A&E Eastbourne District General Hospital
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Reviews (37)
Appalling Service.
December 11, 2024
I admitted myself into A&E at 9.30pm as was experiencing severe abdominal pain in front stomach and lower back region. The worst pain I've ever experienced. Normally I wouldn't attend A&E, however, I suspected an issue with my pancreas.
I arrived in severe pain, hardly able to stand or talk and was confronted by a lady at reception. Her attitude was not acceptable. She seemed more interested in her computer. She lacked eye contact or any form of care and basically spoke to me in a somewhat abrupt manner.
Withing 10 minutes I was seen by the Triage Nurse and then an hour or so later for Bloods. No issue there. By 11pm I was back in the A&E waiting room waiting for a Dr. That is where it went down hill. From the hours of 12.00 midnight until 8am I had waited in severe pain, along with many others. Not one single Dr on a space of 5 hours turned up. The wait time went from 7 hours to 12! Just to see a Dr! Not acceptable on any level! Throughout that time period not one single member of staff had the decency to come around and show that they care or have any interest in us as patients! In fact most of the staff seemed more busy walking around, chatting amongst them selves about their lives etc. or were on their phone.
In most care situations these people are there to deliver care and that means more than just sitting with them in a room trying to find out what's wrong. In most care settings staff members talk with their service users by asking how they are, if their able to help by getting a hot drink or blanket or what ever. There was none of this. The staff hardly acknowledged anyone! I was sat next to a 91 year old lady who had been waiting since early hours of the morning and was still there when I left at 9.00 am the following morning. She was not offered a drink or any food, neither a blanket. I helped her sort her phone out as signal was bad so she could call her daughter.
Myself and many others had gone just over a 5 hour period where not one single Dr came down to see us. Apparently they were busy and short staffed.
This is not acceptable on any level. This is a place where other people's lives are in the hands of others. And this excuse is always used. Not acceptable. If the issue is always to do with being short staffed then employ more people! Or in fact to make life easier why not employ drs for the in patients from the ambulances and employ drs specifically for the people in A&E waiting room. There's no need to use up all available resources just for one half of a department to then expect people such as myself to them sit there, completely unaware of the situation wondering if and when I'm going to be seen. 5 hours is not an acceptable time period. Many people started getting annoyed and had asked reception what was going on. I spoke with reception as well and simply stated that if there are such issues maybe in future it's best to communicate a little bit more and give people an understanding of what's going on. It's not hard for a receptionist to come out behind her/his desk and simply just say to people we're sorry, there's a delay, something's happened etc. and we'll try our best to sort the issue. Nothing. Not a single staff member had that common sense to do so. Instead they sit there behind their computers expecting patients to mind read. Communication is key.
DGH have a policy of no abuse etc. Maybe a lot of that negative abuse the staff receive will stop if patients were given a little bit more info as to the main problem. Instead they don't and wonder why people get angry and frustrated. The staff are equally apart of the problem why that happens.
I would also like to make a note on some of the staffs attitude in general. A smile now and then goes a long way and so does some acknowledgement.
Also I don't think those vending machines should be there, as all that is on offer is sweet drinks and sweet foods. Not healthy! Especially for an A&E department. On one hand were being told to live healthier, prices always going up on foods then you want to sell unhealthy foods in an A&E department at extortionate prices. £3.00 for a small bag of Harribo! £1.20 for a small mars bar. Daylight robbery! £3.00 plus for a small, half cold cup of coffee.
The reality of the situation is the fact that these professionals have our life's in their hands at times and the way this department is organised and run is concerning. People go to be treated for illnesses yet left to rot in that waiting room for hours on end.
When I left it was a 14 hour wait! Not good!
Get more staff in, sort the attitude out with some of them and get those receptionists to have a better manner and you may see a big difference in our experience of this service.
I arrived in severe pain, hardly able to stand or talk and was confronted by a lady at reception. Her attitude was not acceptable. She seemed more interested in her computer. She lacked eye contact or any form of care and basically spoke to me in a somewhat abrupt manner.
