"Twenty four hours in A&E"

Twenty four hours in A&E

1.45pm My husband assessed by own Doctor and told to go to QMC ASAP with letter from the doctor to go to Eye Emergency. dept. Reference problem with vision and splitting headache. If not an eye problem transfer to Stroke Department.

3.20pm Entered Eye Department. Triage tested eyes and took BP. Doctor requested eye drops to be administered to look at the back of the eyes before seeing the Dr. Blood test taken.

5.30pm Not yet seen by Dr. I asked Triage to check BP as my husband still had a splitting headache and was not feeling at all well. I also asked for pain killers.

His BP was 220 + triage called for the Dr who immediately arranged for my husband to go to A&E.

6.30pm he was checked into A & E..

9.30pm I went to check what was happening, to be told that he had been discharged!

After apologising he was fast tracked for assessment. ECG etc done and sent to wait in the waiting area. At this stage my son arrived.

Next day at 2.30am saw Dr and was sent for a scan. Bad news! Scan showed a mass on brain and needed to see Brain Surgeon. Left to wait in waiting area.

3.00am my husband had become very agitated and confused. Still no pain relief.

4.16am. Dr found a side room for my husband totally exhausted to lay down to try and get some sleep. Also chairs for my son and myself together some rest.

8.00am. My son went to see if he could find out what was happening and was told that he would be taken to ward B3 when a bed was available. Still no pain relief!

10.00am Someone came to say that after looking at the scan again he would instead be going to C4 Stroke Ward. Still splitting headache. No Meds!

11.00am Stroke ward was Closed due to Norovirus but my husband was admitted.. my son and I left to collect PJ's etc from home.

3.30pm we returned with PJ's etc to be told there would be no admittance until visiting at 6pm. I complained and said that we had been there since  3.20pm the previous day and needed to know what was happening to my husband. I was told that he was on his way for another scan so I decided that I would go with him.

4.30pm Back to the ward I asked to speak to the Dr whom my husband was being treated by. The nurse said that the scan was OK and could take him home. Still no pain relief or explanation given. Again not happy with the situation. I demanded to see the Dr. I was told only one person could go into the ward and I elected my son who had been with us since the night before.

Still no meds but told he could go home.

5.00pm was told that his meds would not be ready for 4 - 6 hours. He was given a dose of meds and were told someone would ring my son when the meds were ready. No Calls came!

9.00am the next day. Rang for meds. No answer.

12.00pm Rang again to be told meds would be ready in 1 hour or someone would ring.

1.30pm Meds collected. No phone calls received.