Your A & E experiences, good and bad

nicegirl · 29-03-2010 09:30PM

Bolag_the_2nd wrote: »

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.

Yes, I would talk to my collegues at work, but not for 15 mins then doing maybe 20 mins to half and hour work, then go back and talk again?? The doctors and nurses I do have the greatest respect for, they are polite etc. BUT I do not appreciate the way that is is assumed that they are under HUGE pressure, limited staff etc, resouces when that is not the case. I have been in A and E departments when the Celtic Tiger was alive and well, and it was still the same situation then as it is now.

Bolag_the_2nd · 29-03-2010 09:34PM

nicegirl wrote: »

Yes, I would talk to my collegues at work, but not for 15 mins then doing maybe 20 mins to half and hour work, then go back and talk again?? The doctors and nurses I do have the greatest respect for, they are polite etc. BUT I do not appreciate the way that is is assumed that they are under HUGE pressure, limited staff etc, resouces when that is not the case. I have been in A and E departments when the Celtic Tiger was alive and well, and it was still the same situation then as it is now.

i think we should let this go nicegirl, we have had different experiences in A&E, i respect your opinion, mine was diffferent.

nicegirl · 29-03-2010 09:38PM

I respect you and your opinion, and have no grievance with you whatsoever. I have a grievance with hospital staff, consultants, and hospital management. I am delighted to hear your loved ones have got better care than I have though, and I hope all goes well for you in future.

drkpower · 29-03-2010 09:50PM

nicegirl wrote: »

The doctors and nurses I do have the greatest respect for, they are polite etc. .

nicegirl wrote: »

Any doctors I have dealt with cannot organise appointments, scans or follow up appointments to save their life with....incompetant idiots.....

:D:rolleyes:

ergonomics · 29-03-2010 10:01PM

I was in A&E recently waiting on a friend. The woman beside was in with her son who could be no older that 6 or 7. It was about 2am in the morning and he was wrecked tired, vomiting and sitting on those horrible waiting room chairs. The mother was really worried about her son so eventually she approached the nurse and very politely asked her if she had a rough idea how long they'd be waiting. She wasn't accusatory or rude and apologised for distracting the nurse when she was busy. The nurse snapped at her and said "The person in front of you has been waiting 2 hours and 57 minutes and hasn't been seen yet. Your son has been here 1 hour 18 minutes. Figure it out yourself".

I wasn't involved at all but I was furious. The mother made a simple enquiry and the nurse was so rude. It was completely uncalled for. I know they put up with a lot of crap but we all have bad days in work. If I snapped at a customer I would be hauled up on it but it seems ok from nurses because their jobs are so hard. Deal with it. You chose to do that job.

bob50 · 29-03-2010 10:28PM

ergonomics wrote: »

I was in A&E recently waiting on a friend. The woman beside was in with her son who could be no older that 6 or 7. It was about 2am in the morning and he was wrecked tired, vomiting and sitting on those horrible waiting room chairs. The mother was really worried about her son so eventually she approached the nurse and very politely asked her if she had a rough idea how long they'd be waiting. She wasn't accusatory or rude and apologised for distracting the nurse when she was busy. The nurse snapped at her and said "The person in front of you has been waiting 2 hours and 57 minutes and hasn't been seen yet. Your son has been here 1 hour 18 minutes. Figure it out yourself".

I wasn't involved at all but I was furious. The mother made a simple enquiry and the nurse was so rude. It was completely uncalled for. I know they put up with a lot of crap but we all have bad days in work. If I snapped at a customer I would be hauled up on it but it seems ok from nurses because their jobs are so hard. Deal with it. You chose to do that job.

Must admit ive been to a/e depts over the last 2 years Tallght & James
with asthma attacks what ive noticed is the docs & nurses are not into treating patients I suppose they see so many people during their shifts. that they have lost interest i used to be supprised by this but not any more.

29-03-2010 11:07PM

nicegirl wrote: »

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

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

I have to take issue with some of what you've said here. First off, being "put to sleep" can only safely be done in an operating theatre, where there is equipment to manage a patient's airway and/or artificially ventilate them. As for doctor's "chatting", much of a doctor's work is basically talking to people, whether it be taking historys from patients or discussing cases with other doctors and nurses. Anyone who's spent anytime working in any A&E on a friday or saturday night can tell you they don't even have time to eat or sleep let alone have long casual chats.

I also had to attend A&E with cellulitis, and of course it took ages to get seen by a doctor. As I was leaving I had a look around, in the room next to me was a woman who had had a heart attack and looked seriously unwell, there was another man who looked to be having a stroke, and I later found out that around the same time that I was there they were wheeling in the casualties from a serious RTA, so it's hardly surprising that my sore foot wasn't priority number one.