Withing 10 minutes I was seen by the Triage Nurse and then an hour or so later for Bloods. No issue there. By 11pm I was back in the A&E waiting room waiting for a Dr. That is where it went down hill. From the hours of 12.00 midnight until 8am I had waited in severe pain, along with many others. Not one single Dr on a space of 5 hours turned up. The wait time went from 7 hours to 12! Just to see a Dr! Not acceptable on any level! Throughout that time period not one single member of staff had the decency to come around and show that they care or have any interest in us as patients! In fact most of the staff seemed more busy walking around, chatting amongst them selves about their lives etc. or were on their phone.
In most care situations these people are there to deliver care and that means more than just sitting with them in a room trying to find out what's wrong. In most care settings staff members talk with their service users by asking how they are, if their able to help by getting a hot drink or blanket or what ever. There was none of this. The staff hardly acknowledged anyone! I was sat next to a 91 year old lady who had been waiting since early hours of the morning and was still there when I left at 9.00 am the following morning. She was not offered a drink or any food, neither a blanket. I helped her sort her phone out as signal was bad so she could call her daughter.
Myself and many others had gone just over a 5 hour period where not one single Dr came down to see us. Apparently they were busy and short staffed.
This is not acceptable on any level. This is a place where other people's lives are in the hands of others. And this excuse is always used. Not acceptable. If the issue is always to do with being short staffed then employ more people! Or in fact to make life easier why not employ drs for the in patients from the ambulances and employ drs specifically for the people in A&E waiting room. There's no need to use up all available resources just for one half of a department to then expect people such as myself to them sit there, completely unaware of the situation wondering if and when I'm going to be seen. 5 hours is not an acceptable time period. Many people started getting annoyed and had asked reception what was going on. I spoke with reception as well and simply stated that if there are such issues maybe in future it's best to communicate a little bit more and give people an understanding of what's going on. It's not hard for a receptionist to come out behind her/his desk and simply just say to people we're sorry, there's a delay, something's happened etc. and we'll try our best to sort the issue. Nothing. Not a single staff member had that common sense to do so. Instead they sit there behind their computers expecting patients to mind read. Communication is key.
DGH have a policy of no abuse etc. Maybe a lot of that negative abuse the staff receive will stop if patients were given a little bit more info as to the main problem. Instead they don't and wonder why people get angry and frustrated. The staff are equally apart of the problem why that happens.
I would also like to make a note on some of the staffs attitude in general. A smile now and then goes a long way and so does some acknowledgement.
Also I don't think those vending machines should be there, as all that is on offer is sweet drinks and sweet foods. Not healthy! Especially for an A&E department. On one hand were being told to live healthier, prices always going up on foods then you want to sell unhealthy foods in an A&E department at extortionate prices. £3.00 for a small bag of Harribo! £1.20 for a small mars bar. Daylight robbery! £3.00 plus for a small, half cold cup of coffee.
The reality of the situation is the fact that these professionals have our life's in their hands at times and the way this department is organised and run is concerning. People go to be treated for illnesses yet left to rot in that waiting room for hours on end.
When I left it was a 14 hour wait! Not good!
Get more staff in, sort the attitude out with some of them and get those receptionists to have a better manner and you may see a big difference in our experience of this service.
Admitted with?sepsis
August 17, 2024
Feeling really ill aches and pains every where sat in metal chairs bright lights for 12 hours after about 10 hours a Covid test was done and was positive so had been left in among other patients with that.
All I needed was to lay down
All I needed was to lay down
I waited 5 hours + Terrible service
August 12, 2024
I waited 5 hours after seeing the Triage at A & E Eastbourne in absolute agony.
I was then told if I have an X ray I would have to wait even longer . As we all sat not many people came in , the waiting room wasn't full , and the same people seem to be sitting there 5 hours on. Hardly anyone was seen until it came to around 2am in the morning .
