Another collision with the public health service, some serious disillusionment.

Around 1500 hrs yesterday a minor emergency arose with a partial degloving of a forearm in a dommie.

Locked and loaded for ED 30 minutes away immediate departure.

Wait to get to Nurse as first contact at ED around 20 mins then on to register including ACC claim initiation at another desk admin not a medic.

One hour later admitted to treatment, only two nurses on duty and one then went to break.

Half an hour wait for an initial inspection of damage following removal of the “Glad wrap and crepe bandage” initial home first aid , re covered with saline and gauze and fresh bandage another hour to actual treatment commence. Finally seen by paramedic grade nurse at 1830 hours repaired wounds, tetanus jab and dressing, pain relief followed by paperwork delivery and exited ED at 1920.

Response assessment 2/10, treatment initiation 3/10, treatment finally delivered 9.5/10.

Comparison with what I was dealing with a decade and a half ago as an emergency response person, in brevity, quite scary.

I follow with high interest how delivery of emergency response is tracking and have already posted on a contact with Dunedin ED back in early March where personal transport was required due to no Ambulance service available after initial response from Portobello Fire Station crew treatment bytwo ex St John Ambos first class and professional.

The system is creaking and very close to an abyss of failure. These contacts with what should be an always improving delivery combined with a rising need, age related, leave me disillusioned and fearful. What we are dealing with is nowhere near the utter chaos being described elsewhere accepted but I am sure it is coming down the line.