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Waiting time in A&E

Posted By Chefk43

"Waiting time in A&E"

About: Borders General Hospital / Accident & Emergency

(as a parent/guardian),

A&E visit for head injury, took 5.5hrs when others came and went before hand. Even children with head injuries who came in up to 1-2hrs after. One fair enough was a bleeding, one that seemed actively bleeding, the other was visible like my child similar ages, similar appearances and we both ended up going the same way to be seen.

It was appalling, especially seems signs say for children be seen within 4hrs. It was ridiculous. A triggering environment and made to wait for seemingly no real reason.

The member of staff on reception was the only one who cared when they noticed I was assigned a room so should be called any second and over 2 hrs later I hadn't been they said it's why they were in and out checking.

Only when I was about to walk out with my child and visit a GP for reassurances in the morning, as child seemed to be OK at no real alarm that I were seen. 

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Responses

Response from Lesley Anderson, Senior Charge Nurse, Emergency Department, NHS Borders 16 months ago
Lesley Anderson
Senior Charge Nurse, Emergency Department,
NHS Borders

Submitted on 30/12/2023 at 12:46
Published on Care Opinion at 12:46

Dear Chefk43, thankyou for using Care Opinion. I am sorry to hear you had such a long wait in our Emergency Department. It is difficult to respond appropriately without having further information, ie name and date of attendance and I am very happy to investigate this further if would like me to do so. That length of wait is not what we work to achieve. Government targets are that 95% of patients are seen, admitted, discharged or transferred within a four hour window. On occasion and due to the unpredictable nature of Emergency Departments and when the Department is under extreme pressure, this 4 hour window can be difficult to achieve but even during this pressure, we have a triage system whereby the most unwell/badly hurt patients have to been seen most urgently and so patients are not seen in order or arrival but by order of clinical need. I cant comment if this was the case in your situation but I am more than happy to investigate if you are happy to provide me with details.

Best wishes and thanks again for using Care Opinion.

Lesley Anderson

Senior Charge Nurse, Emergency Dept, Borders General Hospital

Lesley.Anderson@borders.scot.nhs.uk

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