Interesting piece that echos the experiences of my wife in Emergency Departments.
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/heal ... 68711.htmlLots of patients turning up for non-emergency ailments such as an aching arm because the GP surgeries are refusing face to face appointments.
Increase in people terrified that their hay fever is Indian/Delta variant (was the same hassle last year).
The usual of people faking illness to try and get free morphine (although that’s normal)
Increase in people terrified that a headache is the side effect of their vaccine.
The usual of overdoses/drinking to unconsciousness. Typically followed by a demand for an ambulance back home because “well you brought me here”.
In the past month they’ve also seen people lie to get blue lighted in with a headache or because they feel sleepy. Certainly doesn’t help with the ramping issue and lack of ambulances available. Many see paramedics as a taxi service.
And of course, on top of the joke admissions you have the usual emergency issues (stroke,falls, heart attacks, accidents etc) plus serious cases from people who’ve missed diagnosis and treatment due to the NHS pretty much shutting down for the past year.
The abuse from patients is disgusting, although they’re obviously annoyed at waiting. One of her colleagues was bitten by a lady last week who was angry at not getting a hot meal, another was punched yesterday because the patient refused to accept a paracetamol was enough for her headache.
Add to this that the media is inciting abuse against staff who’ve chosen to not be vaccinated, and morale is getting lower with many having quit, or planning to quit and go elsewhere. My wife is now one of the more experienced nurses having only worked there for 18 months. She’s thinking of packing it too. New recruits are lasting about three months before deciding “bugger this, I get the same pay for an easy job on the wards”. The department was already understaffed, it’s now understaffed and under experienced with many thinking of leaving. I’m not sure people realise how bad this is with the same scenario repeated in Emergency Departments across the U.K.