A man who waited for 12 hours in an emergency department after coughing up blood has criticized the NHS, saying it is “out of time” to be fixed.
Anthony Goldcrown, 47, from Borehamwood, Hertfordshire, went to the urgent treatment center at Barnet Hospital on Monday after experiencing severe flu symptoms. He was one of around 200 patients waiting for care, many with similar symptoms.
Goldcrown, who works in sales, was eventually seen for a chest X-ray and blood test but had to call 111 for a prescription after waiting overnight. Despite the long wait, Goldcrown expressed frustration with the NHS’s slow response, especially in light of the potential severity of his symptoms.
“I got to A&E at 6:30 pm, and it just spiraled from there,” Goldcrown explained. “When I got there, the wait time was eight hours and 20 minutes, and every time I checked with reception, I was told I had 10 people in front of me.”
By 7 am the next morning, exhausted from not sleeping, he requested that his results be sent to his GP. He was told that it would take three to five days, but Goldcrown argued that this wait was unacceptable if he had pneumonia.
“I had somebody take blood from me, who was clearly quite stressed because he struggled every time he tried to get a new tube,” Goldcrown added. “The NHS isn’t just broken; it is out of time – we need changes to be implemented now.”
The NHS data revealed that last week, an average of 5,408 flu patients were hospitalized daily in England, with 256 in critical care. Despite the increasing pressures, NHS staff managed to remain calm, but Goldcrown emphasized the overwhelming number of patients and the difficulty in coping with the influx.
Several NHS trusts have declared critical incidents due to high demand caused by cold weather and respiratory viruses, with staff working under immense pressure, similar to conditions during the height of the pandemic.
Health and Social Care Secretary Wes Streeting acknowledged the hard work of frontline NHS staff but said that despite their efforts, the level of care was not meeting acceptable standards. He cited the surge in flu cases as a contributing factor, with more patients in hospital than this time last year.
A Royal Free London spokesperson expressed regret for the long wait Goldcrown endured, adding that like many trusts, they were facing extreme pressure and were grateful to staff for their dedication during such difficult times.
Related topics:
Cold Water Swimming Group Helps Men Open Up About Mental Health Struggles
Man Warns of Deadly Health Risks from Household Mould After Developing Fungal Lung Disease
