Partner suffering Renal Colic one evening in December. Called NHS 24 - endless call options to get through before speaking to an operator. Thereafter, endless questions, put on hold, told a nurse would call back within the hour. They never did. Called again, same call options, then through to operator. Fobbed off with "yes, the nurse was just about to call you back". Put on hold again. Advised to see out of hours GP at QEUH, put on hold again, then advised to go to A&E. Advisor then said "can I close this case down now as it's your responsibility"!
Go to A&E - 4th in line - seen fairly swiftly and the new hospital's A&E facilities actually fairly pleasant. Seen by doctor after 90 minutes - despite two doctors chatting at the nurses station for over 10 minutes about their domestic arrangements for the upcoming holidays - seriously bad use of time there doctors (! ) and you could have seen us earlier and quicker. Blood tests done, results back in an hour, pain relief given. Gold standard CT Scan to see size and location of stone never done, despite the Radiography facility being right next to A&E.
I went to the atrium to get some refreshments - a couple of times - the doctor said I could, as the other way to reception was controlled by door entry systems. On my return to the A&E unit, I was aggressively approached by a porter, loudly shouting at me saying "you either stay in, or you stay out - you cannae keep wandering in and out like that, Right? " I told him I'd been given permission. His response? "I couldnae care less, now go in or go away". Charming. If not rude and unacceptable.
Prescription for pain relief had to be given as they'd ran out of supplies. Referral to urologist - 4 to 6 weeks wait.
Get home, call private medical and get an appointment for first day after the public holidays - consulted, tested, bloods and CT scan all done within 30 minutes.
QEUH call during holidays to arrange appointment for catheter insertion. Never mentioned at A&E, and certainly not required. Called back to say there was an error.
Experience at the QEUH A&E was better than expected, although there were a few failings and bad manners on behalf of the staff evident before, during and after.
The NHS can't afford to keep up with the demands placed on a free service. Private medical care works and more should be widely available to those willing to pay. Kidney stone diagnosis and treatment, when the stone is active, can't wait in a 4-6 week waiting list system the NHS provides - otherwise the patient will keep returning to A&E time and time again, with symptoms, clogging the system up. Diagnose and treat the symptoms of the patient properly at the beginning, to reduce all the factors that burden the system. Simple. Logical.
"Care for Renal colic"
About: NHS 24 / NHS 24 (111 service) NHS 24 NHS 24 (111 service) Queen Elizabeth University Hospital Glasgow Queen Elizabeth University Hospital Glasgow Glasgow G51 4TF
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