"My experience in CAU"

I was referred to CAU from my GP. I arrived in the evening to an overrun department. The nurse in charge advised it would be a long wait and she apologised before anything had even happened. You could tell they were very under pressure with lack of seats for waiting and people everywhere. 

I did get a seat and was finally taken for triage in the late evening only to have just got started and told they needed the room, could I go back to the waiting room and be seen next. This took another 45mins to be taken back. It was another few hours before I was called by the doctor and when I was taken to have a consultation and as there were no free rooms this happened in a corridor in the dark and then I was called round again when there was an available room for my examination.

I had to sit in the waiting room all night. Our chair were swapped for recliners although mine didn’t work but it was at least a more comfortable chair and I was given a blanket and pillow. I was taken for an X-ray and more bloods at around 3am. These chair were swapped back at 6.30/7am. I wasn’t seen again by anyone other than for BP checks until 12 noon.

We were brought breakfast in the waiting area and this is the first I have been offered to eat or drink since arriving the night before. I have dietary intolerances so the vending machine wasn't a great option. I was finally moved to a bed around 2pm so nearly 20 hours after being admitted.

It turns out I had pneumonia and have since received medication and returned home. In short the staff were absolutely amazing and they are having to deal with unnecessary pressure as the unit isn’t prepared for the number of patients it is receiving. I have never had to wait 5 hours to be triaged and a 9 hour wait from having bloods/X-ray done to being seen is a long time with no one even communicating to you about what’s happening even if it will be a while still, or sleep (well try to) in a waiting room over night.

I felt really sorry for the nurses who are continually having to apologise for something that’s not their fault.