"Two Difference Scenarios of A&E"

I wanted to share my recent experiences in A&E mainly to point out the differences I noticed with the care I received just 8 weeks apart and how it upsets me to think different care is given to patients dependent on their illness and presentation.

Early this year I found myself in A&E with a diabetic complication, sent there via my diabetic team. I was treated with dignity and respect from the moment I arrived. Everyone I spoke to was friendly and welcoming, I was brought a jug of water immediately and asked if I needed anything by the friendly HCA. I spent 4 hours in an A&E during that time I was served a cup of tea and a sandwich. I was then moved to ward to continue my treatment.

Fast forward 8 weeks and I am experiencing a mental health crisis. As someone with a history of mental health problems I often deal with things myself because I get no support from any mental health team. This time it was more difficult. I took an intentional overdose and was taken to A&E by ambulance in the early hours of the morning. Despite the emotional distress I am always pleasant to staff who are caring for me. I never shout or argue because first and foremost to me any staff working in the NHS deserve respect, no matter how I am feeling mentally or physically.

I was treated when my blood results came back. I was given one plastic cup of water. I spent 10 hours in an A&E cubicle waiting for a bed and I spoke to two doctors who both asked me the same questions – this in itself is distressing because talking about why I intentionally overdosed once is difficult enough but to have to repeat it to a second doctor when the first is still on duty is I believe is unnecessary.

The person in the cubicle next to me was loud and rude to the staff. The noise from them and their visitors was disturbing. They were being treated for an infection. We both arrived at similar times. They got a jug of water and three cups of coffee as well as a sandwich. By this point I had one plastic cup of water which I couldn’t reach because the tray it was on had been pushed away from me.

After 7 hours I finally got a cup of tea. So in 10 hours, one cup of water and one cup of tea. I declined the toast offered six hours into my stay because I didn’t have much of an appetite.

I cannot help but conclude that there was a difference in my care from how I was admitted with a physical health problem to how I was admitted with a mental health problem. Maybe having to attend after self-harm through poisoning oneself is seen as a waste of NHS resources. Trust me had I been able to get help I would have.

I am not complaining about the 10 hours wait for a bed, nor the care I received. I could very much see how hard the staff were working and how difficult it was for them to find beds for patients. I suppose I could have asked for a cup of tea, maybe I would have had anyone asked if I needed anything, but they didn’t.