A&E patients in England endured a record-breaking month of delays in January, with more than 60,000 people waiting between four and 12 hours for a hospital bed, and more than 780 waiting over 12 hours.
The figures are at the highest level since 2004, when a target was introduced that 95% of patients must be seen and either admitted or discharged in under four hours.
We asked Guardian readers to share their experiences of A&E in January. Here’s what they said.
‘It angers me that this is being portrayed as a normal winter crisis’ – Laura White, 30, Wiltshire
On 19 January, I was rushed to hospital by ambulance. I suffer from severe asthma so spend a lot of time in hospitals. The staff were swift, calm, professional and outstanding, but as someone with much experience of emergency care over the past few years, a marked increase in response time is noticeable. I am always a high-priority case as there is a real risk of sudden death, but even then there simply aren’t enough paramedics to cover demand. I was extremely ill en route and the paramedic had to help me to breathe. He phoned the hospital to warn them of a high-priority case coming in and allow them to prepare for arrival.
I was wheeled straight around to the high-dependency area. I was shocked to see around half a dozen trollies in the corridor with patients on. This has never been the case in my experience of this hospital.
The staff were caring and helpful and trying to attend to all patients, but they were clearly stressed. The lead doctor and junior had a discussion over my bed about needing to do a blood gas test, but were reluctant to because the only working machine was in intensive care. This was followed by a nurse asking how everyone was, to the reply: “I have a full resuscitation, a full high care, no beds available. But there is a woman in the corridor who needs to be in here so I have to choose one of these people who are extremely ill to put in the corridor. I can’t do this; this is not a decision I should have to make.”
It angers me that this is being portrayed as a normal winter crisis and the sort of thing we see each year. I can assure you it has got progressively worse in the past year and is currently well beyond breaking point.
‘No one was ever left waiting for attention or care’ – Hannah Powell, 47, North Yorkshire
I was admitted to A&E six times in four weeks at the start of this year, twice by ambulance, because of problems with my heart. On each occasion I was seen immediately, with almost no wait. I was admitted to the coronary care unit on three occasions and, although there was clearly a bit of bed juggling going on, there were beds available. There were some waits: two days to have pacemaker surgery, and a weekend to see a cardiologist. But on the ward no one was ever left waiting for attention or care.
Obviously heart trouble is a high priority at the triage stage, but it was clear to me that the hospital’s systems and processes were working well. Although the staff were under pressure the whole time, they were, without exception, utterly committed to the care they delivered and were not going to let shortages of beds or staff to get in their way.
A defining moment was seeing the tenderness with which the coronary care nurses and assistants treated an elderly patient, despite being rushed off their feet during a busy night shift.
‘A&E was extremely busy and there seemed to be a shortage of staff’ – Karen Hourihan, 57, social worker, Liverpool
I waited 55 minutes in excruciating pain for paramedics to arrive. I was taken to A&E and after a short wait in the corridor I was taken into a cubicle. My son was with me and he was able to advocate on my behalf by seeking out medical people and requesting updates. Nobody came to speak to me directly about my injury. I was taken to a holding ward while waiting to be admitted. I arrived at 8pm and was admitted to a ward at 4am when a bed became available. A&E was extremely busy and there seemed to be a shortage of staff.
Staff appeared to have little time to spend explaining things and reassuring patients. This was not too much of an issue for me as my son was present the whole time. However, for anybody alone or older I imagine it would have been an isolating experience. Having said that, the staff did their best to provide a good standard of care.
‘I was put in a room and forgotten about’ – Melanie Salinger, 53, Bishop’s Stortford, teacher
When I visited A&E, I was put into a side room and promptly forgotten about. Eventually, a nurse asked how my consultation had gone and I said I still hadn’t had one. It turns out I had been forgotten; they had no record of me. I was diagnosed with pneumonia and had to leave that room and sit in a chair for 10 hours as there were no beds. I was sat in a busy area with everyone looking at me. My blood pressure was very low, so I actually needed to lie down.
Once a bed was found for me the nurses in the ward cared for me very well. However, the noise at night was constant. It sounded like an all-night party. Someone on my ward complained so it went quiet for half an hour – then started again. How are we meant to recover? I asked to be discharged as I knew I would recover quicker at home.
‘Wonderful service, could not be beaten’ – Larissa, 38, Bexley
I injured my wrist on a Sunday afternoon, but attended the hospital on the Monday morning. I had been told of the awful waiting times so I came prepared with a sandwich, thermos and my kindle.
However, I waited less than 10 minutes to see the nurse. She took my details and asked a few questions about my injury. I was then sent for an X-ray. The nurse informed me there could be quite a wait, but I only waited around 10 minutes. The radiographers were lovely, caring and professional.
The nurse called my name after 10 minutes, showed me the X-ray of my fracture and put me in a temporary cast. I was triaged, X-rayed and plastered in less than an hour and a half. I barely had time to open the thermos, and the kindle remained shut.
Wonderful service, could not be beaten. The NHS staff were great.
A&E in England registers record delays: readers share their experiences
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