Surprised at how I was treated in a&e

[broken86]

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?

My friend and I witnessed an accident recently where a cyclist was struck by a car at a roundabout.

The cyclist was literally flipped over and landed headfirst onto the road in front of our car. The impact knocked his helmet off and he had a really nasty looking and very large head wound.

Obviously we called an ambulance, got a blanket etc. After a few minutes the injured cyclist wanted to try and get up but I urged him not to and encouraged him to stay in the recovery position. I was really worried that he'd landed on his head and could have a neck or spinal injury.

When the ambulance arrived, the paramedics took a cursory look at him (literally a look, no vitals or real exam carried out) and then asked if he could get up. He managed it (with difficulty and zero assistance from the paramedics).

I was horrified! I'd witnessed the accident close up and thought he could've died or been seriously injured. No idea how things turned out as we've not heard a peep from the police who took our details and my friend's dashcam footage 🙄

I had the same many years ago. Had to walk to triage, walk to xray, walk to see the doctor. Only after the xray confirmed the break did they decide to get me a wheelchair

That sounds horrible and I'm sorry.

But if you were unable to move you should've said so. Your husband should have stayed. You should have expressed your needs.

They were awful. But you need to start advocating for yourself! You are not a time waster or a burden! Speak UP!

I'm so sooty you experienced that OP. I really would make a complaint to PALS. You were in pain and vulnerable and should have been treated with compassion and she should have at the very least got you a wheel chair.

I hope you heal quickly and aren't in too much pain x

@TwizzerlingToadstools ..... The doctors receptionists are exactly the same, blatantly ignore you, heads down, even though no phones ringing and no other patients. Zero empathy, made to feel a nuisance and constantly trying to fob you off with regards to contacting them online.
They have zero people skills.*

I'm a GP receptionist and I love my job and helping our patients. I promise you we are not all like the ones at your surgery, me and my colleagues would be mortified if we had made one of our patients feel the way you do. Please consider putting in a complaint to the practice if you feel that strongly about their attitudes.

There's no excuse.

Even with nhs cuts in funding equalling staff shortages, even being short staffed on that day, doesn't excuse basics. there are certain basics that shouldn't really come down to money or stress. We expect common courteously and basic care and pleasantries from staff that are in caring professions.

In fact from any profession. If I go into a cafe and they are rushed off their feet and tell me there are no tables etc and they can't serve me, fine, but they can tell me that politely.

I've had such horrendous smears I opted out.
The relief of not getting letters reminding me, no nurse offering to do a smear right now while I'm there, or telling me over and over to book one on my way out is immense.
Just ask at your surgery reception next time you are there and they will opt you out on the system there and then.

@Extremelycowgirl A&E is absolutely the place to be if you are bleeding in early pregnancy. The outcome of my PALS complaint was that I should have been examined, a doctor should have taken a blood test to measure my HCG levels and they should have used one of the US machines they have on the ward to see what was going on. Instead they took a dismissive attitude that I was ‘seeking reassurance’, gave me some platitudes about how it’s common and they knew I was upset and sent me home. This resulted in a haemorrhage which put my life in danger and caused me to have to go back in an ambulance. Imagine how much cheaper and more straightforward it would have been if they’d just kept me in at the time!
I don’t mean to seem like I’m jumping all over your comment, but bleeding in early pregnancy is always an emergency and should be taken very seriously. The attitude that we are looking for unnecessary ultrasounds because we are a bit sad or want someone to reassure us is dangerous. I don’t blame you though obviously because you are just repeating what you heard the A&E doctors say.

@Bubbles332 I am so sorry to hear of your loss and I hope that you are recovering from what must have been a very traumatic and deeply frightening experience.

I think your A&E is my A&E.

Not even a bit unusual sadly. I broke my tibia and fibula. Significant displaced spiral fracture of the tibia. Required 6 hour surgery. Was horrific. I was also 33 weeks pregnant.

the nurse offered me paracetamol and asked me why I couldn’t walk to the triage room. When she dumped me back in waiting room - I was ALONE - a consultant spotted me and was furious. Gave her the riot act.

