"15 hours in A&E"

My wife was brought in due to repetitive episodes of fainting/collapsing 7 to 10 times a day.

We got to A&E @ 22:00 did not get put into a ward until 05:30, at this point my wife requested some pain killers (paracetamol) due to a banging headache she'd had from fainting.

I asked staff on the Clinical Incidents Decisions Unit for an update on THREE separate occasions regarding these pain killers, the first response at 07:30 was we have just had a shift handover we will be issuing medication shortly, which did not happen. 

The second occasion I was told the same thing and how the doctor must prescribe pain killers before they can issue them, so me and my wife sat there patiently while her condition was only getting worse. It is now approaching 09:30 almost 12 hours since we have been here. 

At approx 10:00 the doctor arrived and advised next course of action, and once again advised they will get Pain Killers prescribed right away. 

13:00 in the afternoon, 15 hours since we have been in Hospital in total nobody in CDU had acknowledged this and not once was my wife even offered water! As I went across once again to find out about pain killers which were requested 6 hours or more ago, I turned around and my wife collapsed on the floor. 

I pressed the assistance button to which nobody came right away, A nurse visiting had spotted and came to assist then shouted for further assistance as my wife was not gaining consciousness. 

Finally the ward, nursing staff arrived and pulled the emergency lever to which every doctor in the hospital responded. 

I then began to express my concern to a lovely doctor who took me in to a separate room and I began to explain the nightmare of a day me and my wife have had to deal with. They then reassured us both and apologised on behalf of the staff. Lo and behold within 5 minutes pain killers along with food was offered and my wife was moved to a ward. 

I would just like to say, I honestly respect all the hard work staff are putting in and can appreciate it gets busy but 15 hours without being acknowledged? Or offered a drink of water? Keeping patient in the know updating them on whats going on.

 

A big thank you to that doctor. You are a legend, appreciate your help.