a BAD experience in Hospital

Wibbles
Wibbles Online Community Member Posts: 2,253 Championing

Yesterday morning – I managed to get an emergency appointment with my GP to see if he could help with an ankle swelling problem (presumably linked to my blood pressure meds) and at the same time, I mentioned that my lungs were crackling and I was getting short of breath – my OH had had a similar thing and was just about over it – we had tested for covid and it was clear

So he made an appointment for me at hospital for investigations – yesterday morning

We went to A&E where I had an XRAY and CT scan of my chest and lungs, as well as breathing monitoring etc etc – nothing untowards found – so I’ve been given antibiotics

But – it took hours and hours to get -  we started at 8:10 at GP – hospital at 9:00 – got released at 6pm – NO drink or food during that time - not even a glass of water – No food until 6:30 at home which doesn’t go to well with the OH's diabetes !!

It appeared that, because I was there for 2 different matters – there was not one staff member looking after me so nobody monitoring me !

My ankle is not a worry – I have been passed back to my GP for that.

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Comments

  • 66Mustang
    66Mustang Online Community Member Posts: 14,987 Championing

    Hi @Wibbles

    This seems pretty normal to me, dare I say it a good result compared to most contemporary experiences

    One of my family went to A&E at 11pm last year in immense pain - they are used to dealing with pain but this was unbearable, they were in A&E (waiting, not in a bed or anything) for over 24 hours before being processed and sent to stay in hospital

    During their time waiting they asked/begged multiple times to be allowed to lie down but were denied, so they tried lying on the floor several times but they were chastised by staff. This is an ex nurse who knows how hospitals (should) work so they were not being awkward for no reason, they were just desperate

    In the end it was only when a police officer, who was there with someone in custody who needed to go to A&E, was kind enough to go off somewhere and take a couple of chairs without arms so they could put them together and let my relative lie down without being on the floor

    A couple of other things happened as well which were probably worse and one of these even created a threat to other patients' safety but I don't really want to go into detail

    I hope I don't sound like I'm being unsympathetic to you by comparing your experience, it's more I'm just saying this is the norm these days and really needs sorting out

  • Wibbles
    Wibbles Online Community Member Posts: 2,253 Championing
  • 66Mustang
    66Mustang Online Community Member Posts: 14,987 Championing

    @Wibbles

    I agree and don't think I ever said anything to the contrary

    Like I said I wasn't trying to compare or compete with your experience, but assure you are not alone and that it's a widely spread issue that needs sorting out

  • Wibbles
    Wibbles Online Community Member Posts: 2,253 Championing

    I have been to A&E many times before and in the past rated the department as 10 out of 10 but this time, it was almost as if they just didn't care !

    It was scary how things can happen around you but you have absolutely no idea what's going on or why or even where,,,,,,

  • Rosie_Scope
    Rosie_Scope Posts: 4,654 Scope Online Community Coordinator

    Sorry you had such a rough experience at A&E @Wibbles, it doesn't sound acceptable that you weren't at least offered a cup of water. Unfortunately I think the time scale is quite normal at the moment, but it's not good that you weren't offered any food or drinks. How are you feeling now?

  • luvpink
    luvpink Online Community Member Posts: 548 Empowering

    There would have been a reason why you were nil by mouth and the staff should have informed you why that was.

  • Wibbles
    Wibbles Online Community Member Posts: 2,253 Championing

    I am feeling slightly less hungry and thirsty than yesterday ..

  • Wibbles
    Wibbles Online Community Member Posts: 2,253 Championing
    edited July 2

    I was not "NIL BY MOUTH" - I was simply there for a few scans !!

    Ignored by staff - I was told "results in an hour" after the CT scan but 2 +1/2 hours later when my wife asked - she was told "results have just arrived"- they had forgotten about me

  • Cantilip
    Cantilip Online Community Member Posts: 623 Empowering

    This is a serious suggestion, although it may sound a bit strange. If you are at all unsteady on your feet, walk with a stick or sticks, get a rollator in case you need to go to A+E. This is because a 4-wheel rollator has a bag or basket under the seat, in which supplies can be packed which may be too heavy or awkward to carry, a thermos, a bottle of water, a packet of crackers, some fruit.

  • luvpink
    luvpink Online Community Member Posts: 548 Empowering

    If you were denied water there would have been a reason.

    They should have informed you of that reason.

  • Cantilip
    Cantilip Online Community Member Posts: 623 Empowering

    You are not Nil By Mouth before a chest CT - I've had two of them. I worked in the NHS for 30 years. It's a bit optimistic to believe there is a reason for everything that happens.

  • luvpink
    luvpink Online Community Member Posts: 548 Empowering

    I too worked in the nhs for many years.

    I am fully aware you don't need to be NBM for a ct scan but they do not deny patients water for no reason, especially diabetics.

  • Cantilip
    Cantilip Online Community Member Posts: 623 Empowering

    Acute - dangerous - staff shortage? Report out yesterday from RCN.

    https://www.rcn.org.uk/news-and-events/news/uk-we-desperately-need-safety-critical-nurse-to-patient-ratios-enshrined-in-law-010724

    Another angle is absence of volunteers and health care assistants to do non-medical things.

  • Wibbles
    Wibbles Online Community Member Posts: 2,253 Championing

    Here's the results of Monday's unexpected trip to hospital

    I am concerned about the lack of clarity re the coded letters - It is MY medical record - why would the letters not be there for me to view? - and the final line HEART FAILURE - because no heart scan was even carried out !!!

  • Wibbles
    Wibbles Online Community Member Posts: 2,253 Championing

    I am not "unsteady on my feet" - I am immobile

    but thanks

  • Wibbles
    Wibbles Online Community Member Posts: 2,253 Championing

    Would you query this or just leave it asr it stands?

  • egister
    egister Posts: 569 Empowering

    For example, I read medical textbooks and scientific studies on my diseases in order to understand my diseases myself. Without knowledge, anger is weak.

  • chiarieds
    chiarieds Online Community Member Posts: 16,672 Championing

    May I point out that medical textbooks are often out of date by the time they're printed, & it all depends where you get your 'scientific studies' info from, as not everyone knows where best to gain medical info either from the internet or elsewhere.

  • Steve_in_The_City
    Steve_in_The_City Scope Member Posts: 749 Trailblazing

    Generally the way I am treated by the NHS is wonderful. But on one occasion I asked a nurse not to put me on a drip and he became very abusive towards me and I felt frightened.

    On another occasion I was sexually assaulted by a doctor and I know it sounds daft but I didn't know how to tell him to stop. I trust doctors and nurses to look after me, and I become bewildered when they don't.

    On another occasion a nurse messed around with me. It just sounds so stupid to say you don't know what to do. Yet you don't know what to do because you expect people to take care of you.

    I really don't like male doctors and nurses to deal with me, although they are almost always ok. I prefer to be dealt with by females; they are always ok.

  • Steve_in_The_City
    Steve_in_The_City Scope Member Posts: 749 Trailblazing

    Hi @Teddybear123 thank you for your wisdom; I really didn't think about it in the logical way you have explained.