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"Disgraceful and extremely disability unfriendly"

About: Ipswich Hospital

Visited the ultrasound dept today appointment for 12.30 pm but delayed and got there at Ultra sound reception at 12.42. Debate with what looked like a health care assistant whether I'd have my very important test to see if anything sinister is going on. She said how the doctor has now gone, your late and some of us have children to collect from school! I explained that I am disabled with a chronic bad back but no sympathy followed! I asked do they not allow for people being stuck in traffic, or awaiting a carer or other problem like having difficulty finding the dept....again no answer. Anyway I was called through and explained that due to being disabled I usually have a grab rail at the side of my bed to obtain leverage to turn over to then push myself up and that I had mentioned this before time and time again to no avail. I'm sure I am not the only one! I had to keep justifying and explaining and kept getting interupted. The same woman still had a scowl on her face and was most unpleasant. I had the ultra sound scan on my belly and without warning the same woman roughly wiped the gel off. I said that hurt and not to just do such things without telling the patient first! The doctor advised I would have to empty my bladder to have the test that I was booked in for in the first place within this dept but more intrusive in nature. When I went to the toilet I could hear the same obnoxious woman saying to another colleague how I was being argumentative. I was merely trying to explain about how I needed to move to safe-guard my back from injury. When I returned I told the doctor that I had wet myself, likely due to bursting anyway and the stress. The kind doctor continued with her testing and then when I was leaving I could another health assistant who replaced Miss misery guts above question for the 2nd part questioning the doctor as to why she did the 2nd part of the ultra sound scan sound making everyone late. I said to my carer upon leaving that this was the worst and most unprofessional appointment at Ipswich Hospital that I have ever come across. I felt like I was a piece of meat to them. Awful experience. I won't be contacting PALS this stuff exhausts me and I am not well.

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Responses

Response from Patient Experience Lead, East Suffolk and North Essex Foundation Trust 3 years ago
East Suffolk and North Essex Foundation Trust
Submitted on 06/10/2020 at 11:26
Published on Care Opinion at 11:26


I am sorry that on this occasion the experience you had was not as expected and for any inconvenience that this has caused. I will make sure that your comments are passed on to the Ultrasound team. PALS can be contacted on 0800 328 7624 if you would like us to look into this further. Many thanks

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