"Genuinely gutted at my experience"

On a Friday evening I headed to A&E with severe tummy pains. I had been seen by my GP the evening before and had been diagnosed with a stomach ulcer due to lots of medication that I had been taking to treat a varicose vein & infection. My GP told me to up my medicine and to keep a close eye on the pain and symptoms.

In the early hours of the morning I was struggling really bad with the pain and I phoned NHS 24, I was dealt with very quickly and a doctor at the Vale of Leven called me and told me that I should head straight over to Paisley to be seen as due to my past medical history they were worried. I tried a hot bath and this did help the pain settle so I thought I would hold off and see if it would get better on its own. I suffered it out until the Friday evening.

My experience on A&E wasn’t great. I fully understand the pressures on the NHS currently and I absolutely sat and waited patiently (arrived at 6 and was taken through about midnight, so 6 hours wait) I watched other people complain and get taken in before me, but I sat there and waited it out. During this time I asked for paracetamol as I was in agony and it took ages. 

The first nurse I came into contact with when I had been given a bay was so lovely. I have a huge needle phobia due to my time spent in ICU with pancreatitis and it was important for me to let the nurse know that. I heard them communicate this to a doctor straight away and they reassured me that they would look after me. I mentioned to the nurse that any time I have been in hospital I get numbing cream to help and they told me they would get me that no bother.

The doctor who saw me was the same doctor that saw the patient beside me. I heard their whole consultation as everything they said the doctor pretty much repeated back to them in the loudest voice ever and actually came across so patronising.

Eventually when it was my turn the doctor came in with all the needles in to take blood and put a cannula in. I asked the doctor if the message had been passed on to them and they looked at me as if I was stupid. I explained my worries and past experience and the doctor told me they couldn’t give me any cream, there was nothing they could do and basically get on with it. They said something like you won’t be in ICU this time in such a condescending way- like obviously I’m not going to that’s not what I meant. I got so so upset, and I actually found myself apologising to the doctor. The doctor made me feel like an idiot.

The doctor took bloods and sent me for a chest X-ray and then never returned for another 3 hours. Again I waited patiently, I understand that it was very busy. Bloods were ok, X-ray showed nothing and at this point I was still in so much pain. The doctor said to me it’s up to you, you can stay in for stronger medication and further investigation but then in the next breath said we have no bed space anyway so you would be best at home.  Very contradicting advice.

9 hours later sent home with nothing and no extra advice or anything. Suffered out the rest of the weekend and back to my GP on Monday. Genuinely gutted at my experience.