"A&E waiting time - a real nightmare !!"

My wife is 36 years old and 21 weeks pregnant - Yesterday 4th of February she was bitten by her friend's dog. Not having a tetanus shot before and knowing the risks of infection she went to her GP for expert advice and care. They did not had the tetanus shot in stock and she was send to West Middlesex University Hospital. We arrived few minutes after 4 pm. After nearly 3 a doctor saw my wife and prescribed her antibiotics (not knowing she was pregnant - even though they had her records from GP on which it was written that she is pregnant). They did not read her summary before she was called. The doctor was rather inexperienced as they said to my wife that they have to ask for advice from one of their colleagues. We were send in the waiting area for another hour and 1/2. Another doctor came, took us into their cabinet and to my surprise when I explained that she is pregnant, she needs a tetanus shot, she is allergic to paracetamol and that she cannot take antibiotics (due to pregnancy) the doctor started to search for advice on Google. I was totally gobsmacked...!! The doctor eventually phoned a microbiologist for advice... after 5 hours already in A&E the doctor told me that I will be send home with my wife, and within 2-4 hours they will ring us back so that we may return to hospital for tetanus injection. Eventually she was given a precaution injection of some sort with a temporary effect. When we left the hospital it was past 9:30pm and I have tried to explain to the doctor that my wife is exhausted, tired and dizzy (not eating or resting - came to hospital straight from GP). The doctor called eventually at around 1am next day and today 5th of February she was booked for the tetanus shot... it took only 5 minutes... anyway... Finally... Finally over.

From this experience I came to the conclusion that if your situation is not life threatening then you can wait forever in the A&E, no matter the emergency. Unless you faint or collapse or something to grab an extra attention then, you are rather unimportant until your turn comes up. in my case, 5 hours of waiting, a lack of knowledge from the doctors... poor customer service at the reception... all of it for a 5 months pregnant woman. what a joke.

Many thanks for your professional care West Middlesex University Hospital !