"We really should have our own A and E Dept"

I am in my mid-80s, in good health and very active. However I tripped and fell in Wycombe High Street last Friday around lunchtime and hit the back of my head. I did not lose consciousness but there was lots of blood from the bump on my head. A young woman came to my aid and someone called an ambulance. I do not remember the young woman's name but she told me she worked at the Police Station. With the help of a First Aid pack from a taxi-driver she applied pressure to the wound to stop the bleeding. I was now sitting on the road and was advised to stay there until the ambulance arrived. I stayed there on the ground with the young woman at my side for over an hour. Apparently the ambulance had to come from Aylesbury and I was told I had to go either to Stoke Mandeville or Wexham to an A & E Dept. After I was transferred to the ambulance we were stationary for another 10-15 minutes while the ambulance driver's assistant filled in her forms.

I wanted to get going as I needed to get back to Marlow as I am the sole carer for my husband. On arrival at Stoke Mandeville I was seen fairly quickly but they were extremely busy. Despite the heavy bleeding no cut could be found so no action was taken and I was discharged. There had been talk of a scan but this was not done. A kind neighbour came to collect me and I eventually got home around 6 pm.

When this accident happened I was within a few hundred yards of Wycombe Hospital. Why was it thought a good idea to close Wycombe's A&E dept? With a town as large as High Wycombe and with all the surrounding villages we really should have our own A and E Dept.

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