Senna · 29-03-2010 11:13PM

Funny this thread should be here tonight, i'm just back from the hospital.
My mum fell outside our home yesterday at 6pm, she's 69 years old, her whole left side was very sore and she was in shock, so we took her to A&E, it was probably 7pm before we got there. She was seen by the triage nurse straight away, then she sat in her wheelchair till 3am, at which time she was taken for an x-ray.
The doctors then informed her she had a fractured pelvis and wrist, and would need to be admitted. She then lay on a trolley till 4pm today before being admitted to a ward.

For a woman who's almost 70, 8 hours in a wheelchair followed by 12 hours on a trolley in A&E, is a disgrace. The HSE management and the management of Letterkenny General is a joke.

29-03-2010 11:22PM

Last year I waited 6 hours to get 2 staples for a cut on my knee. No serious problem, 20 minute job is all. I have immense respect for all the doctors and nurses working in hospitals, who work insane hours with no scheduled time to sleep or eat. More staff is what we need, not more overtime for already overtired doctors. How can a doctor who's been awake for 36, 48 hours possibly work to their full capacity? Just saw Harney on The Front Line there and ended up yelling at the tv at the bs she was spouting.

opinion guy · 30-03-2010 12:40AM

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

Talking is the principle part of the job. Discussing patients with other staff, hustling up tests scan, sahring the treatment plan with other staff etc. Thats what they do. Talking is how you get things done. And yes they are under pressure you woulnd't believe. s someone else said they somtiems don't even get breaks.

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:

See this is a ****ing scandal. Honestly, I think people like you/your mum should sue the hospital/HSE/Mary Harney for failing to provide a system that lives up to best practice. Note - DON'T sue the staff, they generally are doing their best. Its the mismanagement of the HSE. THey will only take their repsonsiblity seriosuly when it costs them money not to.

nicegirl wrote: »

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.

Panic attack ?

bob50 wrote: »

Must admit ive been to a/e depts over the last 2 years Tallght & James
with asthma attacks what ive noticed is the docs & nurses are not into treating patients I suppose they see so many people during their shifts. that they have lost interest i used to be supprised by this but not any more.

Yeah i think this may be a real problem. You work people into the ground for long enough and they will start not to care - even the most caring of people only have so much to give

OutlawPete · 30-03-2010 12:49AM

Senna wrote: »

For a woman who's almost 70, 8 hours in a wheelchair followed by 12 hours on a trolley in A&E, is a disgrace. The HSE management and the management of Letterkenny General is a joke.

Jesus it was bad enough for me waiting 48 hours on a trolly in my twenties.

Must have been awful alright.

They are rock fucking hard also.

You get no rest in them at all.

nicegirl · 30-03-2010 12:55AM

drkpower wrote: »

:D:rolleyes:

If you had 5 years of no treatment, no proper care, incompetant consultants, and if you were sick like I am you would know all about it

nicegirl · 30-03-2010 01:07AM

opinion guy wrote: »

Talking is the principle part of the job. Discussing patients with other staff, hustling up tests scan, sahring the treatment plan with other staff etc. Thats what they do. Talking is how you get things done. And yes they are under pressure you woulnd't believe. s someone else said they somtiems don't even get breaks.

Point number one. "Talking" as you put it is a part of their job???? Let me assure you they are not talking about patients or comparing notes on patients. "Talking is how they get things done"???? So it takes over 5 years of discussion for consultants to try and organise scans for me, or to even try any kind of treatment for me???????? I have been in A and E wards since 2003, and I assure you they are NOT under pressure or running around the place to help patients, and they are not under pressure as the media so puts out, which sickens me. I suggest you go into the A and E ward in Beaumont hospital and see how running off their feet they are....

IvySlayer · 30-03-2010 01:19AM

I've had a few A + E experiences.

As a child, with severe asthma/other problems I would regularly stop breathing. I was always brought to Crumlin. I had a few good but one was bad. I was left in the waiting with a nebulizer. A junior doctor made a quick diagnosis and gave me the nebulizer, but he didn't check up on me after that! Beds were taken up, and the waiting room was pretty packed up too, they moved a couch for me into an office so I could lie down and rest. I finally got a bed about 6 hours later.

