I was blue-lighted into UCL having passed out on The Strand having had chest pains, shortness of breath and vision issues when I came round. I was taken to resus where I stayed for lees than five minutes because the hospital was on standby for the terror attack at Westminster on 22nd March and the consultant wanted to keep the beds free. I understand that. I then ended up in majors where I saw a different doctor before being shipped up to CDU to see two other doctors.
I do have a cardiac issue and have a couple of stents fitted. I have also had a couple of episodes like the one on The Strand in the last year. However, the only clear information I received from the medical staff was at 10.30pm (8 hours after calling an ambulance) when I was told the good news that I had not had a heart attack and could go home. Whilst in A&E I had a test to see if I had POTS (but was not told the conclusion) and when I got to CDU was told I had a pansystolic murmur (but told nothing further).
I left at about 11pm without anything to take with me but was told that a letter would be sent to my GP in Birmingham for follow up. The earliest appointment I can get to see my GP is 3rd May (not the fault of UCL) but I wrote to PALS after discharge asking if I could have a copy of the discharge notice to determine whether I should be worried about anything between now and May 3rd. I was told I would be sent a copy of the discharge note (and that they had faxed the letter to my GP) but its over a week on now and I have heard nothing.
My previous experiences at UCL have been first rate. This one was far from it. I am not sure whether morale, funding, the fact that the hospital was on standby or some other issue has changed the nature of the service but I am sitting here wondering what else I can do in order to find out what was wrong then, what I need to see my GP about, whether I need to do anything different to avoid a recurrence or whether there is actually nothing wrong (the least likely option). Had it been anything other than cardiac related and had the symptoms not been as severe as they were (especially the loss of vision) I would not have posted this but I have to ask why was I not given something to take back to the GP so I could ensure I knew what the problem was and could ensure that I was not at risk of further cardiac issues? The duty of care seems to have been forgotten in the discharge process. Its no good writing to my GP if the earliest time I can see them is six weeks after discharge.
"Resus to A&E to CDU and still none the wiser"
About: University College Hospital / Accident and emergency University College Hospital Accident and emergency London NW1 2BU
Posted via nhs.uk
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