"Much room for improvement on managing A&E minor..."

What could be improved

I took a patient to A&E and make these coments based on my experience.

1) After waiting 3 hrs whilst patient was being treated on & off, the lack of information as to why the treatment was taking so long is an issue. There is no indication of why there are delays, in fact no communication whatsoever. You just sit there in the vain hope that the patient and continuing treatment has not been forgotten. The staff having to come out each time and call the patients name for treatment, seems very antiquated and also time consuming. There must be a better way than this, there also must be a way of giving constant updates as to what and why treatment is delayed. It's the not knowing that is the issue. It's like waiting for a delayed flight but with no information why, as time goes on and the hours pass the frustration and anger increases, there is no real difference with hospitals. The technology exists to keep patients and there relatives informed as the hours pass why oh why is it not used. There is also technology and different systems that could be employed to allow the staff to stay in location and call the patients without having to leave their station each time. Efficiency would be improved and therefore the delays would be reduced, it's not rocket science and management needs to take note!

Anything else?

People who use the waiting room at A&E need to put their empty discarded cups, wrappers etc in the bins provided not just leave them by the seats or on the floor. Do these people not realise that this behavour encourages filth and vermin, and it's a hospital. These very same people would be the first to complain if bugs or vermin if they were discovered in their treatment areas or heaven forbid wards. Perhaps large posters advertising this fact may help these people see sense and find the bins that are clearly located and very obvious. The waiting area was littered with used cartons and packets absolutely disgraceful, but I don't blame the hospital I blam the thoughtless visitors,