"There was nowhere for her to be treated"

My partner took an overdose and had also been drinking. I called for an ambulance as soon as I found her and was advised an ambulance would be sent out. After waiting an hour, I called again, after another wait the ambulance arrived, my partner was examined and we were taken to Basildon hospital to the A&E unit.

I found it appalling. Although my partner was triaged straightaway she was put in a wheelchair and was therefore unable to lie down. Because if the state she was in she kept moving around in the chair, some movements were uncontrolled and she almost fell out. It did not help that the brakes on the wheelchair did not work.

I appreciate it was busy in A&E but the staff did nothing to help me and my partner, I had to do what I could to keep her in the chair. When I asked for updates I was told that though they knew she needed urgent treatment there was nowhere for her to be treated.

On admission to A&E I let them know that my partner had just one kidney and that it would be critical for her to be treated quickly to try and prevent damage. However, after several hours she had not been seen by a doctor, she was lying on the floor to get more comfortable.

After six hours my partner decided to discharge herself.