"Medical Assessment Unit RAH"

I arrived at MAU in the afternoon, after being referred by GP for possible clots in my lungs. Turns out MAU had moved location and was in a completely different part of the building from where signs direct you. Due to my condition, I didn't arrive at the new MAU (which was situated in a day surgery unit) until about half an hour later. I wasn't seen until over 5 hours later and wasn't offered any food or drink until then. I think that's a long time for a pregnant woman to be left and not offered food or drink. 

Upon admission, I explained that I was vegan. The HCSW that night gave me soya milk in my tea but for the rest of my stay I was told there were no milk alternatives for me. The toast in the morning was already pre-buttered. No milk for cereal. I was never offered a vegan lunch or dinner (I was in MAU for over 48 hours). I couldn't get a shower the full time I was there as there were no shower facilities. I had to chase up my own chest x-ray to be reported so that a VQ scan could be organised before the weekend, because a doctor refused to phone radiology and chase it up for me, even though this was the only thing holding me back from being discharged with the suitable treatment. I was moved beds in the early morning on my second night. On the third day, I went to QEUH for a VQ scan and when I arrived back the same day, MAU had been moved back to it's original location, but I was to stay at the old, empty location. I had missed lunch and wasn't offered any. I wasn't discharged until after 4 hours later. No food or drink had been offered to me since breakfast.

Nobody recorded hcg levels of my bloods. 

I was diagnosed with clots in my lungs and discharged with injections to take, but no follow up appointments could be made for me as haematology wouldn't take me because I was pregnant. Maternity wouldn't take me as I wasn't pregnant enough, so it was up to me to contact my GP and work out a plan on how someone could take me under their care to ensure my injections were the correct dose (I am now finally under suitable care and have been moved to a higher dose as the dose I was discharged with wasn't working as well as it should. Thank goodness I managed to organise myself outpatient follow ups to check my bloods or I would probably have had to be re-admitted to hospital). I believe the doctor and nurse who finally discharged me did all they could within their power but apart from that my care wasn't great. I was undermined and ignored and I felt like MAU was a lonely (and hungry) place to be. Someone could have at least organised a hot meal for me and to be able to use a shower somewhere. Thank you to the nurse who escorted me to my VQ scan and to the nurse who consoled me when I was crying. Thank you to the radiographer who took my x-ray and took time to speak with me and treat me like a human. Thank you to all porters I met. Thank you to the domestic who cleaned the room I was in. Thank you to the staff at QEUH nuclear medicine for being caring and understanding. I found peace in the chapel in RAH. I wasn't given any information about this but I found it myself and it did bring me some hope when I felt very lonely.