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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Treated like a bloody leper at A and E

112 replies

Heartbeat1 · 05/10/2021 10:39

Asked by GP to go to A and E as I've been having issues with my breathing (due to previous covid) and she said to go and get a scan done as it may be a clot. I have put it off for over 2 weeks as the waiting times are over 4 hours and I've had noone to bring me. Anyway I've just arrived and the guy at the reception asked me to fill out the form, I wrote on there breathing issues due to long covid. He asked me a whole load of questions to which I replied I'm currently negative and have tested negative. He then asked everyone on left side of the waiting room to move asked me to sit there by myself. Like I'm a diseased.

OP posts:
BlameItOnTheBlackStar · 05/10/2021 11:22

If I worked for the NHS and read this, I'd reckon this would be the final straw.

ChazsBrilliantAttitude · 05/10/2021 11:22

I know it might feel personal but people waiting in A&E are more likely to be vulnerable than a person on the street. Imagine if it turns out you are still infectious and it half the waiting room have been put at risk.

When 1 of my DC had suspected Chicken Pox - I wasn't sure we weren't allowed in the GP's waiting room. We had to go round to a side exit and wait in an empty corridor.

Good luck today

HerNameIsIncontinentiaButtocks · 05/10/2021 11:23

@middleager

But OP doesn't have Covid, so I am wondering why they were 'othered' too...
Impressed that you can diagnose OP over text better than a triage nurse can in person.
diamondpony80 · 05/10/2021 11:23

Your GP suggests you may have a clot and you wait two weeks to get it checked out? I hate A and E and the ridiculous wait times, but if someone told me that I'd be down there in a shot!

That's a pretty crap way that you were treated though. Doesn't make any sense at all when you're testing negative.

DotBall · 05/10/2021 11:25

You’re an idiot.
I was in exactly the same position, the GP gave me a letter to take to the hospital THAT DAY, didn’t have to go through A&E but EMAU, was admitted at 5.30 into a side room as I was still positive, and released at 1am. Had to go back the following day for a CT scan which I had the results of by 12.30pm.

So in well under 24hrs I’d had ECG, chest XRay, CT scan, blood thinners and antibiotics (as I had an infection) and knew I didn’t have a clot.
Why did you wait? Didn’t your GP send you with an urgent referral letter?

ChazsBrilliantAttitude · 05/10/2021 11:26

@HarebrightCedarmoon

She has long covid though - it doesn't mean she is currently infectious.
How do you know? She may not have developed immunity and her symptoms are actually a new Covid infection. Probably not; but none of us can know that - not even the guy behind the desk.
middleager · 05/10/2021 11:26

Her I can't, but OP already said they are is testing negative and had Covid previously.

Abraxan · 05/10/2021 11:28

Ideally a side room or 'red' zone would be better, but it may not be available at the time.

I'm not sure what else could be done. They have to take precautions and can't just rely in patients saying they're definitely negative.

Fwiw - this time last year I went to 2 doctors, A&E and two hospital wards. Each time I was sat/laid close to others in open rooms/wards. Although I had breathing issues, other symptoms made medics certain it wasn't covid. I spent the best part of 3 days in close proximity to other patients, including some very elderly, vulnerable and frail ones.

I had covid. I was finally tested on admission and it was positive.

It wasn't til then that I was moved to a side room. By then I'd mixed with several other people. Hopefully they were okay.

So yes, I've no real issues with the hospital taking some precautions of their own. Better that than not doing anything and letting covid potentially spread amongst patients.

Chewbecca · 05/10/2021 11:28

I don’t understand why you would wait 2 weeks to go to A&E.

GP didn’t refer you for a scan, by referral to A&E they said you need an urgent scan. Couldn’t you have taken a bus or taxi?

Anyway, the placement of you in the waiting room is the least important thing here, give the guy a break.

Hope your scan turns out ok.

FreedomFaith · 05/10/2021 11:28

@EverdeRose

Why on earth have you waited 2 weeks to go to A&E? Was it not impressed upon you how seriously ill you could become if you had a clot?

In future if you're told to go to A&E go straight away, don't piss about putting it off hoping the queues go down.

