Brilliant Paramedics Terrible A+E And Medical Ward

MrHappy2

Recently i experienced a fall at home and despite my best efforts i was unable to get off of the floor so eventually i pressed the alarm thingy around my neck. Within an hour the Warden and Paramedics arrived but were unable to gain entry to my flat because unbeknown to me there was no key in my keysafe box. Shortly thereafter a locksmith also showed up and as if by magic he opened my door. After completing all the usual medical tests i was whisked away to my local A+E dept.

A+E was horrible because the entire dept was like a warzone (my local A+E dept is just a stones throw away from 3 prisons). I counted 7 Hospital security staff and 5 Prison officers in attendance and a further 3 prison officers then showed up. A heavy Police presence was also present throughout my time in the department. In the 9 hours i was in A+E there were 2 fist fights, countless heated arguments, and one attempted escape.

Eventually i was transferred to a medical ward which was a pointless exercise because as a heavy smoker 20 mins in a hospital bed without a cigarette is my limit. The ward staff understandably confirmed they could not wheel me outside for occasional cigarettes because they neither had the time or the manpower etc.

After 90 mins waiting for the self discharge papers to arrive i'd had enough so i walked out which caused a panic with the Doctor's and Nurses who quite incredibly even considered forcing me to stay against my will until they could determine if i had insight into my health issues because according to them nobody in their right mind would self discharge after experiencing a heart attack just because they wanted to smoke a cigarette.

The 9 hours in A+E was horrible. The 2 hours on the Medical ward were also horrible because my determination to self discharge over my need to smoke cigarettes caused an issue where eventually voices were raised by me and also by ward staff. But there was worse to follow because my journey home from the hospital turned into another catastrophe.

Barefooted and with no phone or money i managed to wander maybe half a mile before i was unable to walk any further. A passer by came to my aid and called an ambulance. The ambulance arrived and insisted on taking me back to hospital which i refused. That discussion then became heated too so the police arrived. Eventually the paramedics reluctantly accepted wild horses would not get me to agree to go back to hospital so in magnificent gesture of good will they agreed to take me home. On arrival home they ensured i got safely into my home then made me a cup of tea and put me to bed. The "at home team" arrived a few hours later.

I wish to God i'd never started smoking all those years ago because chances are it'll be the death of me.

Rosie_Scope

That sounds like a real ordeal @MrHappy2, sorry you went through all that. Did they confirm that you'd had a heart attack? That's pretty scary stuff all in all! Hope you're being looked after well at home.

MrHappy2

Hi Rosie, no the hospital didn't confirm the heart attack but the following day my GP did.

I am receiving excellent care at home from my local GP Hub.

SheffieldMan1976

@MrHappy2, the reason you had a Heart attack in the first place could be related to your smoking.

However, having attended my local A&E here in Sheffield on a Friday and Saturday night when all the drunks etc are in, I feel your pain.