"Disappointing experience at the Medical Assessment Unit"

Disappointing experience at the Medical Assessment Unit of the RAH. I was referred to the Unit after seeing my GP who had been treating me over the course of two weeks for Cellulitis in my lower right leg. He wanted blood tests to ascertain whether a scan of my leg would be required to determine if the is a blood clot slowing down the recovery of my leg (he didn't think this was the case but wanted confirmation).

My GP appointment was at 9.10 am although it was probably nearer 9.20 when I actually saw him.

Got to the MAU by approx. 9.45 am and was shown into one  of the assessment wards by approx. 10.10. Blood was taken for the required tests sometime shortly thereafter.

At approx. 1.30 pm the attending nurse came to advise that whilst some of the tests had shown up ok, the lab had messed up the final test and so more bloods were required. These were taken and more waiting ensued.

By 4.00 pm I has still not received the results of the second batch of bloods and so I decided enough was enough and made the decision to leave for home.

I went to the patients toilet before leaving and as luck would have it a doctor and nurse came to see me to be told by my wife that I was in the toilet and wouldn't be long. She was told they would be back in two minutes. Five minutes later, there was no show and we left the ward. As we left the doctor was talking to another colleague, my wife let them know that I was leaving as she wanted the doctor to talk to me. She was brusquely advised that "I am dealing with a clinical matter" and that if we wished to go .."that's your choice."

I appreciate that my condition is not the severest and that other patients were/are suffering worse than me, however I left feeling angry and frustrated that my treatment was almost dismissed as insignificant. I, and my wife, are particularly annoyed at the dismissive attitude of the doctor.

To place my frustration in a slightly better context, I noticed two other patients in the ward, who were both admitted after me, and were in for a similar condition. Both of these patients had their bloods taken, results given back, given afternoon appointments for a scan, both then went away, came back, had their scans and had left all whilst I was still waiting for my test results. Not being a regular hospital attendee, is this sort of waiting time normal?

So I don't know the results of the blood tests and no doubt I will now have to contact my GP (presumably the RAH will forward the results to the Medical Practice).