newer, larger hospital to be built thereby giving the growing populous a better service as should rightly be expected.