With over 20.5 million patients attending accident and emergency departments in England in 2015-16, hospitals are undergoing a crisis. The number of attendances has increased alarmingly - by 5.15% since 2014-15. More people are turning to accident and emergency departments for minor injuries which results in the notoriously long waiting time typically associated with hospital visits. However, the UK is the only country which is committed to seeing all patients within four hours, regardless of the severity of their injury. This is often difficult to achieve and has lead to staff becoming stressed, putting patients in danger of not receiving the quality of treatment that they deserve. England’s health secretary, Jeremy Hunt, suggested that the four hour ideal should exclude people with minor ailments. This will help to improve the quality of treatment for all patients as well as ensuring that those who need serious help receive it faster.

A patient, aged 16, commented on the current state of the accident and emergency ward: “the atmosphere in the paediatric waiting room was one of impatience and chaos as it was clear that the unit was short staffed for a busy Wednesday night”. The patient also said that they could understand why there was a long waiting time and they did not have an issue with that aspect, however, the tense atmosphere made them feel on edge and uncomfortable.

It is clear that such an experience is not an isolated case and that something must be done to improve the environment in hospitals; both for the benefit of the patient and the staff.