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Mid-winter, and a freezing cold A&E

Posted By Faint

"Mid-winter, and a freezing cold A&E"

About: Lincoln County Hospital / Accident and emergency

(as the patient),

I attended LCH A&E just after Christmas 2015. I had been the week before and was told if it occurred I was to return. Watching TV at night I was again taken ill and my husband rang 111 who said to attend A&E.

My husband had had a drink so rang a taxi, due to weather conditions they had stopped (heavy snow and ice) so he rang 111 again and they sent a paramedic. A first responder arrived from close by and did his checks then the paramedic who did all his checks and said I needed to go to LCH. As the weather was so bad he said he would take me to save an ambulance being called.

When we got to LCH about 11pm they sent me straight through to reception where I was assessed by a triage nurse and waited a long time to be seen. I was given all the tests available at night and put in a big soulless cubicle. The whole of A&E was freezing cold.

After being there 10 days earlier and it being cold I had gone prepared with warm clothes on, a big coat and a blanket. One of the nurses had a blanket round her to try and get warm. I left there at 4-30 in the morning absolutely frozen through and tired out then had to have a bath to warm me up.

If they can't keep the whole place warm because of it all being open there should be some warm rooms that people can sit while waiting for test results.

I appreciate the nurses and doctors do a very good job in difficult circumstances.

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Responses

Response from United Lincolnshire Hospitals NHS Trust 8 years ago
United Lincolnshire Hospitals NHS Trust

Submitted on 29/05/2015 at 08:39
Published on Care Opinion at 09:36

Dear Faint

Sorry that you did not have a pleasant experience when you attended A&E earlier this year. I am sorry you felt the department was cold, I am unsure if you alerted a member of staff as we do have some private seating areas that are available away from the Waiting room. We try to keep the doors closed to retain the heat but the constant footfall into A&E does make that difficult.

Regards

Karen Hansord – A&E Sister

Update posted by Faint (the patient)

Although it was cold in the waiting area to be seen I spent the biggest part of my stay sat behind curtains in one of the large cubicles. Not only was it freezing cold it was such a cold, bare, soulless area to spend at least 3 hours waiting for other tests and then the results of my blood tests.

No one tells you and there are no signs in the cubicles or anywhere else to state there is somewhere else to sit and wait. It would perhaps be helpful to other people if this was rectified.

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