"we arrived at 6.45pm on a friday ..."

What I liked

we arrived at 6.45pm on a friday to a quiet reception area at A&E as my wife had a bad ear infection. Booking in process was good and we were seen within half an hour but only to receive a painkiller and hand over GP letter.

What could be improved

from there at around 7.30pm we were walked 100yds to the minor treatment area where a small number of other people were sat. We were still there at 10.30pm having asked 3 times what was happening and who we were seeing. Apparently we had to see the specialist who was on the ward. He/she actually never saw us and it was left to the night team Doctor to see us around 10.45pm.He decided to keep my wife in pending a specialist seeing her next day.

My gripe is, why do the staff not inform you what is happening, Why do we have to keep chasing things up. There is never any apology or real explanation re the delay. We did actually get one at 11pm wow!

For some reason we always now expect a delay. All the emergency services are judged now on a timescale re dealing with people. I get the impression here that as my wife received a painkiller within 30 mins the NHS target was met!