Your A & E experiences, good and bad

kelle

OutlawPete wrote: »

Great example ClareGirl, of how this downgrading costs lives.

I believe the same thing is happening in Monaghan and Cavan.

This is a tragic example from 2002.

http://www.rte.ie/news/2002/1212/monaghan.html

And that was during the Celtic Tiger years....

opinion guy

OutlawPete wrote: »

Great example ClareGirl, of how this downgrading costs lives.

I believe the same thing is happening in Monaghan and Cavan.

Even in the height of our so called 'tiger economy' they were downgrading hospitals A&E hours.

It's nothing short of a fcuking disgrace.

It happening everywhere. Monaghan, Cavan, Dundalk and Navan are all being downgraded with Drogheda being the nearest large referral centre. Incidentally the new A&E building in Drogheda which was supposed to open last summer still sits there doing nothing AFAIK whilst in the old building they are treating people on the corridors (I may be out of date on this so if anyone knows better do correct me - but last time I asked my mate working there this was still the state of play)

Edit: Navan does send some cases to Blanch, but some also go to Drogheda

mail4liam

Back in April 2003, I was suffering with bad stomach pain. I felt it was food poising, it was about 9pm and the GPs surgery was closed. I phoned our local Hospital to enquire about the waiting time, 4-5 hours was the norm I was told.

I was on crutches at the time and I arrived over to the Hospital by 9.30pm, I gave in my details ant took my seat to wait & wait & wait.

During the course of the night there were 35 admissions to the A&E out of that there were 24 alcohol related admissions, from people totally out of their heads to people with cuts & bruise's, all drink related. Seven of these drink related admissions were brought in by Ambulance.

The worst drink related admissions are looked after first and go into A&E and end up sleeping it off in the A&E, while other people outside have to sit patiently and await their turn.

Some of the other drunks who were still awaiting attention, were going around annoying other people shouting and mobile phones ringing, lighting up cigarettes in the waiting area. I was ashamed to be there because all these drunks were Irish fe/male yob's.

I eventually did get to see a doctor and I was finally released from the A&E at 7.30 am, I was there for 10 hours.. I felt sorry for the staff in the A&E for the abuse they had to put up with in this place and from these Yob's.

At least I was going home the staff were still there?

PoleStar

opinion guy wrote: »

I disagree. Whilst I don't think consultants are "pharaohs of our time" I do think they could do ALOT more to fight the HSE's lunactic "management" policies.

Consultant would do more if they could. Im a junior doctor and know the details of the recent new consultant contract which Mary Harney brought in and was supposed to deliver more consultant input into patient care.

What she didnt publicise in the media (no surprise) was the fact that the new contract includes a gagging clause and where it states in the contract that consultants cannot say anything bad about their work place, ie if they were to point out in the media some mis management in their hospital that they identified without seeking express permission from their manager then they would be breaking their contract.

Strange that Mary Harney didnt highlight this hey?

opinion guy

PoleStar wrote: »

Consultant would do more if they could. Im a junior doctor and know the details of the recent new consultant contract which Mary Harney brought in and was supposed to deliver more consultant input into patient care.

What she didnt publicise in the media (no surprise) was the fact that the new contract includes a gagging clause and where it states in the contract that consultants cannot say anything bad about their work place, ie if they were to point out in the media some mis management in their hospital that they identified without seeking express permission from their manager then they would be breaking their contract.

Strange that Mary Harney didnt highlight this hey?

I didn't know this. She truly is an evil witch. I was wondering why they had been so quiet since this contract came in. Nevertheless - medical ethics trumps employment contract in my book and they shoudl speak out where its in the patients interest.

Personally I woulnd't sign such a contract were I a consultant (which I'm not.....thank God!)

Elenxor

". What is it about this country we live in? We apparently copy a lot of the things that Britain does (our constitution for example is pretty much a carbon copy) but the one thing that may have been of use more than anything was the way in which after WW2 they established the NHS."

.

/rant[/QUOTE]

England does not have a Constitution. So how could we have copied it?

(I agree with everything else you have posted)

owenc

Elenxor wrote: »

". What is it about this country we live in? We apparently copy a lot of the things that Britain does (our constitution for example is pretty much a carbon copy) but the one thing that may have been of use more than anything was the way in which after WW2 they established the NHS."

.