What a terrible terrible place . They need to employ more staff that are willing to work the job and not wonder around through the departments on their mobile phones. People should matter. Everyone sat willing waiting which we'd expect a couple hours. No emergencies came to A & E. There is no excuse. This is why the NHS is falling in the UK. Staff need to step up. The whole system has become a joke . I'm absolutely mad with the pain I was left in . The heart of the hospital needs to step up on the departments .
I was then told if I have an X ray I would have to wait even longer . As we all sat not many people came in , the waiting room wasn't full , and the same people seem to be sitting there 5 hours on. Hardly anyone was seen until it came to around 2am in the morning .
What a terrible terrible place . They need to employ more staff that are willing to work the job and not wonder around through the departments on their mobile phones. People should matter. Everyone sat willing waiting which we'd expect a couple hours. No emergencies came to A & E. There is no excuse. This is why the NHS is falling in the UK. Staff need to step up. The whole system has become a joke . I'm absolutely mad with the pain I was left in . The heart of the hospital needs to step up on the departments .
Our daughter waited 8 hours with kidney probs
July 20, 2024
It was night-time and not enough staff to deal with all the people.
slow cruel and uncaring in the extreme
April 1, 2024
Stomach and back pain made me unable to stand or breath very well. Gum bleeding and nose with pain, but put me on a plastic chair in A&E for over 8 and a half hours . I then passed out in doctors arms as they were moving me.
Multiple visits due to cancer, DVT, and Pneum
March 16, 2024
Once through triage the service is exemplary.
10 hour overnight wait in A and E
January 17, 2024
I want to be more positive. I understand the pressure the NHS is under and how this impacts. However, what I observed in the 10 hour wait was not about lack of resources but more about attitudes and commitment to care demonstrated by those in the roles of helping us. In my view, small actions by everyone would have contributed to making us patients feel listened to, respected and cared for. That's not to say that it wasn't there, just that it wasn't very evident. Maybe if it was, the energy would have been less negative and the atmosphere less stressed. As I sat with my husband who was in a lot of pain, I observed:
The doctors and nurses made no eye contact with those of us in the waiting room as they came and went. It felt like a deliberate ploy to avoid the need to engage. The people waiting the 10 hours through the night remained calm and patient despite this. Some general acknowledgement of their needs, concerns, worries and patience during this time would have gone a long way to prevent the feelings of being invisible, ignored and unimportant which developed over those hours. We all understand the need to prioritise patients but there are available ways to help everyone by exercising compassion and empathy in small, undemanding ways.
Brief communication with us, particularly when the waiting time grew from 3 to5 to 7 and then 10 hours, would have helped everyone to understand, appreciate the circumstances and feel visible.
Around the walls were posters reminding us to 'Respect' the staff. I heartily agree with this and am saddened that they are necessary. However, respect is two way and is earned. I didn't feel that our experience recognised or respected my husband's pain, largely because of the above. As an example, at one point a nurse called my husband and observed his struggle to stand and his pain from across the room. She repeated his name in a more sharp way to hurry him. When we reached her all she asked for was the urine sample he had in his hand. My husband's pain and discomfort could have been easily avoided by some show of care and compassion from the nurse concerned had she come to collect it herself. I am certain that the majority of the people in AE with us would rather have been in their beds and some recognition by staff would have gone a long way to aid everyone's wellbeing and create a more positive atmosphere than the one we were experiencing.
To aid things too, a refreshment machine would have been helpful. The 10/11 hour waits people experienced would have been eased by available refreshment, I'm sure. The night time hours can feel particularly arduous if spent sitting on a hard seat without available sustenance to access. It feels that it would be in the department's interests to ease the wait in as many ways as possible.
Despite this, there were some highlights to demonstrate hope and confidence in the NHS to successfully tackle the challenges and should equally be recognised.
Firstly, the receptionist who worked alone most of the night. She showed patience, compassion and empathy towards us all and answered our questions honestly and accurately. She knew what was needed and took the time and trouble to make us feel heard, respected and valued. Thankyou!
