"Had to wait but got the treatment required. Thank..."

What I liked

Attended the Emergency Department as required further painkillers following on from an operation. I had tried to get a GP appointment but was unable to do so before my pain killers would run out. On arrival at the A&E department, I queued up like others in the waiting room - all of whom seemed to be huffing and tutting - and was seen by a nurse who advised me that she could get me an appointment at the GP service within A&E. She explained that as my problem was not an emergency I would be better seen in this area as I would get an allocated appointment time not having a fluctuating waiting time dependent on how seriously ill or injured everyone else was. This I could understand. It is what Accident and Emergency departments are for.

I sat back in the waiting room and after waiting an hour saw a wonderful GP who prescribed me some stronger analgesia after my consultation. The receptionist in the GP service was kind and helpful and gave me information on out of hours pharmacies. I expected that I would have to wait so wasn't surprised when I did have to.

What could be improved

There is a shop in the waiting room where you can buy drinks/tea/coffee. This is wonderful but the hospital need to provide a domestic to work in that area as there were cups, crisp packets all over the place. Admittedly I am sure it is the public doing this and not the hospital staff but the public aren't going to bother clearing up after themselves!

Anything else?

In the hour I waited I saw one man storm out of the main area after hurling abuse at someone who i imagined was one of the A&E staff members and I additionally witnessed a relative of a patient who was waiting (happily texting!) arguing with a receptionist about when her daughter was going to get seen and the nurse who had seen me earlier got shouted at by someone else behind the curtain. 3 incidents in one hour!