"Sent home with no answers"

I know A&E is extremely busy and wouldn’t be there if it was thought necessary. The first people I came into contact with which was the person booking in, the staff member who did the obs and the nurse who triaged - all were so lovely and helpful. I knew there was an extremely long wait but I had a bit of oramorph so it made me sleepy and I was quite happy to people watch to pass the time.

Eventually after about 4 hours or so of waiting I was called in by a staff member who seemed not to like that I asked for help with walking there. I walk with crutches as have mobility problems and was in there because my hand and arm went numb and I was in awful pain. I couldn’t use my crutch in my right arm as the pressure was making more pain and I use the crutches for balance. 

I went into a room with this person who never even introduced themself so didn’t know what their role was. The first thing that was said to me after asking what the problem was to ask what I want them to do about it. I said I wanted to find out why I’m in so much pain, why I can’t feel my fingers, why my hand keeps swelling up and going cold and all I got was it’s not an A&E problem it’s a GP and physio problem and was to speak to them, which I have been with the physio, but can’t get to speak to my GP for a few weeks.

I then asked how I can manage with not being able to walk as I need to use both crutches and they said I needed to wait till my physio appointment. That’s ok as my physio has been the best help I’ve had. But seeing as though I wouldn't be seeing them for 4 days, I asked how I can get about as it is a long time. I was just directed to the exit. I said I knew where it was I just would like some help to get there and they turned round and just the door.

I stood there crying as I couldn’t walk and I was just left with no way of getting to the entrance. A nurse saw me and asked what was wrong and I asked to speak to someone senior as being disabled is hard enough but when you have another problem that impedes your ability to move and get anywhere is even tougher. They eventually after some arguing took me in a wheelchair to the entrance so my mum could fetch me.

I have never been treated like that before. I know they are busy but treatment should never be slack because of this. I felt like this staff member wasn't interested and couldn’t care less and I got the same impression from body language too. Surely If someone presents with no feeling in their fingers and a swollen and cold hand and lots of pain some sort of investigation should be done not sent home to wait for weeks for a GP to refer you somewhere. This is wrong especially when someone has a complex medical history and spinal problems as it is. This staff member could do to improve bedside manners and at least try to put a patient's mind at rest not make them upset and feel even worse, with no answers.