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"Aboid when possible"

About: Queen Elizabeth Hospital / Accident and emergency

I went to a&e for severe palpitations and chest discomfort. The waiting time was over 4 hours just to see one of their doctors/registrars. Because it took a while before I could be assessed, my palpitations resolved, however my heart rate was still quite high. Upon getting to the doctor, they dismissed my concerns even when I told the doctor thay the symptoms came and went. I told the doctor that I felt my pulse when I started feeling the discomfort and it was irregular. The doctor then said that that was anxiety and why was I even checking my pulse? The doctor made me feel like a neurotic. But I am have been an intensive care and cardiac nurse for 8 years. If you feel like you have a temperature, wouldn't you check? If you feel headaches and nape pains, wouldn't you check your blood pressure? If you feel weak, shaky and sweaty and you're dianetux, wouldn't you check your blood sugar? Because I was perfectly capable of checking my pulse when I felt the flutters on my chest, wouldn't I do it? What a condescending doctor! True enough you cannot treat what you can't see, but you can definitely investigate especially if the symptoms happen regularly. I have sought the opibion of the cardiologists I know at work so I could work out my next step, and they all agree that I should get further investigatons. Has it really come to this point on the NHS that I would rather be seen by a private practitioner just to answer my questions? Has it come to a point that I have thought to myself that I would never go to this hospital again for feat that their incompetence and lack of compassion would kill me? When a normally fit and well individual comes to a/e because of palpitations on exertion which eventually lead into flutters and irregular pulse, do you shrug it off and tell her that she would be guven antidepressants instead? So you would get a further psych evaluation instead of a cardiology evaluation? Shame on you and shame on your training. Doctors who lack compassion should never be in the field in the first place.

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Responses

Response from Queen Elizabeth Hospital 8 years ago
Queen Elizabeth Hospital
Submitted on 21/07/2017 at 16:47
Published on nhs.uk at 17:32


Thank you for your feedback on your recent visit to the Emergency Department (ED).

All ED Doctors are expected to perform their duties and treat patients with due care and professionalism, therefore I sincerely apologise that this was not your experience on this occasion.

The type of attitude and approach that you describe is unacceptable. I will be sharing your feedback with the ED Doctors via email and also at our ED Clinical Governance meeting in August as a reminder of the importance of listening to the patient and remaining professional at all times.

We can all learn from your experience with the aim of improving the future level of care we provide to our patients, so thank you for taking the time to let us know and I wish you the best of health going forward.

If you would like your concerns investigated further and receive a formal response please contact the Patient Advice & Liaison Service (PALS) team at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital on 020 8836 4592.

Yours sincerely

Mr Ferdinand Ohanusi

Consultant & Clinical Director Emergency Medicine

Emergency Department

Queen Elizabeth Hospital

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