65-Year-Old Spends 37 Hours in A&E with Suspected Brain Bleed
A woman faced a grueling 37-hour wait in A&E, raising concerns about hospital pressures and patient care.
Irene Jones, A&E, The Grange University Hospital, Wales, Emergency Care
Newport: A 65-year-old woman named Irene Jones had quite the ordeal at The Grange University Hospital. She spent a staggering 37 hours in A&E, all because of a suspected brain bleed.
It all started on January 6 when her GP sent her straight to the hospital due to high blood pressure. Her husband, Allan, shared that they arrived around 3:50 PM. She was triaged within an hour but had to wait until 5:15 AM the next day to see a clinician. That’s over 14 hours!
The doctor suspected a brain bleed and ordered a CT scan, but Irene was told she needed an MRI, which finally happened later that afternoon. In the meantime, she was stuck in a crowded waiting room with no beds available.
It wasn’t until 5:15 AM on January 8 that she could finally get some proper rest, after being moved from the waiting area. Allan mentioned that she had to settle for a half-working reclining chair, surrounded by other patients, since there were still no beds available.
By around 3 PM, Irene, who has a terminal illness, was finally told her blood pressure was stable enough for her to go home. Allan praised the staff for their care, noting how stoically Irene handled the situation despite her health challenges.
However, he expressed concern that the closure of other A&E units in the area contributed to the long wait times. A spokesperson for the health board acknowledged the extreme pressures they’re facing, similar to those reported across Wales and the UK.
They explained that the high number of seriously ill patients and difficulties in discharging those needing home care are causing significant delays. They hope to improve the situation and encouraged Irene’s family to reach out with any concerns about her care.