"Lack of bedding and no access to my medical records"

Before I start I would like to make it clear I have no complaints about any of the staff at Crosshouse. They were all very caring & professional.

I have Crohn’s Disease and out of the blue on Friday night I had what felt like a severe stricture with 10/10 pain and constant vomiting. I called for an ambulance as I was on my own and one was sent straight away. When the paramedics arrived I was in so much pain I couldn’t walk, they tackled this with morphine which numbed it slightly.

On arrival at Crosshouse Hospital I was wheeled into what looked like a small ward and vitals taken quickly. My pain and sickness were also addressed several times throughout the night.

I usually attend the Western General Hospital in Edinburgh as it specialises in Crohn’s Disease. Every time I spoke to a doctor they only had my basic medical history and I had to explain my condition.

I was eventually told after about 2 hours that the staff at Crosshouse could not retrieve or read my hospital medical records because I attend hospital in Lothian, and Ayrshire NHS does not have access to that system. I was scanned and the doctors thought I had severe bowel inflammation but couldn’t make a definitive treatment plan as they had no idea of previous medication or treatments, only my word for it.

I knew after living with Crohn’s for 30 years and having this happen several times in the past what the treatment should be, but I can’t expect doctors or nursing staff to just take my word for it.

I was on a trolly in that room in A&E for over 13 hours dressed in just a hospital gown and my socks. It was very cold in there and staff told me and other patients that they had run out of pillows, blankets and pillowcases. So for the 13 hours I was there I had to use my own jacket to keep warm. That’s not how an accident & emergency should be stocked. With NO stock!

I was suffering severe cramps and pain during my stay but staff could not prescribe antispasmodics because they weren’t sure if I had inflammation or a blockage which I agree with, but again I knew what treatment I needed so I had no choice but to discharge myself and call the Western General in Edinburgh for treatment.

The staff there were bemused when I said my records couldn’t be accessed and added that there is a central sharing server for this purpose (it has a name which I can’t recall).

So again, my complaint isn’t about staff it’s about lack of bed linen, blankets and the inability to access records in a different health board area.

And during my stay I never saw a GI doctor, only medical or surgical ones.