"A&E visit and waiting for an x-ray with my 84 year old mother"

My mother had had a fall at home, she had fallen on her side and we did not know if she had broken or fractured anything. When my mother's GP visited she advised my mother should be taken by ambulance to the Alexandra A&E to be x-rayed. The GP spoke to an A&E doctor on the telephone agreeing to fax a letter to A&E with all the details so that my mother would be x-rayed as soon as was possible on arrival at the hospital.

The 3 paramedics arrived promptly and were brilliant in dealing with my mother who suffers with dementia. They were extremely kind and friendly.

On arriving at A&E the paramedics also advised the hospital staff my mother should have an x-ray.

Unfortunately, that was when the service stalled. We then had to wait for another diagnosis for someone to say yes she needed an x-ray. So my brother who had arrived by that time, wheeled my mother to x-ray, which was fortunately very close to the A&E. My brother and I had to assist the x-ray staff in getting my mother on to the x-ray table, we then had to assist to get my mother back in to the hospital wheelchair. We then again had to wait a long time for the bone doctor to come and give us the good news she had not broken/fractured anything. This bone doctor, (we didn't catch his name) was brilliant, he not only spoke to my mother directly, he was thoughtful, considerate and truly professional; all the things you wish for.

In all our experience was good, although my brother and I wondered how earth my mother would have coped if we had not been there to assist as porters and why my mother could not be x-rayed as soon as we arrived, when her GP and the paramedics had all indicated this was what needed to be done. It seems we had to keep going through the same hoops to get to the end result; an x-ray.

My mother was getting increasingly agitated at the wait, which obviously she could not understand, I do not know how you can make it easier, apart from trying to inform people where they are in the list to be seen, instead of frustratingly sitting and waiting not knowing when it is going to be your turn.