Health chiefs rubber stamp Ealing A&E closure

Originally Posted by Ramrod

Of course you can, you nana. Seriously, if you have a urgent problem you will be triaged, probably made to wait hours and then be seen (and god help you)......but you will be seen, that's why it's called A&E. Don't get me started on how bad the service there can be but it is a walk/limp in service. Granted, some of the time wasters who turn up will probably, quite rightly, be told to bugger off and see their GP......

Long time since i've been to A&E but wasn't that the problem ,too many people with very minor injuries that a sticking plaster would have sorted taking up time for those with limbs hanging off

[dilli-theclaw]

it was just the kind of thing Karl Pilkington would say is all.

---------- Post added at 19:44 ---------- Previous post was at 19:41 ----------

Originally Posted by martyh

Long time since i've been to A&E but wasn't that the problem ,too many people with very minor injuries that a sticking plaster would have sorted taking up time for those with limbs hanging off

I've been to a&e a fair few times over the last year and even this year. you do still get the plaster brigade but as rammy says triage at the door. if you need setting you get seen. I've never had to wait more than 10 mins but I don't go unless it's really needed.

[Taf]

Triage is the secret. But the few times I have had to go (or be taken in an ambulance) to an ER/A&E/Casualty there has been no sign of active triage. Just queues that got longer and longer, with some patients collapsing or bleeding profusely, babies and kids screaming, tempers fraying, (admin) staff being abused, fights breaking out.

In this fairly large city, it seems daft to have only one emergency department, and even dafter to have one so undermanned that it is scarey to patients.

It's the sharp end of the NHS, so why are they cutting resources?

Originally Posted by Taf

Triage is the secret. But the few times I have had to go (or be taken in an ambulance) to an ER/A&E/Casualty there has been no sign of active triage. Just queues that got longer and longer, with some patients collapsing or bleeding profusely, babies and kids screaming, tempers fraying, (admin) staff being abused, fights breaking out.

In this fairly large city, it seems daft to have only one emergency department, and even dafter to have one so undermanned that it is scarey to patients.

It's the sharp end of the NHS, so why are they cutting resources?

I've been in a number of A&E's over the years with major cuts and i have found they differ greatly some are good and some not so good ,i think it's down to the individual hospitals management as to how their A&E's are run

[Ramrod]

Originally Posted by Taf

It's the sharp end of the NHS, so why are they cutting resources?

and it was like that before resources were cut......

[Arthurgray50@blu]

If you go into West Middlesex today, there are TWO queues, One to check into the A &E, you are then past to another queue and see a Sister/Charge Nurse.

She then decides if it can be treated by a GP,makes the appointment for you and that is it. For the first time ever at this hospital, The waiting room was empty as the sister was sending everyone home. I asked her why this is was, and was told it was new guidelines set by the government.

I was in terrible pain in my neck and right arm, and told to take painkillers, and that was it.

My GP gave me Algesal cream, which is a waste of time and the GP told me that herself, IF it gets worse, she will send me for Physio when it gets worse as it will cost her money, to send me.

This not a rant, I was also told that guidelines are also saying that it will now get much tougher, and you may have to pay private for treatment as Gps are no longer going to pay for this treatment in there budgets.

And the surgery told me that.

If A&E departments are getting tough and sending people home who have neither had an accident, nor are requiring emergency treatment, then IMO that is a good thing.

[Sirius]

Originally Posted by Chris

If A&E departments are getting tough and sending people home who have neither had an accident, nor are requiring emergency treatment, then IMO that is a good thing.

Agreed the Name says it all ACCIDENT and EMERGENCY any thing else should be your Doctor. If Arthur was in pain but it was NOT a ACCIDENT and NOT a EMERGENCY then why go to A&E

I have terrible pain in my shoulders and arms at times due to my arthritis and have to take tramadol to lower the pain. I don't go swanning off to A&E each time

[dilli-theclaw]

Originally Posted by Arthurgray50@blu

If you go into West Middlesex today, there are TWO queues, One to check into the A &E, you are then past to another queue and see a Sister/Charge Nurse.

She then decides if it can be treated by a GP,makes the appointment for you and that is it. For the first time ever at this hospital, The waiting room was empty as the sister was sending everyone home. I asked her why this is was, and was told it was new guidelines set by the government.

I was in terrible pain in my neck and right arm, and told to take painkillers, and that was it.

My GP gave me Algesal cream, which is a waste of time and the GP told me that herself, IF it gets worse, she will send me for Physio when it gets worse as it will cost her money, to send me.

This not a rant, I was also told that guidelines are also saying that it will now get much tougher, and you may have to pay private for treatment as Gps are no longer going to pay for this treatment in there budgets.

And the surgery told me that.

So you got triaged and sorted. Sounds like it's working fine to me.

Also you didn't need a GP's letter did you - as you just pitched up and walk in and put in the appropriate line.

---------- Post added at 13:27 ---------- Previous post was at 13:25 ----------

Originally Posted by Sirius

Agreed the Name says it all ACCIDENT and EMERGENCY any thing else should be your Doctor. If Arthur was in pain but it was NOT a ACCIDENT and NOT a EMERGENCY then why go to A&E

I have terrible pain in my shoulders and arms at times due to my arthritis and have to take tramadol to lower the pain. I don't go swanning off to A&E each time

Exactly - and if I don't need a&e I go to my walk in dr's. Sorted.

[Dash: CF noob]

Okay if you can wait two weeks for a doctors appointment.

[Arthurgray50@blu]

Just to answer a few pointers that have been up regarding my hospital visit.

I was under the GPs,, but was told by the practice nurse that if the pain continued then go straight to A & E, which l did, l went there and they told me they couldn't see me, even though l was in great pain, l have never felt pain like it.

The hospital said that l have a trapped nerve between the back muscles and it should be treated by the GP and not the hospital.

The muscle is between the neck and the arm socket and the pain goes down through the shoulder blades.

I went for an emergency appointment, the practice nurse said it was due to the cutbacks that they sent me back to the GP, and she put me on Adesal, which they said doesn't work.

And there was no other medication that would work, but the nurse told me it could be a frozen shoulder and there was plenty of medications out there that would work.

My GP did not send me for an xray or examnin me, l have lost faith in thwe whole lot.

[Osem]

Originally Posted by Dash: CF noob

Okay if you can wait two weeks for a doctors appointment.

May be wrong but I think Dilli was referring to a walk in doctor service, hence no 2 week wait for a GP appointment.