"A terrible experience!"

Attended my GP with suspected kidney stone/infection, gastroenteritis/vomiting/fever/dehydration. I was sent to IRU (Initial Receiving Unit). I was there for all of 10 minutes then in a chair to another waiting area SATA (Specialist Assessment and Treatment Area) . As a frequent hospital visitor this was the first time hearing about or being in SATA. It was very busy with patients coming and going. One member of staff, sometimes no member of staff. ECG, Covid test and bloods done. No issue with heart so little confused.

Initial consultation with Dr (3 hours in). Will organise xray and collate with blood results and come up with plan. Chest xray done, confused again because no issue with chest or heart. 2 more hours (5 in total) another consultation in the waiting area with doctor. No treatment done at this point.

My bloods show infection and I need CT scan to rule out obstructing stone. Asked at this point if I could have a painkiller as in lot of pain. Told by nurse at 5:30pm (5.5hrs in) that a porter is on their way to take me for CT. Nurse took me to CT at 8:30pm (3hrs later, 8.5hrs in) to get scan. Back to SATA.

At this point I had to lie on trolley with pain. Requested another painkiller. Not written up for it so the doctor had to authorise. 3rd consultation with a different Dr at 10:00 pm (10hrs in). They will be admitting me, but just have to wait on bed availability. Saline drip attached around 10:30pm prior to going to ward. Was subsequently unattached at ward as canula not working properly and never attached again.

A terrible experience! I watched patients cry because they were in pain and asking for updates, told someone would get back to them and never did. I saw patients get angry because felt that they had been abandoned in the room and no-one was updating them.  I saw a patient sat it her own urine for hours because no-one would help her, and I watched patients leave because they could not wait any longer to be seen. I did not have that luxury as I needed antibiotics and pain medication.