"Poor experience Of Ward 56a Royal Infirmary"

I was admitted to the A & E Department of the Royal infirmary around about 16,00 hrs for Heavy Bleeding.

I have endometriosis and had lost a lot of blood in the previous 3 days and had also passed out with the pain

My experience in the A & E Department was exemplary and even although the department was very busy, I was treated with respect and care, giving me morphine for the pain and attaching a drip to apply fluids as I was very dehydrated.

From the moment I arrived the receptionist took care of me and treated me with great compassion and admitted me straight away.

I can’t thank you enough.

All the staff at the A & E were very good in giving me comfort and making sure I was receiving the best possible monitoring and attention that I required.

However, this all changed once I was transferred to ward 56A.

When I arrived in the ward my blood pressure and vital statistics were not rechecked from when I had them checked in A&E

The Doctor and charge nurse did not treat me with respect, and I felt scared and have never felt so humiliated in my life by the way that I was spoken to, it was as if I was wasting their time.

The doctor asked me when I had last been examined and I confirmed that it was back in 2019, he said it was not so long ago then, and that there was no need to examine me.  

When I went to the toilet the charge nurse asked why I had not eaten anything all day and why I had not drunk fluids, or had any sleep in a condescending manor, I had been in severe pain for the past few days and was exhausted.

When I was told that I would be discharged, at no point was I asked if anyone would be able to help at home on my discharge as I was still bleeding heavily and had not been examined or cleaned up. 

My Husband was in London and my Son was working night shift, they are the only people that would normally be in the house to help and would not be there.

My friend who had been with me in A & E, could not believe that I was being discharged so soon after arriving in the ward.

She went and spoke with the nurse and could not believe the total lack of empathy and poor nursing that was being administered in my situation.

On my discharge I had to ask for the stent to be removed from my arm and my medication as they were not forthcoming, I also had to ask for a gown and paper pants as the blood had soaked through my outer garments once again which left me feeling humiliated that I had to walk through corridors with a gown rapped around my waist.

I have never felt so humiliated in my life.