"Appalled by nursing staff on this unit."

What could be improved

I was appalled by the care of nursing staff in this A and E. Patients were just left waiting for over 3 hours and in that time not one patient had had any observations of any kind performed by the nurses. A Dr asked one of the nurses to make sure all the patients had Obs and ECG's done, after a man who was obviously very unwell, and had also been waiting for 3 hours was called out of the waiting room by the Dr, who was shocked he had been there waiting for so long. What was the most shocking however was the reply of the Nurse was only that he "didn't have time".

This is simply not acceptable. This is not an A and E unit. The nursing staff are not acting like A & E staff. Whether using "streaming" or old fashioned "triage" patients need some sort of assessment especially when they are visibly unwell. To be just left waiting with no obs is an absolute breach of duty of care by the nursing staff. You make time as a nurse, you never do not assess people who require this. I cannot stress how shocked I am that this unit is operating as an A & E. I am embarrassed but more so extremely concerned about the level of nursing care in this department. The Doctor was rushed off his feet and extremely dedicated but a Dr cannot run a department on his own! If the nurse on shift will not assist the Dr on duty by doing basic levels of A & E nursing care how can the standards and attitudes of more junior members of the nursing team ever be expected to improve?

The training of nursing staff on this unit requires serious review. I would not take any relative of mine ever to this A & E from what I have learnt.