/rant

England does not have a Constitution. So how could we have copied it?

(I agree with everything else you have posted)[/QUOTE]


Its clearly the united kingdom! That post above a few posts with the drunk people is a disaster! I never see chavs and such in hospitals lol.. and they probably wouldnt go in there if they were injured.

GLaDOS

Brought in after an attack about 3 in the morning. Had to wait awhile but when I was was, I was treated competently and professionally. Apart from the wait, thought it was run very well.

mail4liam

PoleStar wrote: »

Consultant would do more if they could. Im a junior doctor and know the details of the recent new consultant contract which Mary Harney brought in and was supposed to deliver more consultant input into patient care.

What she didnt publicise in the media (no surprise) was the fact that the new contract includes a gagging clause and where it states in the contract that consultants cannot say anything bad about their work place, ie if they were to point out in the media some mis management in their hospital that they identified without seeking express permission from their manager then they would be breaking their contract.

Strange that Mary Harney didnt highlight this hey?

I don't actually think Mary Harney writes the contracts for these Consultants or the H.S.E, they do actually have big wig solicitors that do these things for the H.S.E.
but blame it on Mary Harney, it just seems that everyone else does?

JuliusCaesar

PoleStar wrote: »

What she didnt publicise in the media (no surprise) was the fact that the new contract includes a gagging clause and where it states in the contract that consultants cannot say anything bad about their work place, ie if they were to point out in the media some mis management in their hospital that they identified without seeking express permission from their manager then they would be breaking their contract.

The rest of the staff have had this in their contracts for years. This was the reason that only consultants could speak out.

We have no legislation which protects whistleblowers in Ireland. This is a scandal. :mad:

Yes of course Mary Harney doesn't write the contracts - but she can tell the solicitors what particular clauses she wants inserted!

sam34

mail4liam wrote: »

I don't actually think Mary Harney writes the contracts for these Consultants or the H.S.E, they do actually have big wig solicitors that do these things for the H.S.E.
but blame it on Mary Harney, it just seems that everyone else does?

mary harney presided over teh introduction of this contract and you can be damn sure there wasnt anything introduced into it that she wasnt happy with

opinion guy

mail4liam wrote: »

I don't actually think Mary Harney writes the contracts for these Consultants or the H.S.E, they do actually have big wig solicitors that do these things for the H.S.E.
but blame it on Mary Harney, it just seems that everyone else does?

Yup she was heavily involved in the negotiations AFAIK

Lux23

How could you have a good experience in A&E? Although I did end up dating (f***ing) a doctor I met in there when I was 21, nice guy.

AckwelFoley

last timei was in A & E was about 3 years ago.

I broke my hand punching a table, i chose the table over my boss.

Anyhow i was referred there, it was a friday, i went in and was seen in about 90mins. Left there and went home.

No problems.

Lucky me

mail4liam

Lux23 wrote: »

How could you have a good experience in A&E? Although I did end up dating (f***ing) a doctor I met in there when I was 21, nice guy.

Oh Great,?????? no wonder some of them are silly Baskets?

Archeron

I've only ever been to A&E to go with my mum, who was seriously ill. On the occasions she did end up in A&E, because of the nature of her complaints, we were always seen to with the utmost professionalism and speed, and I could never say a bad word about any of the services or people, as almost every one of them extended my mums life considerably, for which our whole family will always be grateful. You could see the strain of the budget cuts and lack of facilities on the faces of those working there, but they still always maintained a calm and helpful manner, and found the time to always be polite and kind.

However, admission to the hospital afterwards sometimes showed the real inefficiencies and poor care in some of our hospitals. At times it made my blood boil as it feels very third world.

mail4liam

opinion guy wrote: »

Yup she was heavily involved in the negotiations AFAIK

and to Polstar>>>

Well it's like the big wheel, A Consultant works for the H.S.E, you are trained by a Consultant. So your not going around tell tattling on the Consultant because the same clause effects you. At the moment your telling little story's from school.

I'm sure in your book your not allowed to tell tails about your consultants, I don't see any big deal about that, thats just being cautious from their point of view. Same goes from the H.S.E and Mary Harney...

