What's the longest you've had to wait in the ER?

Question

I was in the ER for 7hours once!I just left and got an appointment with the doc.....

Answer 1

Yes, waiting times in ER's can be too long, especially in City/County type facilities. The reason? Sometimes the staff is just plain busy with coincidental emergencies, perhaps they are "understaffed". But on a day to day basis I am willing to bet that the ER is filled with alcoholics, street persons with various problems, drug addicts, and those without insurance who use ER's as their primary resource. ER's are a great measure of how a society is "cutting the mustard" if you ask me....and in the City and system in which I worked....well, don't ask.

Answer 2

I wait 12 hours every night, just to go home and go back again for another 12. :)

The reason wait times are so long is because people are increasingly using the ER as their family doctor, instead of using it for EMERGENCIES. I'd say that at least 75% of the patients do not have acute problems, and show up for chronic pain, common colds, ingrown toenails, feeling pale, fevers of 98.7, etc. A lot are seeking drugs. Many have Munchausen's Syndrome. The vast majority are just malingering in some way.

It's sad the state health care is in in this country, but it's your peers that have made it this way.

Answer 3

Wow and I thought our country hospital was bad, but its not uncommon for people to wait that long.

I think I have waited about 5 hours, but I was fairly sick, so stayed until they called me, I had tonsillitis.

A friend was taken through straight away due chest pain, very poor colouring (she was blue in the lips & fingers). Another friend who had a stroke, waited for 13 hours on a bed. Eventually transported to a large hospital, after cat scan showed a brain bleed.

Hospitals grade people by type of symtoms they have,
Priority
Any chest pain
Asthma or breathing problems
Severe bleeding
Head injuries

Any other problems are graded as semi - urgent and non urgent, dependent on the symptoms the person has.

It seems rather unfair unless your the person who is genuinly ill, who is taken in quickly.

I guess it means that hospitals are for semi urgent and urgent cases. No insurance then, you have to either wait, to be seen or pay to see a doctor else where. And health insurance in NOT cheap.

Answer 4

My Dad's got you beat by one hour. This was in Mississauga, Canada. His heart rate came back to normal by the time he got admitted. Got home around 4 in the morning. He suffered a heart attack one month later, overseas. Same thing happened to my Grand Father one year or so ago. He had a stroke, waited for 6 hours, by that time his BP was fine and doctor was dumb enough not to notice anything. Died one month later. Wrote to the Health Minister, and he basically made some promises. Gotta see if he delivers.

Answer 5

9 hours in ER, 3 hours in the doctors waiting room

Answer 6

When I got my appendix removed I had to wait less than 10mins. I think this was actually because I was screaming and disturbing the other patiences. Hahahah!

I broke my ankle I was there for about 30mins.

My mum was running and got tripped over by something and she was covered in blood, she had to wait less than half an hour.

My mum also fell off a ladder and broke some ribs, we were there for less than 2hours.

My grandma poked herself in the eye with a tv aerial and we were there for 6hours!



If you complain of pain in your chest you will be admitted first. I read that while I was waiting with my grandma. I think if your injury is more superfical then you will be admitted quite quickly, or if you make a hell of a racquet like I did!!! HAHA!

Answer 7

Oh god I hate the ER waiting rooms. When I broke my arm I guess they thought it wasn't so serious and I ended up waiting 5 hours in the waiting room then once you get called in its another few hours yuck I hated it!!!

Answer 8

Nearly 4 hours, I couldn't leave had to get a nasty gash on my chin
stiched up and everyone was staring at me because of all the blood.
These were the people who had non-emergencies.

Answer 9

for myself probably 3-4 hours.

once, i was in the lobby for 3 days waiting for my best friend after he went into a coma from a car wreck.

Answer 10

About 11 hrs.