Fell down (as one does) ar home, and was eventually carted off to the local hospital – John Radcliffe in Oxford. Had a comfortable wait on a trolley – I’d grabbed a good book to read – before I was wheeled off to X-ray. On the way back, my trolley was parked in an orderly queue in a corridor, which seemed to be well-used for this. A doctor came, told me I haven’t broken anything, and can go home. So I wait for hospital transport. Two hours later another doctor comes to say “we’ve had another look at your X-ray and you have fractured T4 or T5 in your spine, but we don’t know which”.
Cue for a long wait. I am on my trolley in the corridor for several hours. Luckily book still keeping me entertained. But whilst waiting I watch the department. I notice every bay in A & E has its curtains drawn, and they stay that way. No-one goes in or out.
It then occurs to me that there are no cleaners working here. The penny drops. It’s quicker and easier to wipe down one trolley in a corridor than a complete A & E bay. Obviously this is a way to counter staff shortages.
So next time we are told “keep away from A & E this winter, I’ll take this with a large pinch of salt.
P.S Am called back for an MRI and review of my scan. Apparently I have broken a few more bones. Wouldn’t it save money to get a competent assessment the first time?