"A and E visit"

We are obviously not permitted to use the names of the staff who I found unhelpful in a time of need so I will remain gagged and explain the best I can.

I visited Oldham A and E in June 2017 at 10:30pm as a last resort. I was struggling to breath and could not swallow at all and was in a panic. I had what I thought was a chest infection and have constant treatment for Hietus Hernia which can make swallowing very difficult.

I went to the reception desk and was greeted by a member of staff who thought that cutting my conversation and cancelling a taxi was more important than addressing a worried patient who needed help. It is official that the first point of contact at Oldham A and E is also a taxi service.

Most of the reception staff in A and E Oldham are rude, miserable and not very reassuring.

I was invited into the Triage nurse's room after a 15 minute wait where myself and my partner explained my symptoms. The member of staff that I cannot name at this stage (but don't worry they will be called out) basically tried to tell me I had heartburn and I could not be treated. I told this person that we'll let the doctor decide that. This is not what you want to hear in a moment of distress.

Cutting it all short and after seeing an absolutely brilliant doctor who was very reassuring and caring, I was sent for chest x-ray. I had Pulmonary Edema (fluid on the lungs) plus a possible allergic reaction to the antibiotics that I was taking for a bad chest infection, hence why I couldn't breath properly or swallow. Care that I received from the moment that I got to see a doctor was brilliant. I was referred for an urgent endoscopy to find what was going on and given strong antibiotics that have cleared everything up.

The reception staff and that particular Triage nurse are a disgrace to patient care and it is not the first time I have had the misfortune of having to speak with them as I visited A and E around 2 years ago and the were there then.

Underfunding in the NHS is one thing but outright bad care from staff is inexcusable. Make whatever excuse you like, the reality is that some of your staff are inadequate and a disgrace so my final word is that I suggest you sort it out but I won't hold my breath.