"A&E experience"

We rang 111 and due to breathing difficulties and chest pain, an amazing ambulance crew came out and recommended to go to East Surrey Hospital A&E.

We arrived at 10.30pm and it was extremely busy as always. In my view, some patients definitely shouldn't have been there or been at home. But the nurse at the desk and receptionist were great - personable, friendly and helpful. 

We saw a triage nurse very quickly and then had bloods/obvs/ecg done at 12.50am and told results in an hour and a doctor shortly after. But all was good, nothing alarming to worry about. Then back to the waiting room. The ping-ponging back was such a waste and seemed so inefficient

Meanwhile, the waiting room had a lot of people with hacking coughs and people throwing up. Still the nurse and receptionist were amazing albeing considered. Amazingly a young thin lad came and offered drinks and sandwiches which was so lovely.

Still more people arrived. Personally, I think half of them could've been assessed and should've been at home or turned away at the start. As a result and with the same thing happening out the back a bottleneck was happening and too few staff mixed with ineffective, inefficient service made for a tortured few hours.

Eventually, we saw a doctor who was extremely rude and belittling. And hadn't even looked at the blood results. Their manner was condescending and aggressive. They didn't know why we felt ill so said they'd speak to a consultant and told us both gob smacked to sit back in the waiting room again. 

It was now 4.20am. We waited for an hour but had had enough so decided to discharge ourselves. The nurse on the front desk advised to go to door 1 to get the canula out. This was prompt, we met a nurse who was so lovely and said that an x-ray had been booked, to which we went. The nurse said to come back after.

We did and waited 10 mins when the doctor came over again was rude and then walked off saying when they get time they'll look at the x-ray as they turned round. The doctor's general bedside manner and professional manner was appalling. They finally came back all clear, we could finally go home! It was 5.30am! 

Look, it's a hard stressful and difficult job. But compounded by more patients not being sent home or turned away. We only use such services in an emergency but given the shocking waiting room and the diabolical doctor it puts you off ever going there.