"too arbitrary for comfort"

I've been reminded to add my story about any recent experiences. 

In early May 2025, I had been achy and sweaty with poor appetite for a few days, and woke very early with abdominal pains and nausea.  Very soon, I had sudden and frequent vomiting and some diarrhoea.  I could not even keep-down various prescription medication or sips of water. 

Copious vomiting was continuing, along with profuse sweating, fast pulse, dizziness, pain and weakness.  GP advised me to go to A&E or phone for ambulance, so phoned 999.  Paramedic came first, did some checks, gave me injection to ease the sickness, and said he was organising an ambulance which came before teatime. 

Ambulancemen took me to Ulster Hospital ED / A&E, and stayed with me while observations and blood samples were taken, plus a canula fitted, and I was handed-over to ED / A&E when there was an available cubicle just after day and night shift were changing-over.

Late evening, a doctor came to see me to discuss symptons did some checks and said she wanted a urine sample.  That took a while as I could tell I was dehydrated, so allowed to drink water. I eventually provided a sample, and was visited separately by at least two more medics.  I know possible appendicitis was mentioned, as well as flare-ups of existing problems, and that I was likely to be admitted to a ward. 

During the early hours, a nurse said I was being admitted to Ward 3D and be started on antibiotics and see consultant in the morning.  A porter came and took me by wheelchair to Ward 3D.  My experiences with NIAS and in ED / A&E were fine: absolutely no complaints.  Thank you. 

The porter left me with one of the staff on Ward 3D.  I was welcomed and allowed to lie-down on the bed. More observations were taken, and the staff member said I would be starting on intravenous fluids and a combination of IV antibiotics.  A nurse brought the first of these to me, after which there were more at intervals as I had short dozes.

Shortly after night to day shift-change, the consultant doctor and his team called with me on their ward-round.  He said they would continue with IV fluids and antibiotics, and do a CT scan when a slot became available, take things from there and see me on the next morning's ward-round.  I was told not to eat anything, but wasn't hungry anyway.  I was also very sore, and asked a few times for this, but did not get any.  I know this was also an issue for those in adjacent beds.

In the afternoon, a porter came and took me down to CT scan area, by wheelchair.  This was straightforward and the two guys in radiology were very pleasant and efficient.  The same porter then came and took me back to Ward 3D again.

Late that afternoon, when I was resting on the bed again, a different doctor wearing scrubs - came to see me and said the CT scan didn't show anything requiring surgery.  They did a quick feel of my abdomen, and said I could go home, went to wash their hands, and left.  It was two minutes at most!

I was quite taken-aback, but, I collected my thoughts, and asked to speak with a nurse and assistant, and said I didn't think it was right to be discharged just like that without at least having urine and bloods checked again, and in any case the consultant had said he would see me the next morning.  That's what I wanted to happen, and I said I was staying until that happened, and I wanted the nurse/s to deliver my message to the doctor/s. 

A few minutes later, one of the nurses said 'that's all OK and see what the consultant says in the morning'.  That was fine, but also far too arbitrary for comfort.  To me, the doctor was slapdash. 

Nothing much happened in the evening or overnight, but my few requests for pain-relief still didn't result in any.  I don't think this problem was helped by things being paperless and staff so focused on their paperless mobile phone-type kits!  I couldn't avoid over-hearing other patients in similar boats and saying similar things to each-other and staff.

The next morning, the doctor and his team ward-round arrived at my bed after 9am.  I said what happened the previous day, and he took a look at the scan and did a brief examination.  He said they wouldn't be doing any urgent surgery, but mentioned possible diverticulitis flare-up.  I said a follow-up and review about that and other things with Gastroenterology/Gastro Hub was long overdue, despite requests and attempts from me and GP.  He agreed with me wanting to get my urine and blood samples rechecked.  I also mentioned repeated difficulty getting any pain-relief. 

Shortly after, I was given some IV paracetamol, and also restarted on more IV antibiotics.  I provided urine sample, and someone came to take blood samples.  I was allowed to drink and eat, but no interest in food. 

In early afternoon, a nurse came to say that my urine sample was clear, and bloods improved.  We concluded there was no point in or need of staying, and staff kindly said they would discharge me via routine ambulance transport.

Belatedly, I want to thank all of those staff who were so helpful and who cared for me, and hope any critical and less complimentary observations are taken in the spirit of well-intended feedback from this real patient's real experience/s.

All the best.