"Very long 8 hours in A&E!"

My 89 year old mother in law , who is normally fit & well in body and mind, arrived by ambulance at approx 1.15pm having had a fall in the street and cut her lip through, knocked her front teeth out, bashed hip and hand/wrist and head! finally seen by a doctor at 4.30pm, who spoke ridiculously quietly to her, despite me telling him he would need to speak up as she wears hearing aids, he said it was ‘difficult’ !? And barely raised his voice any higher, no bedside manner whatsoever! After assessing her, he was about to leave without telling me anything until I asked and he reluctantly mumbled through what would be happening next.

Then waited until around 7pm for X-rays, scan , had to take her ourselves to that department as no porters available anywhere!

No cleaning of wound at all in this time, despite her face having met a dirty pavement , so blood all over her face and mouth and goodness knows what germs in the wound!

Then a wait for facial specialist who finally treated the wound temporarily before sending her home at around 9.30pm pending a return appointment to deal with facial injury, on Wednesday!

Also during her long wait in 2 different rooms, despite a sign on the curtains saying’ please respect my privacy and ask before entering’, 2 different members of staff entered without asking and washed their hands in her sink before leaving again without a word!

Obviously understaffed, all staff seemed harassed and grumpy, horrible experience, even if the department is nice and new and shiny!