I spied this in a Canberra hospital and realized that it had been posted in an attempt to explain the queuing system. However, having had the time to ponder it (my need was definitely non urgent) I wondered whether it really made things clear.
After all, if you or a family member are really crook, do you have the knowledge to decide whether you have a life threatening, emergency or urgent condition? If you’ve got a crippling ache in the water works how do you know where it ranks? It’d probably seem pretty serious to you.
The lesson is, when posting signs or giving information, make sure that the people you are targeting understand it. It might make perfect sense to you but will it do so for the people to whom you are providing the instruction or information?
You’ll never go broke underestimating average intelligence!
Hi Winston – I think the sign is meant to advise, so that those with less urgent matters know they are in for a long wait. There would still be a triage nurse who decides what category – that is not up to the patient. So, the sign doesn’t give enough information – it should say “AFTER BEING ASSESSED BY THE TRIAGE NURSE,Patients will be seen…. etc”
Right of course Dereen! Goodonyer!