I was diagnosed with Parkinson's in November 2012. My symptoms have been well controlled with medication but have recently started to manifest themselves again (bearing in mind this was in the context of a stressful time both professionally and personally). Recently, after calling 111, the paramedic who attended took me to A&E. My only symptom was tingling and numbness in my right arm. In A&E I was seen relatively quickly and referred to the AMU (Acute Medical unit). I was told I would have to stay in overnight for observation. I was then told that I would have to be assessed by a stroke consultant and was taken for a CT scan (which was clear). I explained that I went through all this before being diagnosed with Parkinson's and that I would rather talk to a neurologist but was put on this "Stroke" highway which saw me taking up a stroke bed for six days. I was admitted around 17h00 on a Saturday and did not see a stroke consultant until the tuesday (after walking off the ward and threatening to leave the hospital). I asked the consultant whether he could talk to a Parkinson's neurologist to see whether it could be linked -he just looked me blankly. The test he requested were not ordered and I therefore had to stay another day for the MRI and the Doplar. Doplar clear but MRI broken so had to stay another day (by which time I am climbing the walls). Finally released around on the 6th day after all the tests being clear with no diagnosis or explanation and just a recommendation to contact my GP to bring forward my neurologist appointment. What a waste of NHS money and time!
"Experience of A&E and Stroke Unit"
About: East Surrey Hospital / Neurology East Surrey Hospital Neurology RH1 5RH
Posted by PEANUT17 (as ),
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