"I have never in my life felt so belittled and judged"

I admitted myself to RAH Pailsey A&E yesterday following 3 days of pain and self medicating for a condition that is having a huge impact on my life.

The staff were fantastic through triage, initial assessment and x-ray. I felt listened to, sympathised with and despite numerous failed attempts for help through my GP I felt like I may finally get a solution to my problem. My pain was dealt with quickly with strong pain relief and the nursing staff - especially the charge nurse I saw - were amazing.

Following the tests that had been ordered I was approached by an emergency consultant who was on shift whose name I did not catch because they were speaking so fast with what I felt was an annoyed tone. They came into the bay ten minutes after I had been given a dose of morphine with an atrocious bedside manner and attitude problem. They told me my tests were satisfactory and this was not an emergency situation, it is a GP issue and I should go back to them for further advice.

I am a young mum and I have been struggling with my condition for a long time. I have a hiatus hernia which has rapidly gotten worse over the last 6 weeks and I spend most of my days and nights in pain, unable to eat and feeling like I have blockage in my oesophagus. I could no longer suffer the pain after 72 hrs of vomiting, dizziness and chest pain so I attended A&E to seek emergency help and pain relief.

The consultant told me in an abrupt manner that there is nothing they can do for me, while whipping my cannula out and telling me I can leave. I was absolutely high on morphine and still in pain. I was crying hysterically, begging them to help me, but they simply refused and made me feel like I was an inconvenience and a burden to the service.

I have never in my life felt so belittled and judged. I was sent home 15 mins after being given IV morphine, I was pain free but high as a kite until the early hours and I now feel effects of the drug this morning. In my opinion, this is dangerous to discharge someone in that state considering I had no observations following the morphine.

I have now opted to look into private healthcare which I will struggle to fund because I desperately need my life back for the sake of my children. As an employee of the NHS, I can honestly say I am disgusted. I would not attend Paisley A&E again unless it was out of my control.