Former Councillor Praises Royal Sussex A&E Staff Despite Corridor Stay
A retired councillor has commended doctors and nurses at the Royal Sussex County Hospital after receiving care during a recent admission.
Praise for A&E Staff
Dawn Barnett, 85, a retired carer and former councillor who served from 2004 to 2023, has spoken positively about her treatment at the Royal Sussex County Hospital in Brighton following a recent stay in the A&E department.
Mrs Barnett was admitted after experiencing dizziness and collapsing at her home in Hangleton whilst running a fever. She was attended by ambulance paramedics before being taken to hospital, where she spent considerable time in the corridor.
"I know that corridor care is necessary, I was in the corridor for hours, but the care that I was given was the best you could get anywhere," Mrs Barnett said. "It wasn't chaotic. The staff were organised. They were bringing food and drink round and the service was first class. The staff were superb. They were fantastic."
Hospital Capacity Concerns
Whilst praising individual staff members, Mrs Barnett acknowledged the challenging circumstances at the hospital. "There was no shouting or arguing. It's unfortunate they need to use the corridor. It's very busy. I was in the corridor all day and half the night," she said.
She also commended the ambulance paramedics who responded to her initial emergency call, describing their care as excellent.
Broader System Issues
Mrs Barnett expressed concern about the broader pressures on local healthcare provision. She noted that Hove previously had its own hospital in Sackville Road but that facility closed without a replacement being built as promised.
She argued that the Royal Sussex must serve an unusually large population compared with neighbouring areas. "They can build and build but they need to put enough staff in place," she said. She pointed out that Portsmouth and Southampton, despite having smaller populations than Brighton and Hove, had more hospitals.
Despite these systemic concerns, Mrs Barnett emphasised her satisfaction with her treatment. "They were marvellous, each and every one of them," she said of the staff who cared for her and aided her recovery.
Source: read the full story