This is Care Opinion [siteRegion]. Did you want Care Opinion [usersRegionBasedOnIP]?

"Condescending doctors, misdiagnosed, mistreated"

About: King's College Hospital (Denmark Hill)

I went to the a&e because I was unable to eat or drink any water at all without vomiting. This had gone on for 24 hours and I was almost certain that my oesophagus was blocked. The doctors gave me painkillers and nausea medicine which helped a little but I was still unable to drink a sip of water without vomiting. Although the problem was still there they sent me home. This was after 5 hours from 11pm to 4am during which time they left me to try and sleep sitting up in a hard plastic chair and not offering me a bed. The nurses were very rude and without compassion. The doctors didn't believe me when I said I couldn't drink water. I was told to come back if I still wasn't well in the morning and they would refer me to St. Thomas for an Endoscopy. I came back in the morning and was told that I didn't look dehydrated enough so I couldn't be treated here and they wouldn't refer me. I actually asked the very rude doctor if she wanted me to wait until I was severely dehydrated until I would be treated?! She told me to keep sipping water - I told her again that I couldn't drink a sip of water without vomiting, she didn't believe me. Not sure where to turn and feeling increasingly drained and stressed I went private. I was immediately sent for an Endoscopy where they found a foreign body completely blocking my oesophagus. My mum worked for the NHS so have always been a supporter but the treatment I received at Kings College was so bad It's changed my mind. Doctors are so skeptical they can't see a genuine problem when it's staring them in the face. The lack of care and compassion was extremely stressful adding to my sickness, I was shocked and disappointed overall.

nhs.uk logo
Do you have a similar story to tell? Tell your story & make a difference ››

Responses

Response from King's College Hospital (Denmark Hill) 9 years ago
King's College Hospital (Denmark Hill)
Submitted on 30/05/2014 at 08:48
Published on nhs.uk on 31/05/2014 at 04:00


I am extremely sorry to hear of your experience and your dissatisfaction that you were not referred to the ENT depoartment, based at Guys and St Thomas for further investigation of a possible obstruction to your airway when you presented to our Emergency Department. We would very much like to review your attendance and have a formal oportunity to respond. Please consider contacting us to provide further details and we will seek to investigate the attendances. Our email contact is kch-tr.pals@nhs.net

  • {{helpful}} {{helpful == 1 ? "person thinks" : "people think"}} this response is helpful
Opinions
Next Response j
Previous Response k