December 2009 I had to be taken by ambulance because some ****er lit up on the bus. They took me to Bellyfermot. All went well actually, nebulizer, chest xray, blood test, only 5 hours, sent home.

nicegirl · 30-03-2010 01:24AM

Opinion Guy.....if you have suffered with a neurolgical problem for 5 years which has obstructed every aspect of your life, and suggesting I was having a "Panic attack" is extremely unreasonably of you to state. I got to the hospital, and have been diagnosed with suffering with seizures over the past few months, and have got NO HELP, NO TREATMENT, and stupid doctors who cannot organise scans, treatment etc. If you have ever had a seizure then you would know all about it.
Only if you have had an ongoing illness of 5 years and have had to deal with and shout at doctors to get any kind of help then I suggest you keep your opinions to yourself.
Can I ask you this......do you have a long term illness that interferes with every aspect of your life?? I have, and let me tell you it is no fun whatsoever. If you are in the same circumstance as me, then you would understand the hell I have, and am continuously having to go through with incompetant idiot doctors who know, and cannot organise nothing. They way it looks I will have to go abroad to get any kind of treatment cos if I was to wait on help from doctors in this country, I would be waiting a lifetime, and my condition would only get worse

nicegirl · 30-03-2010 01:38AM

Deleted User wrote: »

I have to take issue with some of what you've said here. First off, being "put to sleep" can only safely be done in an operating theatre, where there is equipment to manage a patient's airway and/or artificially ventilate them. As for doctor's "chatting", much of a doctor's work is basically talking to people, whether it be taking historys from patients or discussing cases with other doctors and nurses. Anyone who's spent anytime working in any A&E on a friday or saturday night can tell you they don't even have time to eat or sleep let alone have long casual chats.

I also had to attend A&E with cellulitis, and of course it took ages to get seen by a doctor. As I was leaving I had a look around, in the room next to me was a woman who had had a heart attack and looked seriously unwell, there was another man who looked to be having a stroke, and I later found out that around the same time that I was there they were wheeling in the casualties from a serious RTA, so it's hardly surprising that my sore foot wasn't priority number one.

As I said before I had cellulitis on my foot and was extremely painful. I asked the doctors to put me to sleep, and there is NO OPERATING theature needed just a simple injection, as they in the ward when they had to do my lumber puncture for a second time, and they could have done the same when I was in the ward with all the pain I was in with cellulitis, but they decided to let me go through all that pain, and scream the hospital down. They don't think of the pain a patient has to go through with not been out to sleep for a while, and not undergo such tremedous pain.

Lone Stone · 30-03-2010 01:50AM

I remeber i had to get rushed in one time and was then left sitting in a & e, Was given some pill to chill me out (thought i was having a heart attack or some ****)
Anyway wasnt to bad at the start then some psychopath came in threating the nurse's the "security" just stayed away from him then some pissed off nurse gave the security guy the evils and he reluctantly went over to try help out.

Then this nutter was just sat down behind every half his nose was mising and blood everywhere he was off his rocker anyway he caused such a ruckus he got seen to before everyone else ! Even before the guy with a pole through his hand.

Then i had some pikie girl with her babie hitting on me fun time's

30-03-2010 01:59AM

nicegirl wrote: »

As I said before I had cellulitis on my foot and was extremely painful. I asked the doctors to put me to sleep, and there is NO OPERATING theature needed just a simple injection, as they in the ward when they had to do my lumber puncture for a second time, and they could have done the same when I was in the ward with all the pain I was in with cellulitis, but they decided to let me go through all that pain, and scream the hospital down. They don't think of the pain a patient has to go through with not been out to sleep for a while, and not undergo such tremedous pain.

No they definitley don't administer general anaesthetic on the wards. They can give midazolam, which is a powerful sedative, perhaps that's what you're referring to.

Run_to_da_hills · 30-03-2010 02:00AM

A number of years ago we could not get access into the waiting room at the Ennis General because they had a stiff on a trolley awaiting removal.

--LOS-- · 30-03-2010 02:14AM

I was in a and e last year and the nurse I had taking my blood basically stabbed both my arms to pieces to get blood and it wasnt that it was hard to get a vein, I could have probably done it myself in one go, she was just completely incompetent. Now I dont mind needles but my arms were weak for weeks afterwards.

Usual story otherwise, full of drunk and violent people except one guy beside me that had tried to OD and I just found the doctors attitude towards him ridiculous, giving him no privacy about discussing it in front of everyone and making him feel like he was wasting the staffs time there, poor guy.

opinion guy · 30-03-2010 03:33AM

nicegirl wrote: »

So it takes over 5 years of discussion for consultants to try and organise scans for me, or to even try any kind of treatment for me???????? I have been in A and E wards since 2003, and I assure you they are NOT under pressure or running around the place to help patients, and they are not under pressure as the media so puts out, which sickens me. I suggest you go into the A and E ward in Beaumont hospital and see how running off their feet they are....

