Surprised at how I was treated in a&e

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This has been playing on my mind for the last week and I just wondered if it was me being sensitive or not.

Last week I had an accident and it was obvious right away that I'd done something to my ankle, I threw up and almost passed out from the pain (which isn't like me, I'd say I've a very high pain threshold and not a drama Queen) I'd never felt pain like it even not giving birth.

Dh ran me to a&e and helped me to a seat and checked me in at the desk. I then told him to leave as there were signs all over saying no one could wait with you.

I felt pretty self conscious and exposed in the waiting room sat with only one shoe on and one bare foot. My leg had really swollen and I was obviously in a lot of pain and while it could just be paranoia I felt a lot of people were just staring at me.

The worst part was when I got called into triage, I couldn't put weight on my sore foot so had to pull myself up using the chair in front then somehow hobble all the way across the room to the triage area. The nurse waiting for me stood leaning on the door frame looking bored out her head at having to wait longer for me and everyone in the waiting room just stared at me struggling

At one point I felt there's no way I can do this but it was such an unfriendly atmosphere I didn't even feel I could ask for help. Once I made it into the triage room and sat down the tears were pouring down my face due to the pain, The nurse didn't even look in my direction just asked me questions and typed into the computer before telling me to go to minor injuries and pointing to an area at the end of the corridor.

Once again I had to struggle down by myself, part of me wanted to ask for a wheelchair but awkwardly thought the nurse must think I'm being a wimp or else she would have offered. I had to support my weight on the handrail all the way down with everyone in the waiting room just starting at me again.

Once I was in minor injuries it was a totally different experience, they couldn't have been nicer getting me pain killers etc Turns out my ankle is broken and I've damaged the ligaments and am now off work and not able to drive etc for the next few weeks which is a total pain but can't be helped.

The total lack of any kind of human kindness in a&e still plays on my mind though, obviously a room full of people at a&e aren't going to be in the best form but a lot of people had ignored the "no family waiting" signs and were sat happily chatting away to each other. I couldn't imagine myself being there keeping someone company and not offering to help someone who was obviously in a lot of pain to cross a room, likewise I couldn't imagine a nurse in a&e not acknowledging when someone is in pain or even just giving them a friendly smile etc.

Obviously I'm grateful for the care I've received so far and that I will need going forward but was just wondering (while Sat with my foot up) if this is what people would expect in a&e?

That’s awful I’m so sorry to hear about your experience and you should absolutely complain .. I broke my ankle a few years ago and the pain was horrific .. I was told it was probably just a sprain by the unsympathetic triage nurse and even when the x ray showed a break .. I was sent off with no crutches after being placed in plaster ! It was only when I went to fracture clinic they were horrified and rushed off to get me crutches 🙄

however a couple of weeks ago I had to attend a and e with a severe tachycardia attack .. despite it being heaving and literally .. three people collapsed in the waiting area ..they were lovely and very kind .. they were so full I had to sit in the waiting area hooked to a drip but hcas were coming round constantly doing everyone’s obs .. it honestly looked like a battlefield in there but the staff were kind and working as hard as they could for everyone …
Im an ex nhs nurse and sadly I could never go back to working in these conditions…
do put a complaint in because you were not treated with dignity or respect .. the main things that were drummed into me when I was training

i went to the local minor injuries unit once as I’d accidentally sliced the tip of my finger off while cutting pizza 🙄.

I had a dressing over it and I just know the staff there thought I’d just cut my finger. The look of surprise on the nurses face when she took the dressing off and saw that, yes, I’d sliced the tip of my finger off, was quite amusing.

@gmor6787 I work in London in a busy hospital. In the NHS you consider it a good job if you get to take your hour for lunch and leave on time generally. I do not see 36 patients a day and then have paperwork on top. So compared to my GP job, this is cushy. People who don't work in the NHS don't always have the perspective to understand this.

You make a lot of assumptions. All NHS waiting times have gone up- for A&e, cancer care, elective surgery. Naturally more people are looking to the GP to step in with pain relief, palliative care, etc.

