"Clinical Decisions Unit aka Chaotic Disaster Unit"

Had the misfortune to accompany my elderly mum into A and E . What a shambles, no continuity , no co-ordination, no respect, dirty department in fact a shambles. CDU was treated like another waiting room and for some accompanying family members , it was a good excuse to have a picnic. It's a medical department, surely food and drink shouldn't be consumed and numbers of people should be restricted to patient and one other person? Won't go into too many details, but I was told I could take my mum home after she was given a prescription. My mym had been bought in by ambulance and was therefore in her dressing gown and slippers. Not one person offered to help me get her off the bed into a wheelchair and to the waiting car. I struggled to push the chair and hold the door open on leaving the department and had to ask the help of a member if staff who reluctantly did as asked. In the car my mum discovered she still had her cannula in and it had to be removed by a nurse while she was in the car. No apology just a comment that it was the first time she had removed a cannula in a car. Judging from our experience on Friday it won't be the last. Pleased that we arrived after the eclipse as I was told how most of the department and a few patients were standing outside at 9.30, hope there wasn't anyone who needed emergency treatment!