Ladies, I’m in a bit of a pickle and I don’t really know what I should do (if I’m not being unreasonable that is).
Today I was sent to A&E for chest pain to be check for pulmonary embolism after an operation under general on Wednesday. Was told I need an ECG and blood test. Was called for ECG and bloods into a small Consultation room (think one desk, one chair & one bed) and got on the bed for an ECG, consultation room door stayed wide open and I could hear all noise from A&E waiting room just outside. Nurse had to remove my shirt and bra but only half closed the curtain, I was ill and felt vulnerable but just let her get on with it, then someone strolled into the room, thankfully just another nurse and she left again. After ECG I got dressed, and sat on chair next to (less than 2m) from the bed for the nurse to take bloods.
Another nurse then came in with ANOTHER PATIENT to ‘fit his cannula’ whilst my nurse was trying to find my vein. The other patient was a prison inmate with two police officers guarding him (not chained if that makes any difference), one of them standing behind my nurse near the bed I had just vacated and the other blocking the door way. Essentially trapping me in the room with a prisoner who, for all I know, could be serving time for anything from shop lifting, identity fraud to rape & murder.
Whilst in the room I mentioned that it was the strangest situation I’d ever been in but I was ignored, my nurse was asking me personal info about if I was on blood thinners and my chest pains etc, and then told me to wait back outside in the waiting room for my results. As I went to leave she said ‘What is your name & date of birth?’ I looked at the policeman in the doorway and he said ‘She needs your name and date of birth’ which I then felt I had no choice but to give to my nurse, and subsequently: the prison inmate (announced as such by one of the policemen when he was checked into reception) his two police guards and the nurse putting a cannula in his arm.
I left the room, went into the toilets, sobbed and messaged my husband. He told me to complain to someone but there wasn’t anyone to talk to who wasn’t in earshot of the inmate & his guards who were now back in the waiting room and I was scared (maybe unreasonably so) that something would kick off.
I told hubby to come and get me and I left without my results. I phone the hospital after I left as a courtesy explaining I had left and the reason behind it so as to not waste anyones time. They just said ‘oh, well I can’t give results out over the phone’ (I didn’t ask for them).
So, I’m right IN the situation and was scared by the position the hospital put me in and lost my trust in them so everything feels a million times worse and nothing actually happened physically to me but surely that can’t be right?
Regardless of him being a prisoner firstly, you don’t share small consultation rooms do you? It was like going to the Drs and then another doctor walks in with another patient and just starts treating them next to you.
Secondly, I dont know what the guy with a slash on his face is in prison for, how do I know if he’s a risk to me? So to put both of us in a room with free access to the sharp needles hanging out both of our arms shows no duty of care surely?
Thirdly, that guy and the police officers have my personal information now when the hospital has a obligation to keep health data secure.
I hate complaining and I have nothing but praise for the NHS but the wait times were 2hrs 50mins no where near the 4hr limit so I can’t understand why we both had to be treated at the exact same time in the same room. Regardless of what pressure the NHS is under surely members of the public have the right to confidentiality. My husband wasn’t allowed in the waiting room but apparently it’s ok for 4 other people to attend my consultation without my consent?
Any ideas if this is standard practice in all NHS hospitals? As in, am I over reacting to something that is fairly standard proceedure?
Sorry for the long rant and thank you if you made it this far xx