THE Accident and Emergency department at Colchester General Hospital is in good Health, according to the latest figures – and the patients!

The average time someone waits to begin treatment fell by a third between April 2011 and January this year, recent Department of Health statistics show.

A total of 95 per cent of patients spent four hours or less in A&E.

The percentage who made unplanned return trips to the department fell from 6.1 per cent in April 2011 to 4.4 per cent in January, both below the national average of nine per cent.

Carol Chamberlain, 65, broke her arm when she slipped on ice.

Her husband, John, drove her to the hospital, where to their dismay they found the A&E department packed despite it being 11.20am.

The waiting time was listed at two to three hours.

But Carol, of Parker Road, Colchester, was seen within ten minutes by a nurse who diagnosed the fracture, gave her pain relief tablets and sent her to the X-ray department.

After seeing a surgeon, Carol, who is retired, was left with a short wait before meeting a doctor who re-set the bone.

The couple were back home by 4pm.

Carol was impressed with her experience.

She said: “At one point I was on a trolley and very cold and started shaking. But a man walked through and saw I was cold and went to get me a blanket.

“Everyone explained everything to me and what they were going to do. It was all so professional.

“I know Colchester General Hospital takes a lot of criticism, but all I can say is the A&E team were wonderful for me. They are under so much pressure and it was top class.

“I think they do a marvellous job up there, they work so hard.”

Carol’s arm was in plaster for six weeks and she is resting it for a further six weeks.

She said: “My after-care was amazing, everyone was superb.”

Barbara Templeman had a similarly speedy experience when she arrived in A&E on March 26 at 7.45pm.

Husband Brian, 74, had initially taken her to Clacton District Hospital after she broke her wrist.

But the fracture was so severe, the couple were immediately referred to Colchester General Hospital.

Barbara, 69, said: “When we arrived my heart fell to the floor because the display said there was a three to four hour waiting time and there were lots and lots of people in there.

“But we waited for about half an hour before going for an X-ray.

“The radiographer was very nice, respectful and explained what was happening. That was a good experience to kick off with.

“We had to wait a little longer but they were extremely busy and were wonderful.”

Barbara, of Landermere Road, Thorpe, was seen by a nurse and doctor and the broken bone was re-set.

Barbara was worried she would be unable to go on holiday to southern Italy at the end of May, which had been booked for months.

She said: “The nurse knew I was very nervous but she was such a lovely lady, joking with me all the time, keeping me occupied and setting me at ease.

“She told me I would be scuba diving, parasailing and doing all these extreme sports.

“I had gas and air and the doctor was such a gentle, sweet person I ended up laughing my head off instead of being worried.”

Barbara’s arm was put in plaster and the couple were home by 1.30am.

She said: “It was so busy in there and it didn’t really take that long.

“The staff’s behaviour minimised the pain.”