‘16-hour wait’ at hospital A&E
A PATIENT has spoken out about his “poor” Accident and Emergency experience after having to wait more than 16 hours to be seen by a doctor.
Nigel Massey went to the A&E at Prince Charles Hospital in Merthyr Tydfil at around 4.30pm on Tuesday, June 22, after he hit the top of his head during building work at his home, which left him with a four-inch cut.
The 57-year-old, from Llwydcoed, near Aberdare, said he wasn’t seen by a doctor until around 9.30am on Wednesday and believes something needs to be done to curb lengthy waiting times.
A spokeswoman for Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board said the hospital had seen more and more people needing A&E treatment each month this year and that staff were working extremely hard to get everyone in at an appropriate time.
Mr Massey explained: “I had a fourinch or so gash in my head and there was lots of blood, it was clear that I needed to go to A&E.
“Under Covid restrictions my wife wasn’t able to come in with me, so I had a towel on my head. I registered and within 90 minutes I had been called in to see a triage nurse who confirmed I needed a doctor and that they’d call me back as soon as one became available. I didn’t get seen until around 9.30am the next morning by a doctor.”
Mr Massey said has “no complaints” about those working at the hospital and that he was aware that doctors needed to prioritise the seriously ill and were hard at work.
He said: “It was fairly busy and what really brought it home for me was seeing the other people who were waiting.
“There was one lady there with a relative or carer and she was clearly mentally impaired.
“She got really, really distressed because she had a bump on her head and it was explained to her that she needed to stay at the hospital to see a doctor.
“They eventually managed to get her down sleeping. She had come in probably beyond midnight and when I left at around 10am after my treatment, she was still there.
“To be fair, they were trying to prioritise children and toddlers. Sitting there for 16 hours, you’d see children coming in and going within three or four hours.”
Mr Massey said: “In the end I spent 20 minutes with a doctor, who confirmed to the nurse I could be glued up.
“It occurred to me that, yes, I was bleeding, but maybe I could have gone home and then had a text 45 minutes or so before you due to be seen – but then I understand there are risks there, I could have been concussed.”
Ultimately, Mr Massey said the staff at the hospital were very polite and were not at fault.
He said: “There is just no way I can agree that old-age pensioners should be waiting for 16 hours in any sort of queue. I can’t fault the nursing staff at the hospital, when I was with them they were very lovely and apologetic.
“I have no complaints whatsoever about their efforts, but there has got to be something wrong organisationally for this to be happening.”
A spokeswoman for the health board said: “Cwm Taf Morgannwg UHB values all patient feedback as it is important for us to learn and improve on the service we provide.
“We have been seen increasing numbers of people attending the emergency department month on month this year at Prince Charles Hospital and we apologise to anyone who has had to wait a long time for treatment. Our staff are working extremely hard and triage all patients on arrival. Patients are then seen in order of emergency so there may be delay for those patients that are not urgent. In addition, our clinical staff regularly review all patients waiting to ensure that any change of condition is also managed appropriately.
“Refreshments are offered to patients in the department at mealtimes and there are also vending machines in the area for patients to access if they would like any food in between those times, but unfortunately this was out of order for a few hours that particular day but is now back up and running.
“We would urge anyone with any illness that isn’t an emergency to use alternative health services such as minor injuries, their local pharmacy, GP, optician or dentist.”