Emergency care is now a shadow of its former self

Mar 19 2009 West Lothian Courier

HAVING the misfortune to be taken ill recently, I was shocked to find that emergency care in West Lothian is a shadow of its former self.

During my 20-day stay with Lothian NHS I was transferred twice between Edinburgh and Livingston and returned. On one occasion after 11pm on a Sunday evening, following a 14-hour wait for an ambulance. Eventually I was returned to St John’s where I was moved between wards four times, often in the middle of the night.

I was told that this was to allow St John’s to accept overspill patients from the Royal Infirmary.

One of these patients was an elderly, disorientated lady who arrived in my bay in the small hours. She was understandably very upset.

They were arriving from all over the place including Prestonpans and Musselburgh.

All were elderly and did not want to make a fuss.

I think it is terrible that their families are forced to travel miles at great expense to visit them in St John’s whilst West Lothian families are forced to travel miles at great expense to visit their loved ones in Edinburgh!

Healthcare in Lothian is a complete mess and I want to know who is going to be held to account for this.

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