Arrived at about 9.30, ambulance crew did obs in A&E bay, saw a junior doctor about one hour or so later, who said he would prescribe antisickness medication straightaway, had bloods taken told to wait till 11.30 and blood results before they would let me have paracetamol for banging headache, which was already so bad it meant I couldn’t lie down on trolley. Moved into corridor on trolley, reiterated to charge nurse I needed antisickness and paracetamol, she said she would see to it straightaway. Didn’t happen, waited, wasn’t really busy so just thought they were still waiting for blood results. I couldn’t catch the eye of any passing nurses or doctors. Waited patiently, still no blood test results, no paracetamol, no antisickness, no one checking in. 6 hours later new young doctor spoke to me for a few seconds, then ran off as had to answer an urgent call, I understand this, so waited again, still no painkillers, no antisickness. Finally at behest of second doctor nurse gave me tablets at 3.35 after 6 hours having mentioned it to nurses, doctors, obs nurses, Northumbria student, even. In the meantime, I spent those 6 hours projectile vomiting repeatedly in a disabled loo, having to take my belongings each time, cleaning it up as much as possible myself, and apologising to charge nurse saying it needed a domestic. When there was no question in my mind I wasn’t being cared for, I told charge nurse I was just waiting for blood test results so someone else could have trolley. She told me I wasn’t allowed to leave till 3am for obs, I accepted this but I was not being observed or cared for or checked in with in that time other than one blood pressure check where I reiterated my headache pain, said it was 7/8out of 10, and continued projectile vomiting on my own in disabled loo. Only got seen and promised meds again after change of shift after 2.30am then another wait, till 3.35. My eyes had dark rings on last visit to public loo from severity of headache, pressure of which of course exacerbated the vomiting. I had then to call a taxi to get home, with cardboard sick bowl I’d held onto. I threw up 2 paracetamol and cyclazine as soon as I got home after the stress of a 7 hours wait and empty stomach anyway. Torture, absolute torture.
"No care beyond ambulance service"
About: Northumbria Specialist Emergency Care Hospital Northumbria Specialist Emergency Care Hospital Cramlington NE23 6NZ
Posted via nhs.uk
Do you have a similar story to tell?
Tell your story & make a difference ››
Responses
See more responses from Northumbria Specialist Emergency Care Hospital