"I was turned away from the ward due to lack of staff"

I awoke feeling very unwell, dizziness and couldn't lift my head from the pillow. My daughter rang 111 and 8 hours later a doctor came and said she would like me to go and get checked at arrowe park hospital.

An ambulance was called and 6 hours later it arrived. Ambulance drivers were amazing.

On arrival I was turned away from the ward due to lack of staff. I was then taken down and put in the hall way for at least 2 hours. The time was 2am. I then got transferred to a bay. Left there for an hour then a male nurse came and took my blood pressure ect. He then said nurse would take my blood soon. Another hour passed and the male nurse said to the female nurse bay 9 needs bloods taken, I know she said then proceeded continue her conversation with a taxi driver.

I eventually got my bloods taken then moved to another bay. An hour passed there then a doctor came examined me and said we have no beds so your best going home. You have a viral infection. We can ring you a taxi, I said I would ring my daughter, she walked off and when I said my daughter is coming she said ok and turned away. I said where do I go please the doctor said through to the waiting room, a nurse then came and showed me the way. I had to ask the staff to remove a drip needle from my arm as they left it in me and told me to leave. Whilst she walked ahead I walked behind her clinging on to the sides as my head was spinning and I was very off balance.

The nurse showed me to the waiting room and said take care. I was not supported or assisted in any way even though it was clear I was unable to even walk independently. The fact I came in via an ambulance bed as my mobility had deteriorated did not seem to matter. Then my daughter parked outside and came in to help me to the car.

Arrowe park hospital made me feel that I was wasting their time. The nurses I saw were at the nurses station a lot and it seemed like there was no consideration for patient in bays. Absolutely disgusting. I'm never ill and I work full time. I am now going to go private. I understand the hospitals are in a critical time but respect and basic empathy costs nothing.