In the end are you prepared to come out and talk openly about what goes on in a Hospital? I don't think so... you'd be out of there like lightning, and never work here again in any Hospital, So we'll just say they'r all ducking and diving... there's nowhere perfect... the Health Care was well established here before you or any of us were able to attend any A&E. It's not going to get any better until we all treat the system properly, I.E pay up and look happy.. and privatise the whole system warts and all...

mail4liam

sam34 wrote: »

mary harney presided over teh introduction of this contract and you can be damn sure there wasnt anything introduced into it that she wasnt happy with

If you apply and get any position in the professional work force, wouldn't you have to sign a contract also? thats the norm now.....

opinion guy

Lux23 wrote: »

How could you have a good experience in A&E? Although I did end up dating (f***ing) a doctor I met in there when I was 21, nice guy.

Sort of contradicted yourself there no ?

mail4liam wrote: »

and to Polstar>>>

Well it's like the big wheel, A Consultant works for the H.S.E, you are trained by a Consultant. So your not going around tell tattling on the Consultant because the same clause effects you. At the moment your telling little story's from school.

I'm sure in your book your not allowed to tell tails about your consultants, I don't see any big deal about that, thats just being cautious from their point of view. Same goes from the H.S.E and Mary Harney...

In the end are you prepared to come out and talk openly about what goes on in a Hospital? I don't think so... you'd be out of there like lightning, and never work here again in any Hospital, So we'll just say they'r all ducking and diving... there's nowhere perfect... the Health Care was well established here before you or any of us were able to attend any A&E. It's not going to get any better until we all treat the system properly, I.E pay up and look happy.. and privatise the whole system warts and all...

Guh ? Sorry I can't follow this post at all

Lux23

It wasnt a good experience.

sam34

mail4liam wrote: »

If you apply and get any position in the professional work force, wouldn't you have to sign a contract also? thats the norm now.....

:rolleyes: yes, people sign contracts. obviously

my point was in answer to someone who said mary harney didnt write teh contracts - of course she didnt draft them, but of course she was aware and in support of what went into them

nicegirl

My A and E stories!! There are a few :rolleyes:

Bad experience. Had cellulitis on my right foot, my foot was swelled up like a football, I couldn't see my ankle bone, and could only see my toes! It was EXTREMELY painful. The doctors in hospital said they needed to cut it open. I begged them to put me to sleep, and of course they wouldn't. They cut it open, and it was the most painful thing I ever experienced, I nearly passed out with the pain. The same applies to a lumber puncture where they wouldn't put me to sleep, couldn't get any spinal fluid, and THEN come back to me saying they would have to put me to sleep....gggrrrrr.

The best experience I had in A and E was when I fractured my cocyx (Tail bone) It was sore, but not as bad as above. This gorgeous doctor came in and had to examine my upper back side, where my cocyx is, and prod and feel it!!!! I was in my element, I was like ya.....work away.....:P

OutlawPete

The Front Line on RTE1 at night tonight is a special on A&E and the Tallaght mess.

nicegirl

Ladies!! You should always try and look your best going to A and E, there are always nice looking doctors there!!;)

lillykay

First time: i was 16 and just had first asthma attck. sat in a and e for 6 hours on saturday evening , eventually left without blood results as it was getting too dodgy with tall the drunks coming in.

Went to doctor next day instead.

Second time: arrived with v bad cellulitis in my hand. was seen within a couple of hours, but spent that night on a trolley. not a problem, I was a little intigued by the new experience. kinda fun got put in a corridor beside this crazy old woman and had a laugh with her. she snored so i didnt get any sleep.

BUT the next day i was given my own room!! I ended up staying for 5 days ( the last two days i was moved to an old persons ward... )
but having my own room was a nice surprise for healthcare. ( i dont have insurance)
Every morning i was woken at 6am by a doctor and his troupe of trainees poking prodding and talking about me.:rolleyes:

All in all was kinda fun. Did see alot of scary, mad and drunks in a and e though.:P

Bolag_the_2nd

I didnt go through all the posts, so im sorry if this has been said before.

its the system thats funked, the nurses and doctors are working as best they can, im not in the profession, nor would i want to be, couldnt take the abuse, my cap is off to all the medical staff that have to work under such conditions.

nicegirl

Bolag_the_2nd wrote: »

I didnt go through all the posts, so im sorry if this has been said before.

its the system thats funked, the nurses and doctors are working as best they can, im not in the profession, nor would i want to be, couldnt take the abuse, my cap is off to all the medical staff that have to work under such conditions.

