'A&E is for accidents and life threatening situations' - Your Letters: January 25

What has happened to the NHS? 

We all know that the staff do a wonderful job but are let down by bad organisation. Let me explain.

Why are so many patients referred to A&E by their GPs for non-emergencies?

In the last six months I have taken the same person to A&E after being seen by her GP and referred to A&E for non-life threatening situations that should have been dealt with by her GP. 

In fact one referral that was made was for a scan!

In years gone by the GP would have assessed the patient and reassured them if they were anxious, and then contacted the appropriate hospital department to make an appointment for the near future. 

The patient would go away with the knowledge that everything was being done. 

Now the patient is thrown into the nightmare at A&E. It is always full and has now become an assessment centre. 

Last visit we were greeted by a TV monitor informing of an 11 hour 11 minute wait to see a clinician. 

If and when you do get seen, the doctor assesses you and directs you to another hospital department. Surely this is the job of your GP?

Who allowed this situation to develop and cannot the managers see what is happening and do something about it?

If you think that this is a one-off situation, next time you are in A&E note the number of people reporting to reception with referral letters.

A&E is for accidents and life threatening situations. The clue is in the title, Accidents and Emergencies.

Think! Give the staff a chance to do their job.

David Evans, West Midlands

A MUCH SIMPLER VERSION OF BMI

As questions are raised over the worth of the Body Mass Index, BMI, to work out if you are overweight, and other complicated ways of gauging a healthy weight are proposed, what is needed is a simpler guide. And what simpler guides can there be than Uncle Norbert and I? So with bacon butties in hand we set forth our list to help keep gentleman of a fine vintage fighting fit and free from the flab.

If you can do two of the following exercises then your weight is fine:

Can you quickly make yourself scarce when you hear there is housework to be done?

If while you are out and about you drop a £10 note can you still immediately dive on top of it?

If you run for the bus does your tummy stop wobbling after 20 seconds?

Can you squeeze a bottle of tomato sauce onto a bacon sandwich in just one go?

If totally relaxed in a comfy armchair when suddenly the radio announces that the Chancellor Rachel Reeves is about to come on and talk about the black fiscal hole she has inherited from the last government, can you leap out of the chair and turn the radio off within five seconds?

P Steggles, Rushbury

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