"Just awful"

I went to A&E as I'd been in a mild car accident and was unable to move my hand or fingers. A&E seemed quiet yet I was told that there was a 4 hour wait and I should come back another time. I said politely I was happy to wait. I saw the triage nurse who was nice and sympathetic. I was again told there was a 3-4 hour wait (despite only 2 people in the waiting room). I ended up being seen half an hour later. I told the doctor my symptoms and he typed them into Google in front of me. He said that I had a drunken injury, I explained that this was not the case, he said yes it was (presumably because I'm fairly young). He read out from Wikipedia to me, I felt I was been made a joke out of. He sent me for an Xray where I was told by the nurse that there was probably nothing wrong and it was more than likely psychological and I was imagining not being able to use my hand.

By this time, I was crying in the corridor feeling very down that no believed my symptoms. Despite my hand clearly being deformed. I was completely ignored and only given sympathy by other patients. The staff seemed to role their eyes at me and I was told I was making a fuss over nothing. After persistence I was given a referral by the doctor to come back to the hospital the following week.

I had to ask myself if I could have a splint, I was given an extra large splint when I probably require an extra small.

While I was waiting I asked if there was anywhere for me or other patients to get food or drink and I was told no. There was just a broken vending machine. I walked through the hospital and found a working vending machine. When I told the reception staff that there is in fact somewhere to get food, they told me that they didn't know about that vending machine (??!).

After my lack of treatment at Maidstone Hospital, I decided to go to a different hospital. Luckily I was taken seriously there and was seen by four doctors, given a splint that actually fitted by arm, I was given advice on how to treat the hand for the duration. The doctor that I saw referred me to a Neurology Hospital. I am now better and happy with the eventual treatment I received. I received fantastic treatment from Walton Neurology Hospital. Genuine caring staff. I ended up being off work for 4 months and this injury was anything but psychological. If I had continued with Maidstone Hospital I wonder whether I would have received any treatment. Awful experience and I will never return to this hospital.