"Traumatised"

I was referred to A&E by my doctor because I was unable to move because of excruciating pain in my back and hips even though I was taking painkillers and Ibuprofen The ambulance took almost 4 hours to arrive. We live in a split level bungalow on a hill with 17 steps up to the front so they managed to get me into a chair and down the side which has 4 sloping platforms and 5 steps they were really lovely. The light was fading and they said had it been any later it would have to dangerous to attempt it. . On my arrival the nurse took my obs but was unable extract blood so they would get the DR to do it. They disappeared leaving the blood pressure cuff still inflating they didn't come back to record the results and my bloods were not taken. I t was change of shift so I presumed they had gone home and forgotten me. One of the A&E doctors examined me and explained and said I needed to wait for orthopaedics which my own Dr had requested . The doctor came back to say there would be a long delay so I told my husband to go home as it looked like I would be there all night. Twenty minutes later I was given an appointment to attend orthopaedic out patients department in 5 days. I explained that I was unable to and about the lay out of the house. The nurse told me I would have to shuffle up on my bottom baring in mind my back was in spasm, and were rough outside steps and it was impossible to ascend them in this manner. They said that saint John's ambulance would chair me up the side that was now pitch black. Explaining what the paramedics had said about it being dangerous they said " they have got torches".!!! Then they accused my of not wanting to go home. I reiterated that I could not walk so they got me a pair of crutches and I was wheeled to the door to await saint John's. Who didn't arrive as it turned out it was to late. so had to stay the night. . Next morning I explained the problems with accesses to my house and the nurse said the ambulance drivers would not chair me chair me up , only in an emergency. Luckily after Ibuprofen, pain killers and Diazepam I was able walk a little with my crutches so I asked if I could try to ascend a flight of stairs. The nurse requested the physiotherapist teach me how to climb the stairs with crutches. At last somebody with a bit of sense, so after lessons on the stairs I was able to go home traumatised by the whole experience.