Let me assure you doctors and nurses in A and E departments are under no HUGE pressure. After waiting many times in A and E for hours and hours, I eventually get into the A and E ward, and every single time I get into the A and E ward they are there having a chat doing a bit of work, and then doing some more talking.....under pressure is complete and utter bullsh*t. And as for being able to help patients in anyway with what they have, its a case of go home get some rest, or come back in a few months, or we don't know what the problem is. Any doctors I have dealt with cannot organise appointments, scans or follow up appointments to save their life with....incompetant idiots....I could go on all night about the state of A and E departments

KittyeeTrix

I accompanied my mother into A and E almost 2 years ago. She was having obvious neurological difficulties with her speech. She went in at 1pm on Sunday and didn't get to see a doctor until Monday morning at 8am at which point he said it was clear she was having some neuro difficulties!!!!!!!
To which I replied, "She's not the only fukkin' one!!! I was out of my own mind at that point with fear, lack of sleep and general rage at the bloody state of the place
Turned out she had a fully blocked carotid artery and was having an ongoing evolutionary stroke. It still took another 8 hours until she had a mri-cat scan at 4pm that monday afternoon.
To add insult to injury she had to spend the whole day in the main outside waiting room which was cordoned off and also the Monday night:mad:

In total she got there at 1pm on the sunday, didn't see a doc till Monday morning and then didn't get a bed until the Tuesday morning at 10am....

Crazy sh1t:eek:

nicegirl

fluffyorganic1 wrote: »

I accompanied my mother into A and E almost 2 years ago. She was having obvious neurological difficulties with her speech. She went in at 1pm on Sunday and didn't get to see a doctor until Monday morning at 8am at which point he said it was clear she was having some neuro difficulties!!!!!!!
To which I replied, "She's not the only fukkin' one!!! I was out of my own mind at that point with fear, lack of sleep and general rage at the bloody state of the place
Turned out she had a fully blocked carotid artery and was having an ongoing evolutionary stroke. It still took another 8 hours until she had a mri-cat scan at 4pm that monday afternoon.
To add insult to injury she had to spend the whole day in the main outside waiting room which was cordoned off and also the Monday night:mad:

In total she got there at 1pm on the sunday, didn't see a doc till Monday morning and then didn't get a bed until the Tuesday morning at 10am....

Crazy sh1t:eek:

Sorry to hear about that. Ya that sounds like A and E alright. I went to A and E by ambulance before having a severe attack myself, and wasn't seen for hours. The people in the ambulance were not sure if I was having a type of stroke, or a seizure, and had to wait hours sitting on a chair to find out. I spent that time looking at doctors, and consultants having the craic, and doing a bit of work. Then they have the nerve to turn around and blame the situation on "The health service" and on Mary Harney, when it starts with them and hospital management who cannot do f*cking anything right.
I know another lady who had SEVERE headaches that went on for a number of years, she ended up in Beaumont, and they did tests scans etc, and "Didn't know what the problem was". The lady was on morphine she was in such pain with the headaches. She gave up on irish hospitals, went to America, and within 2 weeks they found out what was wrong with her and solved her headache problems. It starts with the daily running of A and E departments, doctors and nurses taking it easy, hospital management getting paid a fortune for doing nothing. This is where the root of the problem is IMO

Bolag_the_2nd

nicegirl wrote: »

Let me assure you doctors and nurses in A and E departments are under no HUGE pressure. After waiting many times in A and E for hours and hours, I eventually get into the A and E ward, and every single time I get into the A and E ward they are there having a chat doing a bit of work, and then doing some more talking.....under pressure is complete and utter bullsh*t. And as for being able to help patients in anyway with what they have, its a case of go home get some rest, or come back in a few months, or we don't know what the problem is. Any doctors I have dealt with cannot organise appointments, scans or follow up appointments to save their life with....incompetant idiots....I could go on all night about the state of A and E departments

when in your employment, dont you chat to your workmates? the A&E is a highly charged place, for the patients, the medical staff work within there means, closed wards, fewer medical staff and constant cutbacks, dont hate the players, hate the game, the government is the game, i have the highest respect for the medical staff, i have a daughter with cronic athsma and a mum with altzheimers, i have spent my fair share in A&E, hate the way we have to wait, no ill will for the staff though, i have never been treated badly by staff.