"Poor triage"

I  recently presented to A&E at approx 3:30pm with a kidney infection/UTI. I had been on 2 courses of antibiotics and was then on day 3 of nitrofurantoin. I began feeling more unwell, nauseous and sweating/shivery and started passing blood again, which was painful. I rang Dalriada Urgent Care and then took 2x 30/500 painkillers along with an anti-sickness tablet and presented to A&E.

I wasn't sure how long Dalriada would be and I know from experience these infections can get worse very quickly (I was previously admitted for a week with pyelonephritis in Nov 2023). 

I was triaged by a nurse who looked like they were having a bad day to start with and before taking my obs they decided that I was wasting my time coming to A&E. They explained to me as I had already taken painkillers and anti-sickness there was nothing else A&E could do for me, despite me explaining I was on my second course of antibiotics and getting worse.

I explained I had a urine sample with me that was showing up blood and the nurse said as I was on antibiotics it didn't need checked. I insisted for them to check because I did feel unwell and I was concerned the antibiotics I had been on for 3 days were not making me better and instead I was getting worse. The nurse checked my sample but said they don't check for blood, just leucocytes and nitrates and that there was neither in my urine. I explained there wouldn't be as I'd been on antibiotics for two weeks but my urine was clearly brown/red and I was unwell, in pain and nauseous.

The nurse's attitude was simply that they didn't think I was unwell enough to come to A&E, which I understand as I had taken painkillers and anti-sickness meds so I did look better. But after explaining 2-3 times that I had been hospitalised previously, and how unwell I felt that morning and clearly the blood in my urine, the nurse explained they couldn't tell me to go home as they weren't qualified to make those decisions, but kept telling me they didn't want me to waste my time sitting there when the doctors will just tell me the same as what they're saying, which was they couldn't change my antibiotic, or give me any more pain relief. So I told the nurse to forget about it and left.

Thankfully whilst walking to the car, a nurse from Dalriada Urgent Care rang me and triaged me properly, I explained I maybe was being a little dramatic going to A&E but I didn't want to get worse later on in the evening and was trying to be proactive regarding treatment. The Dalriada nurse said given my symptoms, A&E was appropriate, and they were shocked the nurse dismissed me after what I had explained.

Thankfully the nurse got me an appointment with a doctor in Dalriada for 8:30pm. I went into OPD1 in Causeway where Dalriada is based and waited, thankfully I was called at approx. 5pm and seen by a doctor.

The doctor dipped my urine and it showed 3+ blood, they explained I needed my antibiotics changed to a stronger course as there was obviously an infection. My pulse was 95bpm and temperature was 37.8 despite previous paracetamol. I told the doctor my experience with the triage nurse in A&E and they explained that if I had listened to the nurse and gone home, my symptoms would have gotten worse as the Nitro was clearly not strong enough to treat the infection.

Thankfully I had a bit of knowledge regarding symptoms, but if another patient had presented to A&E and trusted the nurse and went home - god knows what could have happened. I appreciate this isn't an urgent horror story, and thankfully was sorted by Dalriada Urgent Care, but definitely worth highlighting this so staff can react more appropriately in future.