Experience with Triage

It probably varies. Time of year it is a lot more hectic. Are you in London or any other major city?

Yes totally normal most time even longer in my experience depending on why your their the more serious the faster they are I found

I am so sorry that you had a bad experience! The first time that I ever went, I was in triage for a few hours (about 4/5😫 and then had to stay overnight), but I was in for possible water breaking and I had to wait until a doctor was available to do the speculum so nothing that they could’ve done to speed it up. Unfortunately, it is just purely down to timing and how busy the hospital is, triage is set up like this for a reason and they do see the more urgent cases first, it is frustrating but it won’t have been for no reason and they’ll always see you as soon as they can! This is quite a while as it was for reduced movements, but it won’t have been due to anything but lack of staff or something more emergent going on. I wouldn’t be very happy as you’re worried about baby but unfortunately it’s out of their control what else is going on whilst you are waiting too ❤️

No that’s not okay. For reduced movements my hospital aim to see everyone within 15 mins. Obvs if it was busier it could take longer but think I was only left 20ish mins. If something were to have been wrong when that would’ve been far too late. I’d probably put a complaint in tbh. Reduced movements is an emergency until proved otherwise.

@Sando I am in fact in London, QE hospital

I once had to wait 5 hours! I think it’s pretty standard for NHS but very frustrating 😩

That’s so weird, during my last pregnancy in 2022 whenever I had reduced movements which was like twice I was seen within 30 mins by triage. Even this time round I had reduced movement once & was seen within 30 mins & not sent to a different department either & I’m in London, NW to be exact. Reduced movements is such a big thing, taking that long to see someone is quite bad & dangerous as they would mean more of a risk for the baby

Exactly what I thought @Tasnim and @Ayesha will put in a complaint, but now I’m seriously doubting my choice of hospital.

So the way my hospital has always advised me is that Triage is 24/7, but it’s also basically our version of A&E. Which means they have to get through the queue in priority order and have limited beds etc. One time I didn’t wait long at all and another I was waiting around the same as you, it’s not ideal but they’re working with the best they can 😞

Thanks everyone for your comments! It’s reassuring to know I’m not the only one who’s had such an experience

Our hospital try to see everyone within 15 minutes for an initial chat but you sometimes don’t get to be put on a monitor for however long the wait is- they have to prioritise 🥰 It’s ABSOLUTELY worth every minute of that wait though to get your worries checked out. Don’t sit at home and think about the queue x

I went into triage with pre term contraction like pains and it took me 4 hours to be seen (to then be admitted 3 hours after that and giving birth the same day at 36 weeks!) it really is luck of the draw I think currently

@Emily Davis if you don’t mind me asking, how did you know you were having pre term contraction pains? This is my second pregnancy & im 36 weeks but I can’t tell as I was induced with my first so I’m not sure what to even go off of 😂 I’ve been having really bad lower back pains all night & I had this pain whilst being in actual labour with my first

@Tasnim I was getting pretty bad tightenings every 10-15 minutes that were a bit worse than period pains with the lower back pain for about 4 hours!

@Emily Davis thank you for responding & also congratulations on your baby! I had the tightening pain last night too but then after a while it stopped but the back pain stayed so I’m gonna see if it comes back the feeling & how often it happens for x

It is strange they made you wait so long. At our hospital they have a separate room just for fetal monitoring and you’re generally seen quickly x

@Tasnim thank you! I’d definitely keep an eye on it! And if in doubt phone triage to see what they suggest :)

I went in on a Sunday due to blood in my urine. I got there about 12pm and didn’t leave until about 8pm, due to no beds/rooms and having to wait to see the consultant and dr who were doing surgeries etc. Just to say the day assessment unit wasn’t open as it was a weekend so I had to go to labour ward triage. Normally day assessment unit is pretty quick.