"Covid 19 experience hairmyres ward 4 & 6"

I was admitted to hairmyres hospital in January 2021. 

I was seen in A&E it was an illuminating experience as a person who has covid. I felt isolated and the staff couldn’t get away quick enough. There was only one person who I felt had time for me. Upon entering the room it was dirty and there was an empty bag of sodium chloride hanging behind me that was obviously from the previous patient as there blood was backed up into it. 

Now when the staff are being as particular about me having covid and there own safety measures I found this alarming that my patient safety wasn’t a consideration. 

I was moved to ward 4 pending a CT scan as my bloods came back elevated. Then next day when another doctor  came round they told me I was not getting a scan and not to be silly, and then asked me if I could be pregnant ,  which they asked the other women in the bay also. I feel this is purely because I am a woman . I didn’t appreciate this.

I then asked if I could go home as I wasn’t getting the ct scan  and they said no it is imperative to follow the covid pathway and my children wouldn’t be safe with me home. I was discharged 2 days later and I’m home with my children’s. Are they still unsafe? Their fellow doctor who I am assuming is a junior doctor didn’t even have the decency to introduce themselves when I was being examined. This was most unsettling. 

This doctor could be doing with some lessons on patient centred care. Pandemic or not. They came across as rude and arrogant and not interested in the least. 

The nurses in the ward couldn’t be further  from me at all times, there were 3 of us ladies in the bay and the student nurse got sent in for everything . They did all the obs and set up the nebuliser for the lady in the bed next to me ,  raised the concern to the staff nurse that they hadn’t used one and got a very brief description at the door so that the nurse didn’t have to enter. I feel sorry for the lady next to me as she was instructed to turn off the nebuliser herself when it was finished so that the nurse didn’t need to come back in. 

I have no illusion over what is happening with the current pandemic and the toll it’s taking on the staff , I have a full family of nurses some of them work within nhs lanarkshire which makes this even more difficult for me to write. Nurses are my life. But as a patient I should not at any point feel like a pariah, a second class citizen as a burden, and I did. 

Ward 6 wasn’t much better, I was spoken to at length by one lovely nurse as she could see I was visibly struggling she told me of her own battle with covid and promised me it got better, she was the beacon of light for me she gave me the compassion that I have came to know from the staff within nhs lanarkshire, pre covid. 

When I was discharged I was given my script and told I could leave, and that’s what I done. I walked out in my pyjamas without any sort of communication it was dire. I was treated for covid pneumonia and basically sent on my way. I felt shame when I left for bothering anyone with my illness, I got into my lift home and I cried and sobbed as I was getting human emotion that which I didn’t get in the hospital. 

I have never felt more isolated in my life. Maybe senior staff can go into these wards and see what is going on as I personally feel that someone needs to go in and look at what is happening in the reality of this. I closed my curtain in my room to see if it would prompt anyone to check on me. It didn’t. I’m just glad I have the support network I have at home as my phone was my only life line.I pity those who do not have that and feel even more isolated in a full 24 bed ward that’s staffed with nurses and CSW. 

There was one really nice domestic who spoke to me and I wish I got her name. She was so lovely and didn’t look at me like a pandemic. She looked at me like a human being. 

People didn’t say their names when they came into the room in ward 6 Apart from one doctor who I saw , at one point I asked the phlebotomist to take my canular out and they said they couldn’t only a nurse could, so I had to ask who they weer and only then did they tell me they were a phlebotomist. Surely these are the basics. Or am I expecting too much? 

I would really like a reply as I am at home recovering and I want to know others aren’t being made feel this way.