Thank you too, to the nurse who noticed my husband's pain and distress and brought medication without us having to ask. We were very grateful and again felt cared for and valued.
Finally, to Dr Robert..... who came on duty around 06.00. His positive energy and his urgency in attending to those of us waiting as soon as he arrived, felt purposeful and efficient in contrast to what had gone before.
I hope I have given balanced feedback and that it is of some use to you.
It is given in the context of us all working together to overcome the challenges and improve the service we all love and deserve.
The doctors and nurses made no eye contact with those of us in the waiting room as they came and went. It felt like a deliberate ploy to avoid the need to engage. The people waiting the 10 hours through the night remained calm and patient despite this. Some general acknowledgement of their needs, concerns, worries and patience during this time would have gone a long way to prevent the feelings of being invisible, ignored and unimportant which developed over those hours. We all understand the need to prioritise patients but there are available ways to help everyone by exercising compassion and empathy in small, undemanding ways.
Brief communication with us, particularly when the waiting time grew from 3 to5 to 7 and then 10 hours, would have helped everyone to understand, appreciate the circumstances and feel visible.
Around the walls were posters reminding us to 'Respect' the staff. I heartily agree with this and am saddened that they are necessary. However, respect is two way and is earned. I didn't feel that our experience recognised or respected my husband's pain, largely because of the above. As an example, at one point a nurse called my husband and observed his struggle to stand and his pain from across the room. She repeated his name in a more sharp way to hurry him. When we reached her all she asked for was the urine sample he had in his hand. My husband's pain and discomfort could have been easily avoided by some show of care and compassion from the nurse concerned had she come to collect it herself. I am certain that the majority of the people in AE with us would rather have been in their beds and some recognition by staff would have gone a long way to aid everyone's wellbeing and create a more positive atmosphere than the one we were experiencing.
To aid things too, a refreshment machine would have been helpful. The 10/11 hour waits people experienced would have been eased by available refreshment, I'm sure. The night time hours can feel particularly arduous if spent sitting on a hard seat without available sustenance to access. It feels that it would be in the department's interests to ease the wait in as many ways as possible.
Despite this, there were some highlights to demonstrate hope and confidence in the NHS to successfully tackle the challenges and should equally be recognised.
Firstly, the receptionist who worked alone most of the night. She showed patience, compassion and empathy towards us all and answered our questions honestly and accurately. She knew what was needed and took the time and trouble to make us feel heard, respected and valued. Thankyou!
Thank you too, to the nurse who noticed my husband's pain and distress and brought medication without us having to ask. We were very grateful and again felt cared for and valued.
Finally, to Dr Robert..... who came on duty around 06.00. His positive energy and his urgency in attending to those of us waiting as soon as he arrived, felt purposeful and efficient in contrast to what had gone before.
I hope I have given balanced feedback and that it is of some use to you.
It is given in the context of us all working together to overcome the challenges and improve the service we all love and deserve.
10 hour wait time disgusting
January 5, 2024
Hard seats
Only food is chocolate and sweets
Unhelpful receptionist don’t give eye contact
Only food is chocolate and sweets
Unhelpful receptionist don’t give eye contact
Unacceptable waiting times in A & E.
December 16, 2023
Husband doubled over with crippling stomach pains in his side and throwing up. Could hardly walk or breath. He’s been waiting 8 hours do far and told will be another 10 hours. Completely and utterly unacceptable. To be left sitting in a cramped chair in terrible unbearable agony. Rude receptionist, no compassion. Disgrace.
Had kidney stones. worse experience ever.
November 22, 2023
Had kidney stones went to The a&e with my brother at 10am was seen hours later, got out of hospital at 8pm. and all they did was give me a script for some pain killers then sent me on my way. had to wait 2 months for a appointment for someone to remove the stones..
Worse a&e i have ever been to.
Worse a&e i have ever been to.
