SUPPORT has flooded in for a Bournemouth doctor who accused some ‘time-wasting’ patients of treating his emergency department ‘like a 24-hour Tesco’.

As reported yesterday, Royal Bournemouth Hospital’s emergency chief Dr Karim Hassan spoke of a ‘culture of impatience’ during a candid interview with the Daily Echo, claiming a lack of GP availability had also contributed to admissions almost doubling in 15 years.

He said 30 to 40 patients who use the service every day could instead see pharmacists and recounted the story of a GP coming to the emergency department so he could get antibiotics for his child more quickly.

Dozens of readers took to Facebook and the Echo’s website to congratulate Dr Hassan for speaking out, many sharing their own experiences of watching those using the department for minor ailments.

Commenting on Facebook, Bournemouth resident Chris Webb said he ‘completely agreed’ with Dr Hassan, adding: “The system may be at fault but it's overloaded with 'patients' who have no patience when faced with trivial problems. Most people wouldn't be able to cope with the pressures faced by hospital staff.”

Jacqueline Chainey, of Poole, said: “I've seen people waiting four hours and coming out with a plaster on their finger.”

Heidi Goff, of Christchurch, said: “I agree totally, too many people who won't help themselves, or wait for something that is really not urgent let alone an emergency.”

After praising Dr Hassan, Donna Purcell, of Christchurch, said: “Today we have a generation of people who can’t or won’t wait and have the inability to engage their brain and apply common sense to a situation.”

And Lorraine McDonnell added: “I think A&E do a wonderful job and when I had cause to use them I couldn't fault the treatment, it was first class. We should all realise how lucky we are to have it at all. It's a shame there are a few people who abuse the system.”

However, manager of Healthwatch Dorset Martyn Webster said: “Blaming people for having a dependence culture or not using their initiative when they need care and support is the wrong way of looking at the problem.

“So while yes, it's all of our responsibility not to clog up A&E whenever we have a cold or a grazed knee, at the same time until health and care services offer better alternatives, things aren't likely to improve."

He added: "A&E wasn't designed to be a catch-all service. And it shouldn't be allowed to become one.”