Rather than vilifying, speak to the surgery receptionists and ask to actually get some facts. Even better, write to your MP and let them know about the issue so they can act on your behalf. I'm sure the GP surgery will reply letting you know about the post pandemic strain that so many surgeries face. And it's the politicians you really want- if you are looking for actual change.

I have to ask.

Has anyone ever went back and confronted the healthcare worker that disrespected them or made fun of them?

And i dont mean days later, i just mean at the timer after treatment/xrays or confirmed diagnoses.

In my opinion these people carry on doing it as they are never directly confronted about their rudeness and unsympathetic attitude.

Its absolutely awful and im sorry to everyone its happened to as i know how it feels.

Yes loads of time it doesn't usually end well because what gives us peasants the right to question God I mean healthcare workers

NHS is diabolical. My GP practice used to have 2 doctors. You could always get a same day appointment if required. Now it has about 12 GPs and appointments are as rare as hen’s teeth. If you are fortunate enough to get a telephone appointment it’s more than likely a clinician who calls - not a doctor!!

Then of course you have the “care navigators” (formerly known as receptionists) who basically decide whether you are worthy of the doctor’s time! Last time I called and asked to see a doctor I had to explain my symptoms to a care navigator who then bluntly said “well what do you want us to do about it “ I was speechless!

sorry you went through this. It’s not surprising really. I called the early pregnancy unit to self refer as I was having a miscarriage and I probably got less sympathy than the time I called the garage and told them my clutch had gone. I think sometimes staff become desensitised. What is a huge deal to you is just the daily grind for them.
How sad though, imagine giving that little of a shit about your job and your fellow humans.

Very sorry you experienced this. I took my seven year old son to the urgent care centre a few weeks ago. He had a very deep cut to the head. He was patched up by the triage quickly but I was very surprised that they made us wait a full four hours before gluing his head. I felt like there was a lot of people sat there who needed antibiotics or had a pulled muscle type injury. I heard one man said he had felt slightly dizzy for a week! He was very scared I’m bleeding through his bandage. He was treated with kindness by staff there but can’t help thinking that it’s not the individuals it’s the NHS as a whole. It’s a mess.

This is unfortunately normal in A&E from my experience and it shouldn't be that way. I was really poorly with pneumonia and days away from giving birth and received no kindness or empathy from the triage nurse. No one offered their chair for me in the waiting room and they could see I was upset and struggling. I wouldn't dream of treating a patient in this way and I am also a nurse by profession. I don't know why people go into this job when they are incapable of showing any kindness.

I'm so sorry you were treated this way, and I know staff are overworked and underpaid but that isn't an excuse.
I ended up in a&e myself a year or so ago as I had severe stomach cramps and had blood in my stool. I was in the waiting room bent double, throwing up into a sick bucket and barely able to keep still from the pain, and everyone was just looking at me like I was a mad women. Not one other person looked in pain, they were either talking on their phones loudly, or on laptops. I couldn't believe it.
Luckily the staff were friendly!

I once dropped my motorbike in the snow (I say 'dropped', but it actually slid away from me when I was slowly shunting in heavy traffic. I was 6 months pregnant at the time, and struggled to lift it back up. More than a dozen people walked past as I struggled and not one of them even glanced my way, never mind offering to help. My faith in human nature died that day....

As a GP receptionist, Thankyou. People do not understand how tough the job can be and how much stuff we have to deal with.

I have had a lot of dealing with local hospital, they disgust me, yes we know you work hard, poorly paid, but does this make you loose compassion, manners and don’t care attitude ,the worst thing I did was clap for NHS, every one I know is saying the same, GP is just as bad

Yes. I called the junior sister out for her outrageous unprofessional behaviour only a few weeks ago. She was gossiping with two other nurses at the desk in full hearing of a waiting room of people. What she didn’t know is the patient she was gossiping about (saying she might be pregnant) was my daughter. As I pointed out to her she had put my daughter in a precarious situation as I had no idea she was having sex with anyone and now I knew which wasn’t fair on dd. Dd is a young adult and I’m laidback so I don’t care (though I was worried about the fact she must be having unprotected sex) but some parents might have gone ballistic. I didn’t shout at her but she was made aware I was raging. Not just about the massive confidentiality breach but also the sniggering and gossiping.