"Inadequate facility"

I attended A&E twice this week, with AF, following my GP request. Both times were a terrible experience, and I was shocked at the sheer inadequacy if the facility and service.

The first time, I waited 2 hours is the hot, stuffy portakabin, and left, as there appeared to be no end in site to the ever increasing number I'd patients. All the seats were taken, and very sick people were in pain. There were only two staff at reception, to process these arrivals, and only two nurses to take obs. Throughout to the main A&E waiting area was glaciallycslow slow. I noticed than main area was completely full of patients waiting also.

I was shocked at the waiting times, the conditions patients waited in and the lack of staff. This scene and facility might be found in a third world country, and is wholly inadequate for a growing town like Northampton. It is clear that a severe and substantial lack of investment in infrastructure and staff is to blame. It's outrageous.

I returned to A&E the following day, after a consultation with a nurse practitioner (at my GP surgery). Once again, the portakabin was over capacity, with people standing and some very sick people having to wait very long times. I reported to the desk and told them that the surgery had spoken to Sdec and, that, once registered at A&E, I would be moved on. However, A&E informed me that 'is not howvitvworks' and that I should wait with everyone else to be processed. I overheard the A&E staff repeat this at least 3 times to other patients. There clearly is a communication problem between surgeries and NGH. It needs sorting and quickly. So I had to wait until seen by obs and treaming, for several hours before being shown the direction to SDEC. There, I spent another 4 hours waiting for assessment.

I am making a formal complaint about the inadequacy of NGH management to provide an A&E service that is fit for purpose. Meets the needs of patients in a humane way, and does not provide adequate infrastructure or staff numbers to carry our the function. It was an appalling experience. I also found it incredulous that GP surgery staff and NGH appear be carrying out referrals that NGH A&E say shouldn't happen and invalidate those requests.

I am totally full of praise foe All the staff at NGH. They appeared to be working under enormous pressure, we're polite and professional.

That hay, and patients and the wider population of the area, have to put up with inadequate infrastucture and facilities, is a disgrace. NGH management should sort this out, invest more in facilities and staff and sort out the communication problem between surgeries and NGH.

Similarly my ratingbifvWFvsurgery is very high and the staff are wonderful.