"I felt like just another number"

I was currently undergoing chemotherapy and developed a high fever, vomiting, and lots of other symptoms. I rang the cancer care line and they sent an ambulance immediately. I was taken into A&E and the paramedics suspected it was sepsis, however I waited around 45 mins for a bed. The room I was given was absolutely filthy, the floor was covered in blood, there was no hand gel or soap, the bins were bursting at the seams.

I eventually got bloods taken 3 hours later then got told off a junior doctor I had neutropenic sepsis and I would have to remain in hospital for 2/3 days. I was also to wait on a bed in AAU. Not once was I offered a drink of water, I know they are rushed off their feet but I felt completely neglected.

The nurse came back at 3am and advised there was no beds and I would have to wait until the next day to be transferred so I tried to get a few hours' sleep. I was worried out my mind about the sepsis progressing but there wasn’t a nurse in sight all through the night.

The next morning the doctor in charge came into my room at 8:30am and told me I had to go home. I said to them I didn’t feel well enough and they told me they were sorry and that I will be safer in my own bed. I walked out that hospital myself feeling very very poorly with some antibiotics.

I remained very poorly at home but recovered after two weeks. My oncologist was absolutely appalled at the treatment I was given. Just another number with no remorse or care, this has happened a few times and it is the same every single time.

In my opinion, the way this department is ran is an absolute shambles. Lots of people being sick with bugs, well I am afraid they should be at home recovering with that kind of illness, it’s not an A&E job. I never ever want to be back there again.