Bug #9

Patient Transition State Issue in A&E: Under Pressure

Status:	Released
Priority:	High
Added by:	grave2.2 on September 24, '26
Assigned to:	Unassigned
Due date:
Reported for:	v1.2.0-beta.2

Steps to Reproduce

1. Start or load a game.
2. Play normally and allow patients to progress through the department.
3. Observe patients after they change from "Waiting to be seen" to "Called to clinician area".
4. Some patients remain in this state for a significant amount of time before actually being seen by a clinician.

Explanation

Patients can currently change from "Waiting to be seen" to "Called to clinician area" a significant amount of time before they are actually seen by a clinician.

"Called to clinician area" should only occur once a clinician has actually been assigned and is ready, or almost ready, to see the patient.

At the moment, patients can appear to have been called while still effectively waiting for clinical assessment for a prolonged period.

Expected behaviour:

1. Patient remains "Waiting to be seen" while waiting for an appropriate clinician and clinical space.
2. A clinician becomes available and is assigned to the patient.
3. The patient changes to "Called to clinician area".
4. There is a short transfer/walking delay, ideally only a couple of simulated minutes.
5. The patient arrives in the appropriate clinical area and assessment begins.

The patient should not enter the "Called to clinician area" state if there is no clinician assigned and ready to see them.

Resus may need separate behaviour, as RED/Resus patients should generally be moved into an available Resus space immediately rather than following the normal waiting/call process.

This also appears to contribute to confusing department occupancy, as patients may be associated with a clinical area before they are actually being seen there.

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