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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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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:

tickingthebox73 · 05/10/2021 11:57

I sat in walk-in for 4 hours the other day - I couldn't believe how many people came in with "non-covid related breathing difficulties" Out of 40 people at least 10 came in - followed by swearing blind they were negative for Covid....They all got shuttled off to another area away from everyone.

When it was much quieter later after they had closed to new walk-ins (while I was bored waiting for x-ray results!) I asked the receptionist if it was normal to have that many in - her response was Yes, and around half of them will have covid which is why we isolate them.... I was shocked TBH.

IWillWoooTheGhoulWillow · 05/10/2021 11:58

Having spent 8 hrs in A&E for a suspected DVT in early September, which was missed, which turned into being rushed in by ambulance in mid-September and 6 days on the cardiac ward, due to multiple pulmonary embolisms, I think you''ve been extremely lucky.

And why on earth did you say "breathing issues to due long Covid"? The GP sent you there with suspected PE and you do not fuck about with them. I have been told not to expect to feel normal til Christmas and that I will possibly be on thinners for the rest of my life.

julieca · 05/10/2021 11:58

And I assume they don't have a side room to put you in. These may already be in use for other uses.

Shehasadiamondinthesky · 05/10/2021 12:01

Better than the time I was left for 2 hours in a main hospital corridor in a too small backless gown with no shoes or bra, I'm 60 years old. I may as well have been naked. The radiographer had forgotten about me.

Silverswirl · 05/10/2021 12:05

The OP doesn’t have covid ffs. The question should have been - have you tested positive or had covid symptoms within the last 10 days? Has anyone in your household or any close contact Mrs tested positive in the last 10 days?
If the answers to those are no then she sits with everyone else.
Horrible to have to have everyone moved and unnecessary

Branleuse · 05/10/2021 12:07

you arent being treated like you have leprosy. You are being treated as if you potentially still have covid. It doesnt sound all that dramatic to me considering you are having breathing difficulties

Doubledoorsontogarden · 05/10/2021 12:09

Your GP should have referred you for a scan, not sent you to a&e!

Wineandroses3 · 05/10/2021 12:14

Very unusual for a GP to tell someone to go to A&E and ask for a scan. Usually if you need a scan the GP would make a referral and they can state whether is 2WW, urgent or routine.

BlameItOnTheBlackStar · 05/10/2021 12:17

@ikeepseeingit

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

Both A&E depts near me are posting daily on Facebook saying they're close to overwhelmed. If they don't have side rooms spare, what else are they meant to do, make her stand outside?

Upsielazy · 05/10/2021 12:21

Its weird the GP didn't book you in for a scan, that's what they do here. In any case, enjoy having a bit of personal space around you, being trapped amongst loads of people in an A&E waiting room is usually pretty hellish.

Briony123 · 05/10/2021 12:22

@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.

It obviously isn't that bad. Someone who can't breathe doesn't wait 2 weeks to go to A&E (and then whinge that they were prevented from spreading their germs around as per their human rights).

theemperorhasnoclothes · 05/10/2021 12:23

Sorry to hear this OP, hope all is ok.

Slightly off topic, but if this is an ongoing issue, and you've waited two weeks, why is the GP sending you to A&E? Why not a separate referral?

It's not surprising A&E is almost overwhelmed if GPs are sending everything to A&E rather than other routes.

I had breathing problems pre-covid and my GP arranged for an X-ray without going through A&E.

In4mation · 05/10/2021 12:24

Tested negative by lateral flow or recent pcr?

Lateral flows miss a lot of positives. Pcr if a while ago, also may not present a true picture now, especially with breathing difficulties.

Can’t you see why they were being ultra cautious? Don’t take it personally.

Good luck. Hope everything is fine.

LaBellina · 05/10/2021 12:28

I also wouldn’t like this OP, it’s understandable that they have to be careful but this could have been handled with in a more dignified matter with more respect for your privacy. Agree with @YukoandHiro that they should have asked you to wait in a side room. Get well soon

Franklyfrost · 05/10/2021 12:31

I wouldn’t want to infect people even if it meant sitting in a different chair in the waiting room to the one I was heading for. I think really op is feeling bad because they’re scared and ill and has done some crazy transference to blame the chairs for those feelings. I hope so.

Hill1991 · 05/10/2021 12:36

@Doubledoorsontogarden

Your GP should have referred you for a scan, not sent you to a&e!

If a GP suspects a DVT/PE they always say go to A&E as they will also need to do a blood gas and bloods they don't mess around with blood clots as they can be fatal.

I had my first PE 11 years ago was practice back then doubt that they are going to change it

JizzyJane · 05/10/2021 12:37

Treated like a bloody leper at A and E

Thats not very nice, my uncle had leprosy, he was a lovely man

WhenISnappedAndFarted · 05/10/2021 12:42

@Briony123 it might be that bad. Some people are a pain in the ass like that. My DM was having a heart attack, couldn't breathe at all and still refused to go to hospital.

ItsahardGobbutsomeonehastodoit · 05/10/2021 12:47

I would love to be segregated at A&E and given space from everyone else. It's full of sick people!

Silkieschickens · 05/10/2021 12:51

I presume they didn't have a separate room to put you in. Our A&E is so busy at the moment that according to the BBC at least people are being made to wait 4 hours in the car park and given blankets.

Hope you can get things sorted.

PurpleNebula84 · 05/10/2021 12:51

I'm sorry, but your GP should have been making you an urgent referral - not asking you to go and sit in A&E when he has essentially diagnosed your problem!! I'd be complaining!!

girlmom21 · 05/10/2021 12:52

@PurpleNebula84

I'm sorry, but your GP should have been making you an urgent referral - not asking you to go and sit in A&E when he has essentially diagnosed your problem!! I'd be complaining!!

If she'd have gone straight to A&E it'd have been resolved much quicker than a referral.

If she didn't take the doctors advice there's not much of a complaint to make.

Silkieschickens · 05/10/2021 12:53

When I had to go to A&E last year I had a cough I always have with asthma and they also were cautious and treated me as if I had covid but that meant I got put in a bed in a room to myself and my own bathroom so it was much nicer than normal.

Beseen22 · 05/10/2021 12:54

You have presented with a symptom of covid. Therefore you must be isolated on admission or placed in a 'red zone' with people with other covid symptoms. They have followed infection control policies.
There are just so so many people and not enough beds and not enough staff. So the little amount of side rooms available probably have people actively dying or peri arresting or perhaps people who have been brought in from prison with 2 prison guards or from the local mental health hospital. Then they would be given to people who have confirmed covid then other signs of infection such as CDiff. Then people with mobility issues who need to be near a toilet. So if you are fairly clinically well with slight shortness of breath you will be in the main area (socially distanced of course) and you most likely will have a longer wait to see a doctor because it goes by clinical need.

Namechangedforspooky · 05/10/2021 12:55

I can see how it looks from the outside but the waiting room is likely set up into respiratory and non respiratory. Probably could have been explained better
Side rooms are like rocking horse 💩. Unlikely to have the luxury of a free one unfortunately

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