"Excellent A&E Staff, but department seemed..."

After a mysterious black-out, which the Paramedics dealt with exceptionally well, I was ambulanced to A&E at Southmead. It was busy so I was sat in an entrance corridor along with several other people, two of whom looked like very distressed elderly people.

A nurse took over from Paramedics quickly and a doctor arrived quite quickly too. I didn't feel I had waited very long at all.

Blood was taken and sent for test promptly, and ECG was done. Because my case was puzzling a consultant was telephoned for guidance. More tests were deemed necessary. It didn't seem long before a bed was found for me in A&E and a CT scan arranged. There was a little wait for the CT scan (remember this is out of hours and not pre-booked).

It fact everything happened quick that I would have expected. The doctor in charge kept me informed. A couple fo blood test were slow coming back and they chased these.

Once all the results were in and the consultant had been 'looped in' again (out of hours again don't forget). I was told what I should/shouldn't do and a referral made to a specialist for urgent consultation.

All great. But the place seemed crowded, staff too few and I was left wondering if I had somehow jumped the queue because when I left I could have sworn the two elderly folk were still waiting!