"Some very good, some not so good!"

I became unwell whilst staying in Burton-on-Trent and rang 111 for advice. I was given an appointment at a minor injuries hospital in Lichfield the same evening and told to go to A&E in Burton straight away. It was evident that there could be a wait of four hours as information was posted on a screen in the waiting-room. After being assessed by the triage nurse I did not have too long to wait to be seen by two student doctors and then a radiologist. They were all kind, professional and reassuring. Eventually I was discharged by a doctor who appeared to be in charge, again the doctor was courteous and kind. I was born the same month and year of the NHS, so we have aged together. I have encountered 'battle-axes' in years since and at Queen's your triage nurse that night carried on the tradition. The nurse was unkind, rude and unnecessarily rough. I appreciate that the nurse did get me seen quite quickly by other health-care professionals but that was after the nurse had made me cry with pain. When I asked if the blood-pressure cuff had to be so tight as to be painful, thier reply was "you can always leave". I was left with an arm speckled with petechiae from elbow to knuckle which lasted five days. It is not possible to teach someone to have empathy but common humanity should be a requisite for health-care professionals.