A&E waiting times

I READ with growing anger the front page headline ‘City A&E waiting times worst in England’ and continued to read the whole article.

Thankfully the article contained some comfort to the NHS staff in that it did outline many of the inescapable reasons for the situation.

With the Covid resurgence it is no wonder that the overall delays in transfers, operations and other fields are increasingly stretched to breaking point.

I feel deeply for those staff who read these negative reports and I commend them for continuing to provide the best service that they can in the circumstances.

I recently read of a particular, if I remember it correctly, instance of downright irresponsibility by some people.

Sadly one of the group died and the other 20, yes 20, had to be hospitalised after taking one of the recreational drugs. So allowing for those 20 taking up beds, medical teams and aftercare it’s no wonder that the system creaks, let alone cracks. What did those 20 gain from that experience, apart from the loss perhaps of a friend and a continuing after-effect of the drugs?

I am sure many patients could be more aware of their own part in taking care of themselves and not report to A&E un necessarily.

There are many who have no choice but to be in hospital so perhaps the mantra should be unless the situation is life-threatening please try to keep away from A&E and use the other facilities available.

My overall admiration for the NHS in all its facets and personnel continues and I wish them an overall huge ‘thank you.’

Jean Maloney

Bristol