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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

I gave up waiting in A&E

206 replies

Saltandpepperchipss · 05/05/2023 23:00

Been in terrible pain for 2 days I’m pretty sure it’s an ectopic pregnancy by going of my symptoms. Excruciating pain on one side, headaches and light bleeding.My local hospital is one of the worst and try not to use it if possible. I sat in A&E for 5 hours and eventually gave in. Tons of people coughing, rock hard chair when I’m in tons of pain isn’t nice. I couldn’t get up to go to the toilet because my seat would be taken.

I’m terrified something will happen to me over night. But at least I’m comfortable at home.

AIBU? Would you have waited? Some people had been there since 1 in the afternoon. I arrived at 5:30.

OP posts:
ejbaxa · 06/05/2023 18:16

I am sorry about your ectopic op. I hope you are ok. Our healthcare system is broken.

justasking111 · 06/05/2023 22:24

TeaKitten · 06/05/2023 15:05

She said it’s ectopic, very insensitive to suggest it wouldn’t be bad news, she’s not going to be happy about it is she.

I'd wait until an actual medical professional tells her that. Dr Google isn't always right.

TeaKitten · 06/05/2023 22:26

justasking111 · 06/05/2023 22:24

I'd wait until an actual medical professional tells her that. Dr Google isn't always right.

She said she went to a doctor in a&e and they told her it’s ectopic! What is wrong with you??

WiddlinDiddlin · 06/05/2023 22:38

Hope you are ok @Saltandpepperchipss

To update my comment from earlier...

I phoned A&E today to follow up and get the meds I had been waiting for last night.

I was first told off for leaving before they'd finished investigating/running tests - not true, I pointed out I had had the ECG, spoken to the cardiac nurse, spoken to the pharmacist and been told the plan regarding meds, follow up etc and that I could collect meds and leave shortly - this was at 4.30pm.

Nurse in Charge on the phone then believed me (a lot to make up really particularly as I could name both nurse and pharmacist, and someone had taken out my cannula following their visits) and arranged for a prescription to be sorted out for me to collect from the cardiology dept later today.

On collection, the cardiology nurse confirmed I was there several hours longer than necessary, she told me it was a good move to have left, as cardiology lab on A&E closes at 5pm on weekdays and it sounded like the nurses were fobbing me off waiting for someone who would not and could not attend until 8am the following morning!

Somewhere, someone had failed to write up notes or pass them on, leaving the nurses trying to persuade drs who had not seen me at all to discharge me without all the info, which they of course would not do... Net result was 'lie to patient that it'll happen any minute and either they stay in or get stroppy and piss off home' - as the alternative is 'discharge patient without knowing the full score and be responsible if patient subsequently becomes ill/dies'.

I understand, but THIS is the sort of shit that is going on that leaves others sat in waiting rooms, waiting for hours before even getting triaged. Not enough Drs or nurses, doing far too much work, mistakes get made, improvements cannot be made, moral drops.

Two of the nurses that dealt with me last night spent long periods talking to one another in Urdu about online shopping, ordering gifts and items for someones relatives wedding.
In front of me... ignoring me trying to ask questions.

Two fairly big errors resulted - drip that had been switched off and unhooked but not actually disconnected, by the specialist cardiac nurse, was put back up twice (second time instead of just saying 'No... that's meant to be stopped now I don't need it', I just took it down and disconnected and hid it - I am retaining fluid, I do not need more!!)

I was also given two lots of meds, one before an ECG then a second placed on the table 'if the ECG is fine... ' then they did the ECG and got distracted with their chatter and buggered off without giving me the medication (which was also left out of reach).

I won't complain, no one died, but they could have been much more serious and I could have been less on the ball and aware!

Still, I have my meds, all is well and I just have to follow up with my GP on tuesday... or whenever I can.

FrostyFifi · 06/05/2023 22:48

I'd wait until an actual medical professional tells her that. Dr Google isn't always right.

She has been told by an actual medical professional. You could filter the thread for just OPs posts if you've missed the update.

HateLongCovid · 08/05/2023 14:04

CornishGem1975 · 06/05/2023 08:21

There is nothing the GP could have done if it was an ectopic pregnancy - they would have immediately advised A&E. Might have given a supporting letter to take, which might have made a difference at A&E in terms of getting seen quicker

My GP sent to me to A&E, and I was sent with a letter to hand to reception. I was triaged pretty much straightaway. I think when you've been referred by GP you do get seen quicker.

Not my experience at all. In fact receptionist misread the letter and booked my daughter in for the wrong thing 🙄

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