"I took my husband to the A&E ..."

What I liked

I took my husband to the A&E unit for treatment as he developed problems after an operation undergone in an NHS Hospital elsewhere. This is our local hospital but as the op was not done by them I was concerned. However, the treatment from the minute we arrived was exemplary. He was quickly assessed by the triage nurse and seen by a Doctor. Tests were done and a consultant was called to come and examine my husband. At all times we were told what was happening and when the consultant arrived he spent more time explaining the operation and its implications to us that the Surgeon who had actually performed the proceedure had done; as well as administering treatment to alleviate my husbands distress and pain! Everyone we came into contact with was calm, professional and polite. Customer service was excellent - an area we as Public sector employees ourselves are only far too aware of! Having had cause to visit the A&E unit in the past at various times I was amazed by the improvements made since my last visit!

What could be improved

The only thing I feel warrants comment is actually not a criticism of the hospital but of the people who attend a unit such as Accident and Emergency. The Department title gives some clue to it's purpose, and I was amazed at the number of people attending the unit for trivial reasons that could be resolved at home or could wait until the following day when they could see their own GP; but instead chose to attend an already stretched unit taking up valuable time and resource to be issued a paracetamol!