"Disgusting lack of concern for suspected Stroke"

My partner has visited the A&E department numerous times over the past 6 weeks. She has been suffering with unexplained collapses and seizures.

We had to call an ambulance again today as she had 3 black out/seizure episodes but on this occasion the left side of her face had dropped (has happened previously) and she lost all feeling in her left arm and leg. She was very distressed and could not speak. An ambulance was called and arrived very quickly. The paramedics were fantastic! They advised they could not rule out a stroke or TIA and she needed to be taken in ASAP.

We then arrived in Milton Keynes Hospital via ambulance, she was more coherent by this time but still had the facial weakness and tingles in her arm and leg.

Having been through this previously: although not to this extremity I knew how severe the situation could be and if it was a stroke or TIA she needed to be assessed immediately.

The nurse came to speak to the paramedics, they handed over their findings and were not listened to. The nurse failed to take on the fact that my partner was awaiting a neurology appointment and had lost feeling on her right side. The nurse dod pick up on the fact that my partner has ongoing gastro issues and that was all they seemed to take in. My partner was booked in as having gastro pain and was dispatched to the waiting room by wheelchair to wait for triage. This has never happened before. The severity of her symptoms means she has always been admitted and monitored immediately and even kept in overnight.

We sat in the busy waiting room for a while, my partner was in obvious discomfort and scared. Her face had dropped very visibly and she felt embarrassed and uncomfortable.

We waited and waited and waited for triage but after 40 minutes there was still no joy. People who came in after Us with minor ailments such as limps and sprains were seen before us.

After seeing my partner in obvious discomfort, pain and distress, I decided to arrange for us to be picked up and taken to Luton Hospital. I felt this would be quicker than waiting at Milton Keynes.

I am disgusted how a patient with a suspected stroke/TIA was asked to wait in the waiting room during the "important hour" .

The paramedic who wheeled her through to the waiting room also showed their surprise.