Presented to the hospital with my sick child, where we waited for over 45 minutes before even being triaged or sited by any clinical staff. I understand the triage process and don't have an issue waiting to be treated depending on the triage category, however I do have an issue in the length of time taken to be triaged in this situation and sited by clinical staff. Further to that, patients are asked to complete a piece of paper describing their reason for the presentation - I do hope that the piece of paper is no way used to advise the clinical staff on the status/condition of a patient instead of staff physically seeing patients and triaging them. It seems like this piece of paper which is completed by patients with no clinical knowledge/training, is used instead of actually physically assessing the patient when they first present. Some or any communication with the staff during this time may have helped - acknowledgement and open communication with waiting patients can go a long way. I'm sure most people including myself can understand that an Emergency Department can be busy and frantic where there may be acutely ill patients who need to be dealt with first. My point is how do the staff know that the person that has been sitting in waiting room for an hour is not acutely ill and requiring immediate treatment if they are not triaged on presentation.
Furthermore once seen by nursing staff we were advised that they were busy, with only two staff on. What avenues are there for the staff to seek assistance or additional staffing in these situation to ensure that patient care in not compromised? ?
"ED Presentation"
About: Ayr Hospital Ayr Hospital Ayr 4807
Posted by Visitor (as ),
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Update posted by Visitor (a carer) 8 years ago
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