Raymond, 85, stuck in A&E for 24 hours
A HOSPITAL has apologised after an 85-year-old man was made to wait in an Accident and Emergency unit for 24 hours after being referred for a blood transfusion by his GP.
Raymond Bould, who suffers from heart failure, was extremely distressed during the wait at the University Hospital of North Staffordshire on February 6.
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DISTRESSED: Raymond Bould, aged 85, waited 24 hours in A&E at the University Hospital of North Staffordshire after being referred for a blood test.
He spent the night sitting in a wheelchair as no beds were available.
Daughter Susan Thomson stayed with her father as they waited more than eight hours to be checked in, 12 hours to see a doctor, 16 hours for the blood transfusion and 24 hours to get a bed, after arriving at the hospital at 8pm.
Mrs Thomson, aged 55, of Woore, said: "It was a very traumatic night and I'm disgusted how a relatively easy matter turned into a very lengthy and tiring experience.
"Surely it was misjudged to send a frail 85-year-old to an inadequately serviced A&E unit bearing in mind it was a Friday night and bad weather.
"The corridor was jam-packed with an assortment of drunks, drugs addicts and mentally challenged patients mixed with the chronically ill elderly patients who had to be shielded by their relatives.
"The embarrassment of many was evident. There was no dignity for the patients.
"When we were finally seen at 8.30am, the staff member was not adequately informed of my dad's medical history and wanted to investigate why he needed a blood transfusion. I was extremely frustrated.
"My dad was agitated and uncomfortable and I demanded we had no more tests just the transfusion we had been sent for.
"He received two units of blood from midday in a chair in a cubicle in the A&E main square and was eventually found a bed at 8pm – a full day after we arrived.
"Lots of people there were in the same situation but many wouldn't complain."
Mr Bould, of The Poplars Residential Home in Alsagers Bank, said: "It was terrible. I was fed up and uncomfortable and I felt very sick. The hospital needs to do something to keep waiting times down."
Mrs Thomson has now made a formal complaint to the hospital, which has apologised and launched an investigation.
A spokesman said: "The results of the investigation will be sent to Mrs Thomson but, in the meantime, staff would like to apologise for her father's wait in the Emergency Department. Continuing pressure has led to delays on a number of occasions and staff are very aware of how difficult this can be for patients and their relatives.
"A number of measures have been introduced and more are planned to improve the way patients move through the department in an effort to reduce waiting times."
The family has questioned whether Mr Bould should have been referred to the A&E by Audley Health Centre.
A spokesman for North Staffordshire Primary Care Trust, which runs the centre, said: "We cannot comment on individual patients but can confirm that all decisions regarding treatment are based on clinical need."
6 Comments
by sharon, stoke
Friday, March 06 2009, 10:31AM
“The A&E strike again! There is a serious management issue here. My mum died following a 9 hr wait as a stroke victim-we have been assured that procedures are being out in place to prevent this such as the back up triage service whereby patients are seen "within minutes" by a GP or Consultant, to ease waiting- why is that not happening! There ARE too many timewasters at A&E whether these are the drunks or the patients with minor injuries who need not be there-ever heard of the walk in centres of GP clinic? One of the "regular" drunks were in at the same time as my mum- she jumped off a trolley for a bit of attention and pretended to have a fit - my mum then had one for real. A&E is a disgrace and appears to be getting worse and worse- how long can this carry on? how long before someone else dies due to the catastrophic waiting times that are clearly intolerable??|!!|”
by Karen, Blythe Bridge
Thursday, March 05 2009, 3:31PM
“Recently, my Mum was admitted to hospital through A&E on two occasions and both times, the service was superb. I feel very sorry indeed for this elderly gentleman, but it is not through the fault of the staff, there is simply not enough resources available, whereas I witnessed a large over staffing ratio on some of the wards. They should be transferred to A&E where the resources are desperately needed. I hope this gentleman is feeling better now.”
by sue evans, longton stoke on trent
Thursday, March 05 2009, 1:03PM
“it is very alarming when you go to A & E but it is not the fault of staff there is not enough doctors nurses do what they need to do and you then have to waita for a doctor .As for undesirables the hospital hands are tied they have to treat every person that attends A & E it is hospital policy and i am sure the majority of nursing staff are as frustrated as patients are .”
by E.B., Stoke
Thursday, March 05 2009, 12:08PM
“Steve's letter is spot on about the scum of our society taking up the facilities at A&E,What this scum need is a quick leathal injection,to rid our planet of these leeches of society,also,why should decent people have to share the same room as these drug addicts, drunks,and scum of the earth,
Lastly,the staff at A&E should be ashamed of themselves,
No matter how busy they are that we have people waiting for 24hours for treatment is disgusting. I wonder if the people in charge of these departments have ever held a job in the real world where,if there is a problem it gets fixed.
There are far too many people standing around chatting in the A& E department,perhaps if they all did their share people might get attended to faster.”
by Steve, Longton
Thursday, March 05 2009, 10:54AM
“This is disgraceful and makes nonsense of the notion of "Emergency" and too much valuable time is wasted by the pandemonium created by the undesirables. According to the article there seems to be two type of patient attending for treatment, decent people and scum. Perhaps the department should be split into two, A&E for decent people and A&S for the lowlife scum, consisting of drunks, drug addicts and the mentally challenged. The decent people and their relatives shouldn't have to tolerate feeling vulnerable and uncomfortable in the presence of scum during their moment of crisis. For those readers who would argue that you can't distinguish between decent people and scum then you should attend A&S.”
by Well I Never!, UK
Thursday, March 05 2009, 10:20AM
“This is disgusting and the spokesperson who made this insensitive comment wants nameing, shameing and then sacking! Probably an overpaid twit who should be alllowed to join the unemployed months.”