He told me that instead of returning to A & E after the x-ray it would be reported whilst I was there and I would either be referred to a clinic or sent home saving time waiting

I don't understand why it does not always happen that way to start with - seems to make more sense.

The answer is as you say, it probably makes more sense.

When x-rays were done on film and took longer to process, report and transport than the modern digital replacements it would have made no sense at all and even today the waiting area in x-ray would need to be much larger in normal times than it currently is to cope with patients that were waiting for results.

Perhaps the powers that be will consider it after covid but I suspect it would not work with a "normal" patient workload unless a redesign took place, probably not easy or cheap.

Only other similar case I can compare it with was the wife when she broke her wrist. It was Saturday PM and the street was covered in compacted snow, she slipped and it was obvious from the angle of her hand she had an issue. I took her to A & E about 4 pm and it was packed. She was seen by the triage nurse who sent her for an x-ray (no need for a doctor to realise what seemed so obvious). Came back to A & E and saw the doctor who confirmed the obvious and booked her an appointment at fracture clinic Monday PM. He then realigned the bones best as he could and had it plastered. We left at about 6.30. Back on Monday PM as arranged to be seen by the same doctor we had seen Saturday, (fractures were his day job, A & E a sideline). Sent for a new x-ray and booked in for op later in the week, paperwork signed. Left about 2 hours after arriving. Total time at hospital was still only 4 1/2 hours which we considered not too bad.

that will start to reduce, especially as many yoofs are now getting so antsy that they are taking to the roads and racing around because they have nothing better to do.

They have never stopped doing that round these parts. Only last week car hit a raised island in the road at a junction and demolished the lighting pole etc and left a huge oil slick for a few yards. Hopefully they were seriously injured and will learn from their stupid antics.

TBH I'd rather they are badly shaken by physically ok,

When that is the case they just laugh and buy another cheap car. they need something to permanently remind them what they have done.

A good few years ago a drunken lady knocked a mate of mine off his motor bike. Sunday lunchtime after a liquid lunch. His foot was virtually severed, similar injury as Johnny Herbert had at Brands in 1988 and only a few weeks apart. Just like Johnny Herbert he had multiple operations but unlike Johnny Herbert in 1992 he and the doctors had to admit defeat and amputate below the knee.

What did the driver do in court, she laughed (he still had his leg at this time) and after the case it emerged it was the 3rd time she had crashed a car whilst drunk. She was jailed this time much to the shock of her relatives who created a huge scene in court after the verdict.

A lasting injury to remind her would have been the only fair sentence.

This driver didn't laugh after being sentenced to 15 years with no parole.

https://www.visordown.com/news/general/us-car-driver-who-intentionally-hit-motorcyclist-sentenced-15-years-prison