This. Really can't believe some people, oh no a 4 hour wait to check that you are OK or if you need further treatment to stop you from dying. God forbid. Hmm Will no doubt complain still anyway.
user1471518295 · 05/10/2021 11:29

I would be highly delighted to be able to sit far away from everyone else in A&E - I totally cannot see your problem (apart from being insane not going when you were told to go)

SummerHouse · 05/10/2021 11:37

No idea of the nhs policy for long COVID. Pretty sure you are not supposed to isolate indefinitely.

What I am sure of is that your treatment on this thread is appalling.

This is an unwell person, in A and E, frightened and anxious.

Utterly hideous responses.

Flowers OP I hope you are ok.

ikeepseeingit · 05/10/2021 11:42

Hope you're okay OP. Sorry everyone has turned this thread into an argument when you're stressed. They should have put you in a side room, not moved everyone while they're looking at you. But don't stress, no one will have thought any more about it. Enjoy your peace around you! No waiting with snot nose children climbing and screeching 😂 Hope you feel better soon, long covid is nasty xx

ImitationofBeing · 05/10/2021 11:43

Look at this way- you are less likely to coach any nasties from the others waiting.

I'd be very happy to be sat alone in A&E

ImitationofBeing · 05/10/2021 11:44

CATCH not coach...

TataMamma · 05/10/2021 11:45

The receptionist was probably just following some policy or other - don't shoot the messenger.
I also spent 9 hours in A&E with my then 7 month old 2 months ago; very jealous of just 4.
My main point though is, I really objected to your title "bloody leper". Leprosy is a disease and those with it should not be called "bloody" or otherwise stigmatised. Also, if you did have leprosy it would not be reasonable or fair to separate you from others - unlike Covid (which I accept you don't have) it is not in fact highly infectious.

Tilltheend99 · 05/10/2021 11:45

I don’t know about that but not sure about waiting two weeks to get a potentially life threatening blood clot checked out. Presumably the GP would only have told you to go straight to A&E if they thought it very serious.

WeAllHaveWings · 05/10/2021 11:48

YABU, while it would have felt a bit awkward, it is sensible for them to separate those with covid symptoms.

Hope they can help relieve your symptoms.

SeasonFinale · 05/10/2021 11:49

when I presented at A&E with potential DVT/clot I was rushed through after triage due to the urgency. You wouldn't have been sat there for 4 hours!

Also there is nothing wrong with being separated out. My husband was when he had stroke symptoms and not in a side room.

Tilltheend99 · 05/10/2021 11:50

@Chewbecca

I don’t understand why you would wait 2 weeks to go to A&E.

GP didn’t refer you for a scan, by referral to A&E they said you need an urgent scan. Couldn’t you have taken a bus or taxi?

Anyway, the placement of you in the waiting room is the least important thing here, give the guy a break.

Hope your scan turns out ok.

And in all likelihood, if it was for an urgent scan, they would have let someone at the hospital know to expect you there for a scan. Did the GP say it would be 4 hours or did you assume ? Hope you are alright in any case.
SirChenjins · 05/10/2021 11:51

Next time, demand a private room with en-suite and tea and coffee making facilities.

Honest to god 🙄

TataMamma · 05/10/2021 11:51

@SummerHouse @ikeepseeingit
OP started this thread. And she is being unreasonable. People have the right to say so.
She can't be that anxious or stressed out or she'd have gone to A&E sooner.
Side rooms aren't always available and may have been in use by others with vulnerabilities, infections etc.
OP is being silly and unreasonable and needs to think about others in A&E a bit more.

TyneTeas · 05/10/2021 11:56

YWBU about waiting so long to go and I don't think your wait time is unusual either

But I also don't understand why you have been moved away from everyone if you have long covid (ie you are experiencing severe long term impact of previously but not currently having had covid, esp as you have tested negative) so I don't think you are being unreasonable about wondering
about that

julieca · 05/10/2021 11:57

Sorry you are feeling so poorly.
A and E has some very ill people attending. These are the old and vulnerable who will die if they catch it. They have to protect them.

WiseUpJanetWeiss · 05/10/2021 11:57

For goodness sake. The OP has symptoms of Covid. The receptionist/triage nurse has no evidence that the OP is not Covid positive so obviously she needs to sit away from the non-symptomatic people. I’d be pretty hacked off if I was sitting there with a broken arm with someone coughing beside me.

Conversely, if I was the OP and I knew I didn’t have Covid and was given the opportunity to sit well away from potentially diseased people I’d be delighted.