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Care Opinion

Disgruntled

Story from nhs.uk

"Disgruntled"

About: Lister Hospital

What I liked

I live in Hatfield and the ambulance wanted to take me to Lister because A&E was now closed at the QE2. I had to refuse because the public transport connections are abominable. The ambulance would get me there but how on earth would I get back home. On two previous occasions I've waited outside Lister over two hours for buses. The Arriva 300/301 misses out the Lister if they are running late. Arriva told me they will continue this practice even though Lister catchment area is so much larger. I'm 67 years old, living on a state pension so now I don't have a usable A&E due to poor public transport links.

I think the Lister should run a free bus shuttle service to the local transport links/depots/stations. That's the least they can do for shutting the QE2 A&E.

What could be improved

I think the Lister should run a free bus shuttle service to the local transport links/depots/stations. That's the least they can do for shutting the QE2 A&E.

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Responses

Response from Lister Hospital 12 years ago
Lister Hospital

Submitted on 28/01/2012 at 17:39
Published on nhs.uk on 29/01/2012 at 04:00

The QEII's A&E has not been closed - during the day (8.00am to 8.00pm) the current A&E service continues in place, whilst overnight it offers a minor injuries service only. All serious and/or life-threatening conditions now go to the nearest full emergency department, which for most people will be the Lister in Stevenage. It is our experience since these changes were made on 16 January 2012 that the majority of people still use the QEII service at nighttime for everything from cuts that need stitching through to suspected broken limbs.

If an ambulance is called and the paramedics feel a patient needs to go to a full emergency department, then there is usually a very good clinical reason behind this decision. But we recognise for those taken to A&E who are treated but not admitted, we have a duty to assist people in getting back home. In many cases this is straightforward as people have friends and family who will do this for them. But where that's not the case, then our staff will do their best to make sure people get home safely and as easily as possible. These arrangements are kept under review, which includes looking at our own transport options to see what might be possible to run alongside the public transport system.

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