I had to take a friend with autism to A&E with an eye problem on the advice of the out of hours GP. Eye casualty helpfully shuts at 12.30 on Saturdays, so we had to go to the normal A&E.
On arrival we told the receptionist that my friend has autism and was highly anxious and they advised to make the triage nurse aware. When we did the triage nurse was quite rude and just said 'well I can't fast track you, you're not an emergency, you have to wait in the queue like everyone else. '
I fully appreciate hers was not a life or death emergency, but the triage could not even bring themself to reassure her and tell her that she would be seen as quickly as possible. The triage nurse had to bark at her and make her feel like she was after a freebie.
In the event we had to wait longer than the advertised time, but the receptionist was very kind to me when I made enquiries how much longer it would be. But by now my friend was rocking in her seat with stress.
I'm very unimpressed with the behaviour of the triage nurse.
"Lack of autism awareness"
About: University Hospital (Coventry) University Hospital (Coventry) Coventry CV2 2DX
Posted via nhs.uk
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