WHAT do headlines about long waiting times at the Royal Bolton Hospital A and E Department really mean to you?

I suspect not too much, until you need to go there with a genuine, emergency ailment. I suppose I’ve been like that, too. Well, I was until last Thursday evening.

A friend collapsed at our house. She hadn’t been well but her sudden illness took us by surprise. We were naturally very concerned and immediately phoned for an ambulance, suspecting a stroke or similar. She certainly needed medical help, and quickly.

The emergency operator stayed on the line to reassure us and gain information as we tried to help our friend. Time ticked by – 10, 20, 30 minutes - and no ambulance came as she worsened.

Finally, an emergency response paramedic arrived and treated her, followed 10 or 15 minutes later by an ambulance crew. They got her responding, and we went off to A and E to have her checked out and the cause of her collapse investigated.

When we arrived there, it was easy to see exactly why no help had been swiftly on the way. Ambulances were queuing outside to take in patients and A and E itself was absolutely packed with people waiting to be seen.

We were taken almost immediately into triage, my friend was assessed and moved into the central treatment area to be seen by a doctor. Her treatment by staff throughout had been professional and caring.

The system, however, is plainly chronically sick. I know it’s not possible to tell what is wrong with everyone just by looking at them but I bet there were a decent proportion there who could have gone to a GP, popped into a local pharmacy for some of the excellent advice on offer from a pharmacist, used the GP out-of-hours’ service or just treated themselves.

The NHS Bolton Clinical Commissioning Group is currently running an information campaign to “Keep A & E for those who really need it”, and it makes all kinds of sense.

Today, we all want treatment NOW for what we consider an emergency, whether it is or not. Meanwhile, there are genuine emergencies out there not receiving help, possibly when it’s critical. Harassed paramedics and A and E staff cope with a system groaning under the selfishness of a nation of physical softies demanding immediate treatment. Frankly, it’s a prescription for disaster.