Enter and view: A&E, Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother Hospital
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Healthwatch Kent undertook an announced enter and view visit to the A&E Department at Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother Hospital on 9 December 2014. They spoke to 25 people.
The waiting area was observed to be clean and calm.
Patients reported waiting on average 20-30 minutes before entering the treatment pathway, which ever one it may have been.
A cleaner was on duty completing tasks.
The majority of beds were occupied in major / minors. All paediatrics beds were occupied.
With the IC24 nurse process in place, waiting time in the waiting room appears low – (less than hour).
Once in a major injury or minor injury bed the waiting time appears to increase to 2-3 hours.
Areas between the major / minor and paediatrics appeared very busy. There was a lot of traffic with nurses, doctors and incoming trolleys from the ambulances arriving.
Within the bed areas (major, minor and observation) relatives were able to sit with the patient.
There was access to drinking water and food was provided for patients over the lunch period.
Computer stations were available for nurses / doctors to use. The station leading into the Paediatrics bed area was seen to cause a pinch point.
The GP and Triage assessment area had a continual flow of patients; some patients in triage assessment were waiting for a bed to become free in order to continue the assessment / treatment process.
The GP did considerably reduce the number of people entering the A&E pathway. There was a view expressed, by staff, that patients have heard about the access to a GP at A&E and some have even tried to make an appointment over the phone.