"Frustrating experience"

In early June I experienced acute back pain whilst also having a dull ache in my abdomen, after a phone call to my GP I was told to get myself up to Antrim Hospital to get checked out for cauda equina syndrome, ambulance arrived quickly and after the usual back and forth questions we set off for the hospital. On arrival I joined the throngs of people waiting in A&E, I was triaged, then I was called to give bloods about 45 minutes later and sent back to the waiting room for the next few hours.

After those hours had passed I and a group of others were called forward and pointed in the direction of minor injuries and we made ourselves a journey there.

A sign on the door said to let them know that you’d arrived, I tried to do this and was met with confusion as to why I was talking to them, but told to sit in the waiting area in this area.

Another wait ensued and once called forward I needed to do some more tests and had a rather intimate exam done, with a nurse watching on, I don’t know why they were there as it wasn’t explained but I was in pain and just wanted to get done with the experience. I was then sent back to the waiting room for probably another 30 minutes as I watched a contestant win a few thousand on a game show.

Once called back I was given some painkillers by an orderly (apologies if this is not the correct title but I was just unsure as to who everyone was), handed a leaflet by the doctor and then I was told this was me done.

There was no insight offered to me as to what the issue might have been, only that it wasn’t the issue that had brought me there, there was no actual examination of my back.

The frustration lies in the fact that I have bounced between services, frustratingly disjointed, and no one seems able to tell me why I am in pain. Further, I was refused pain relief once the painkillers I was discharged with ran out.