A&E staff shouldn’t have to raise funds (From York Press)

A&E staff shouldn’t have to raise funds

12:09pm Friday 8th March 2013 in Letters By Reader's letter

On Sunday afternoon I was rushed to York hospital in an ambulance having amputated my thumb in an accident and saw first-hand the queues of ambulances (Ambulances in A&E logjam, The Press, March 6).

Two things struck me about the experience.

Firstly, the standard of care I received, in spite of the queues, was first rate. From the paramedics to the sister to the consultant and radiographer, I encountered nothing but the most admirable, professional, committed and caring people.

Secondly, it was clear that the logjam was caused entirely by resources that are being stretched to breaking point by a scandalous lack of investment. A huge issue is the urgent need for a refurbishment of the resuscitation room. The solution appears to be that nurses and consultants are asked to raise £20,000 themselves in order to receive matched funding from the trust.

For anyone concerned about your story, I would urge them to support the Refit for Resus campaign. And to put pressure on politicians of all parties to address the appalling under-investment in our health system and the scandal that, in a country as wealthy as ours, emergency department nurses have to fundraise to refit something as basic as a resuscitation room.

Jonny Uttley, Heworth Road, York.