Pressure mounts on A and E in Harlow as over 600 patients attend in just one weekend
Health / Tue 26th Oct 2021 at 11:15am
THE PRESSURES on the accident and emergency department at Princess Alexandra Hospital in Harlow have been highlighted by the publication of figures at the weekend.
On Saturday October 23rd, a total of 292 people attended A and E.
The average waiting time was 293 minutes (4 hours and 53 minutes)
On Sunday October 24th, a total of 334 people attended A and E.
The average waiting time was 322 minutes (5 hours and 22 minutes).
On Monday October 25th, a total of 341 people attended A and E.
YH understands that 60 ambulances attended at PAH on Sunday.
There are real fears that things are only going to get worse over the winter.
Stephanie Lawton, chief operating officer, The Princess Alexandra Hospital NHS Trust, said:
““We are proud of our emergency department (A&E) team and their continued hard work caring for patients arriving at the hospital needing urgent and emergency treatment.
“The department continues to be busy and we ask people to call NHS 111 first if their injury or illness is not urgent or life-threatening.”
There is no doubt these pressures will be exacerbated by the growing number of Covid cases in the town.
On October 10th there were 233 cases of Covid.
On October 25th that had shot up to 515.
There is also the fact that many residents are finding it increasingly difficult to get thought to their surgery.
One resident contacted YH this morning and asked: “Can I just ask how people are getting doctors appointments at Lister medical centre in Staple Tye.
“I tried all of yesterday phoning and it just says we are busy and cuts you off!
“Same thing again this morning I need an appointment for myson.
” I have had to call 111 to get them to get me an appointment which isn’t really fair on their service
Heather
2021-10-26 12:21:41
The reason A&E is so busy is because nobody can see their GP. They have a problem that needs sorting so off to casualty they pop. As per the comment about Lister House I have had the same trouble. I actually went in and asked for an appointment. I need to be seen face to face as a phone call won't be adequate. I was told on a Tuesday that the earliest I could get a phone appt was the following Sunday from a locum doctor. This doesn't bother me as I am not even sure who my doctor is anyway.
A
2021-10-26 13:27:32
Trying to get through to Lister House is a nightmare, and average time on the phone is nearly an hour.
Stephen Patrick
2021-10-26 15:12:52
It's mainly because we can't get through to the GP. (Lister house for example) ,
Chris
2021-10-26 17:11:42
Not being able to see a GP is an issue I was diagnosed with cancer in February 2021 and have had one short telephone consultation with my GP, other appointments have been handled by either a Clinical Pharmacist or a Health Care Assistant and only phone appointments. Appointments have all been made by myself taking days to get through to the Surgery as the online booking system has been taken down. They have a telephone queuing system that only allows 15 people to be in a queue at one time and if you are number 16 you have to ring back, I have called on average 14 times a day for 3 days in a row to get in a queue then hold for an hour and twenty minutes waiting for a receptionist to answer, only to be told that the appointments bookings are not available for two weeks time so suggest I try again in a week or so, when you do this the appointments are already filled, a no win situation. This type of system needs an overhaul along with the rest of the NHS. Doctors Surgeries are now a "a law unto themselves" and need to be brought back into line or have they forgotten what NHS means. Stop money grabbing by taking on more patients than you can handle and provide the service you are paid for. Well that felt better, got something off my chest. I know nothing will come of it but might wake up a few people if seen.
novoman
2021-10-26 17:55:57
Basically surgeries shouldn't be business but made bigger local health centres 24 x 7 able to deal with many emergencies,preventative medicine (like Japan everyone gets a health MOT every year) and also patients in recuperation. Hospitals can then focus on those emergencies local centres can't deal with, surgery etc. , The problems here arose from centre of excellence idea that came in here years ago that was just taken too far. The question is whether the nhs should have been set up with private businesses embodied in the structure in the first place? Might a rethink be an idea?
Yasmin Gregory
2021-10-27 05:59:56
It would be helpful if these figures were broken down into the following: - how many were admitted to stay in the hospital from entering the system via A&E - how many could and should have been dealt with by a GP - are GP surgeries getting charged back for A&E dealing with patients that were unable to see their GP due to inadequate apartment booking systems. - how many of those attending A&E are known to the staff as ‘Frequent Flyers’ and need social care & support - how many were Covid related and Covid positives - what geographical area was covered by the ambulances. There are very few A&E departments that still operate within the area. Perhaps Stephanie Lawton could prove these figures in future. This would enable us to see what the bigger problems are rather than just telling people not to turn up unless it’s an emergency. If you are experiencing a high level of pain and have not been able to access your primary care , you just want the pain to stop and you don’t care who is able to help you at that point.
Betsy
2021-10-27 06:09:05
So many new houses but no infrastructure old harlow doctors surgery confirmed !! the increase of so many new patients means you can no longer book an appointment to see the doctor unless you want to wait four weeks hence people go to a&e !!!
K
2021-10-27 11:04:21
I am not suprised I was supposed to have a telephone appointment with gp on Monday night but they never phoned I was stuck in bed all day as I pulled my back out needed prescription for pain meds I had to borrow some of a neighbour so I could get out of bed it’s a joke
Frank
2021-10-27 15:50:59
I attended A & E on Tuesday 19th October and have nothing but praise for them. I had previously tried to get someone at Addison House surgery to look at a lump that had developed on the top of my head. No contact with a doctor but a phone call with a nurse resulted in two 7 -day separate courses of antibiotics which made no impression. Following getting my flu jab I managed to get a nurse to look at the lump at 12 Noon and was immediately told to go to A & E. After a 10 minute wait I was assessed and dispatched to the emergency treatment department where I was advised I had a cyst that required removal. I was home by 1.15 pm. I’m just happy that I did not wait until the week-end. Perhaps I’ll have a go at the lottery this week! Well done P.A.H. Accident & Emergency, in my case.
Frank
2021-10-27 15:54:09
I attended A & E on Tuesday 19th October and have nothing but praise for them. I had previously tried to get someone at Addison House surgery to look at a lump that had developed on the top of my head. No contact with a doctor but a phone call with a nurse resulted in two 7 -day separate courses of antibiotics which made no impression. Following getting my flu jab I managed to get the nurse to look at the lump at 12 Noon and was immediately told to go to A & E. After a 10 minute wait I was assessed and dispatched to the emergency treatment department where I was advised I had a cyst that required removal. I was home by 1.15 pm. I’m just happy that I did not wait until the week-end. Perhaps I’ll have a go at the lottery this week! Well done P.A.H. Accident & Emergency, in my case.
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