"GRI disconnected systems"

I was recently admitted to A&E with a suspected bowel infection or perforation.

I was triaged quickly but then waited 4 hours to be seen and another several to get analgesia.

Eventually I was moved to a ward, and despite asking for more analgesia, I got none in A&E and told I would get it on the ward.

I asked on the ward and they said A&E use a different system and I'd have to wait to see a doctor before I could get any analgesia. I waited hours and hours in agony before a doctor prescribed any, and then they didn't prescribe what I needed or what I'd had in A&E (morphine which worked very well). I had to argue with staff to finally get oramorph which helped for a short while.

I wonder why the kardex from A&E can't transfer to a ward so a patient can get analgesia straight away.

In total, I waited approximately 8 hours between A&E and the ward to get analgesia, which I feel is unacceptable and made me feel worse. Tired, sore, worried, hot and unsure of what was going on, it was very frustrating.

After I got the oramorph, the pain lessened and I felt much less pained and frustrated. I feel this could have been prevented if the systems for medication administration moved around the hospital with the patient.

Also, when I trained as a nurse, we were taught that pain is what the patient says it is, and to react swiftly when analgesia was requested. I have yet to witness this for the majority of staff. Only one night shift nurse responded in this way and to them I am very grateful. They kept on top of my pain and made me feel heard.