So you have some personal gripe. You need to realise that the consultant not arranging a scan for you does not mean everyone else is lazy. You need to distinguish between one person not doing what you want them to do and the entire hospital being lazy - thats catastrophising. It won't help you.

nicegirl wrote: »

Can I ask you this......do you have a long term illness that interferes with every aspect of your life?? I have, and let me tell you it is no fun whatsoever. If you are in the same circumstance as me, then you would understand the hell I have, and am continuously having to go through with incompetant idiot doctors who know, and cannot organise nothing. They way it looks I will have to go abroad to get any kind of treatment cos if I was to wait on help from doctors in this country, I would be waiting a lifetime, and my condition would only get worse

I'm glad you asked. Yes, I do have long term illness that interferes with every aspect of my life. I have a fair degree of pain right now as it happnes and am hoping it won't keep me awake tonight. And yes I have something out of the usual and I've had stand up rows with doctors for not taking me seriously. But just because they don't do what I want them to do, i don't go around calling them all lazy. I recognise how busy they are and actually, if they weren't so busy maybe they would have had more time to listen to me (and you). If they weren't dealing with WAAAAYYY too many patients then they might have more time for the ones who present with unusal symptoms like yourself and myself.

So really, stop throwing a tantrum and recognise that most of the doctors and nurses you meet are working very hard to help people, despite the fact that they don't quite know how to help you. There is a limit to what they know you realise. Maybe you will a have to go abroad. I'm sorry if you happen to have something so unusual that's required.

mayoman ngalway · 30-03-2010 04:06AM

hello all,
I would just like to make a quick point about mismanagement in hospitals.

I know for a fact the gm of castlebar hospital has a degree

in horticulture!!!!!!!!!!
how can that give you the knowledge to run a hospital?????

Also I myself spent over 8hrs sitting in a&e with a shattered leg, just below my right knee, after coming in in a ambulance. when I was finally seen, and sent for x-ray it took 45 minutes from x-ray-to sitting on a ward waiting for surgery.

recylingbin · 30-03-2010 04:09AM

Been in A&E three times.
Was seen and admitted within 10 minutes each time.

DazMarz · 30-03-2010 04:41AM

The first, and last and only time I hope to have been in an A & E was after I collapsed in school when I was 18, from a combination of dehydration, low blood sugar, low sodium and potassium levels and a nice blow to the head from the floor when I fell.

Was seen to right away, as I was brought in by ambulance, barely conscious and looking terrified! Had all the tests, and all. Which was good. Thankfully, I was discharged that night and was able to go home. Was a fairly good experience, as them kinda things go!!!!!!!!! No problems or waiting around much. was able to sleep for much of it...

meditraitor · 30-03-2010 10:10AM

recylingbin wrote: »

Been in A&E three times.
Was seen and admitted within 10 minutes each time.

Who are you? Mary harneys son?

meditraitor · 30-03-2010 10:13AM

The last time I was in the A&E it was just over an hour before I seen a nurse and 11 hours later a doctor had a look at me,

Sham's, people blame the HSE but the nurses and doctors are a shower of lazy overpaid mutts... sort them out first

IvyTheTerrible · 30-03-2010 10:22AM

meditraitor wrote: »

The last time I was in the A&E it was just over an hour before I seen a nurse and 11 hours later a doctor had a look at me,

Sham's, people blame the HSE but the nurses and doctors are a shower of lazy overpaid mutts... sort them out first

Do you think you were the only person they had to see when you went in?

30-03-2010 10:23AM

meditraitor wrote: »

The last time I was in the A&E it was just over an hour before I seen a nurse and 11 hours later a doctor had a look at me,

Sham's, people blame the HSE but the nurses and doctors are a shower of lazy overpaid mutts... sort them out first

Riiiight. I'm sure they spent all that time have a cup of tea and an extended chat, not seeing to the many patients before you with serious medical problems.

IvyTheTerrible · 30-03-2010 10:25AM

Last time I was in A&E was when I went in with my partner, he's not Irish and was worried he wouldn't understand what the doctors were asking him.

We had a few hours of a wait, but they were very busy so we understood. When he did get seen, everyone was very nice and helpful. Luckily it was during the day so there wasn't any alcohol related problems.

Fuhrer · 30-03-2010 10:31AM

I broke my leg one time, rather then go in on the Saturday night when it would be filled with drunks I went on the Sunday morning.

Was pretty swift to get my cast on but the guy couldnt read x-rays well so I had to go to another hospital in a couple of days to see what was wrong with it.

Your A & E experiences, good and bad

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