"A&E"

I was taken to the A&E department by ambulance after suffering from anaphylaxis. I was put into a cubicle, my obs were taken by a nurse, then I was told that a doctor would see me shortly. It didn’t happen despite me still suffering some symptoms which were reported to a nurse who reiterated that a doctor would see me shortly.

I waited for over three hours and watched as other patients came in, were treated, then left. I watched as staff discussed everything from their hobbies to pavlova. I tried not to listen as they discussed patients in detail and about some that had even died there. I watched as all staff stopped & ate pizza then had to listen to staff whooping and cheering as if getting ready for a night out.

When I walked out after three hours & ten minutes, all staff had stopped again and were talking by the computers. I left unnoticed. If I hadn’t stopped to talk to someone in the waiting room, I doubt anyone would have realised I wasn’t there. They didn’t even notice that the monitor had been flatlining for over five minutes after I removed it.

A nurse caught up with me by the door to ask me to sign a self discharge form & why I was leaving. I told her why & she responded by rudely saying they were busy. Yes - they were too busy to see to me, but not busy enough to treat others, eat pizza, and discuss pavlova.

What upset me most was that it was half empty when I first went up there and the sign above the door said there was a two hour wait to be seen. Obviously pavlova and having a good time is more important to them than anaphylaxis and their patients/patients privacy.