[pendy]

There are a number of acronyms that clinical staff use for patient notes, as Lettie will know. Social factors do affect healthcare outcomes and they are more often than not relevant.

Some patients are timewasters - had to go to hospital at the new Royal Blackburn late one evening a couple of weeks ago because of an asthma attack. Whilst I was waiting an ambulance crew brought in an obviously very drunk woman, who proceeded to abuse the ambulance and nursing staff and threw herself on the floor screaming. Result - three nurses tied up trying to get her to get up and back into the chair, and an ambulance and crew tied up for at least 20 minutes. I asked one of the nursing staff if she was a regular, to which the answer was "Too bloody regular". Having worked A&E myself, I know it's only too true.