.@BMM1882
11 hours or so later and we’re on our way out, thank God. I’ve genuinely had a better experience in a hospital in a developing country - not an exaggeration. Some very basic reflections (because I’ve been awake for 29 hours now):
Clearly lots of pressure on the system - so many people who very obviously didn’t need A&E. When we eventually saw a doctor she acknowledged this herself and said it’s a big problem - alongside some other rather un-PC reflections…
As an example, at about 04:30 we had to listen to a group (the patient had FIVE relatives with them - so much for the +1 policy) arguing with [we think - impossible to identify who does what as the scrubs seemingly weren’t colour coded] a nurse. I’m not sure who had worse English - the [presumed] nurse or the group. The crux of it seemed to be that the patient was fine but had a headache and was insisting on a prescription for paracetamol (which you can buy for 35p in a supermarket).
Let’s not ignore the obvious fact - the waiting room was overwhelmingly (90%+) foreign - and I don’t just mean ‘not White British’. There were very few ‘Black British’ or ‘British Asian’ people - but rather lots of foreigners from recent migration waves. A mix of Somalis, EU legacy migrants (especially Eastern Europeans, mainly Romanian and Bulgarian), and Boriswavers. We seldom heard English being spoken.
During the entire evening we saw approximately two other White British people - an elderly gentleman and a young lady who clearly had additional needs. It was sad to see them unaccompanied as both were clearly vulnerable, and we tried to advocate for them a little (asking for updates with their permission, getting water) alongside two other elderly people. Rather bizarre to see so few Britons given we’re in the capital city of… Britain.
It was all a very Yookay experience. As I said earlier, I’ve had a better hospital visit in a literal developing country. This was genuinely third world levels of service, but then the clientele was in many ways rather third world, too.
The lack of facilities was terrible. At about 03:00 I had to do a shop run to a nearby shop which was open overnight to get some drinks and snacks for some of the people we met. Two of the elderly people were desperately hungry so we did what we could. I remember A&E used to have a tea trolley that came around - apparently no longer.
There was more crime and anti-social behaviour than I have enough characters to describe. Lots of arguments and one physical fight. A drug deal. The atmosphere was volatile and, whilst I’ve no doubt people will be along to dismiss what I am saying (so much for valuing “lived experience”) at times it genuinely felt unsafe. The presence of security staff did very little to alleviate this feeling.
Four separate people were vaping inside the waiting room we were in (there were three waiting areas) and staff did not intervene. The department was very dirty and we didn’t see any cleaners. Somebody threw up on the floor and it was just left there.
I will give credit where it’s due - the two clinicians Mum saw were very good. It was a 65 minute wait for triage in the end (which sort of defeats the point of triage) and then a very long wait to see a doctor - hence we’re just getting out now at around 09:00. We entered at just after 22:00 yesterday.
The pharmacy was closed but this was a saving grace as it meant medication could be dispensed in the department. Some people were leaving with paper prescriptions so I can only assume it was dependent on the clinician a patient saw as to whether they got drugs or a prescription. But Mum was given her medication before we left so I also praise that.
The seats… I don’t know who does procurement for furniture in that hospital, but the chairs were the most uncomfortable I’ve ever sat on. My back will not forgive me for this for a few days I suspect.
There is a lot more I could say in my slightly delirious state, but I shall leave it there for now. Grim.
