"Emergency Department waiting times"

Arrived at the Emergency Department around mid-morning with our baby absolutely screaming. This was about the 1 hour mark of the screaming. Our baby looked as though they were in pain and we wanted to ensure nothing was seriously wrong, as our baby was also battling the flu. The emergency nurses were lovely and we saw the triage nurse straight away. We were told we were triage 2 and according to the board we would be seen in 2 minutes.

About an hour later we asked how much longer we would be waiting, and were told we were second on the list. Another hour later we left after we decided it would be best to get our baby home to sleep as they were absolutely worn out from the screaming (by this stage the baby was calm). Then received a phone call when we arrived home advising we were next to be called but we didn’t return to the hospital.

We will monitor our baby and take them to a GP tomorrow. I understand nurses are under pressure and this is absolutely nothing to do with the nurses or care they provide, they are doing their best. This is about the system itself. Why do we have to wait 2 hours with a screaming toddler when we have no idea what is wrong? And yet it is common knowledge babies and toddlers are supposed to be seen to first. 2 hours is not being seen to first. What a joke!

I hope nothing is seriously wrong with our baby. We also have top private health cover which didn’t mean anything on the day either. I would just like some answers regarding the actual times we should have been seen to, and what extra service our private health cover can provide? 

Thanks.