Put a complaint into PALS

I went to a&e in July with a broken ankle. The minute they called my name and the triage nurse saw me limping she went and got a chair right away. I'd put in a complaint. I was also alone as dh had to watch the kids. But my a&e doesn't have a 1 person only rule anymore.

I really sympathise with you. I broke my ankle in 2011. It was so painful. I had an operation as it was badly damaged.

A few things that were useful - a “Limbo” plastic sock for showering, a little plastic stool to perch on in the shower or when doing things in the kitchen, a long “picker upper” to get things off the floor and not bring too proud to accept help from friends and family.
I wish you well and you will get back to normal! I did. Do your physio when you are further along with your recovery. Sending love🥰😘

It's not how it should be but, unfortunately, this doesn't sound unusual and is exactly what I would expect.

This. Do it. Make things better for others.
Hope your recovery goes smoothly, OP

I really feel for you but sadly this is today’s NHS for you. My late husband and I had a serious RTA while in Holland. Amazing hospital and care. Once repatriated to the UK it was a nightmare. No neurological care for husband, appalling treatment.

I think when you’ve had a nasty injury, you are in pain/ shock and you shut down Whilst I would advise speaking up normally, in a similar situation I was really unable to advocate for myself. It’s not just psychological it’s physical too. Normally they can find a vein no problem but to get a line in they had to get an ultrasound machine, an anaesthetist and give me gas and air.

Complain to Pals - there will be a complaints procedure on the hosp website - it’s disgusting and a similar thing happened to me so I really feel for you, it’s just bloody awful.
shame on that department and the fact that no one else even piped up to offer assistance to get up/ into the examination room is despicable - I hope there is no lasting damage caused by this neglect.
get well lovely xxx

Id like to say I’m surprised to hear all these stories but I’m really not.

At the end of May my husband came off his bike after hitting a pot hole. I went to collect him and knew we needed to go straight to A&E.

Treatment initially was great but when it came to the doctor looking at the X-rays of his injured arm, he was told just a fracture, here is a sling and a leaflet on how to access the online fracture clinic.

I knew it wasn’t right. He was sweating and vomiting with the pain and his left shoulder was visible lower than the right.
shoo’d out.

Husband spent the next 36 hours in horrendous pain till he got a call from the hospital to ask if he come come straight back for “follow up X-rays”

Turns out not only did he have a badly displaced break to the top of his left arm, he also had a dislocated shoulder and his shoulder ball was shattered.
He needed an operation that lasted nearly 8 hours!

No wonder he was vomiting with pain.
Yes we are suing

I agree the nurses/staff should have done more to help you but you do so seem a bit fixated with the fact other members of public were staring at you. I doubt they were interested but rather focused on the reason they or whomever they were with was in there. I also dont understand why you didnt ask for help.

@broken86 i was in a and e a few months ago with my then 4month old dd with a concerning
rash (thanks nhs 111) and I saw a woman who had obviously done something horrendous to her back. She was in pyjamas during the day and literally bent in half barely able to sit never mind walk. The triage nurse shouted her name and stood and watched her hit the floor as she tried to walk. Another patient had to scoop her up and assist her to a wheelchair that someone else offered up. I've never seen anything like it!

Unfortunately our health system is similar to that in a 3rd world country. My dying sister was on a trolley in a corridor for over 24 hours waiting for a bed after sitting in A&e for over 5 hours only being seen when she had a major seizure. She died 4 days later. PALS are now putting more and more obstacles in my way as I am complaining about her care. They are asking for more and more inflation and pieces of paper, the latest being a photo of my sister.

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I think when you’ve had a nasty injury, you are in pain/ shock and you shut down Whilst I would advise speaking up normally, in a similar situation I was really unable to advocate for myself. It’s not just psychological it’s physical too. Normally they can find a vein no problem but to get a line in they had to get an ultrasound machine, an anaesthetist and give me gas and air."

Yes! Shutting down is exactly how I felt, like I said before usually I have no problem speaking up but I had vomited and nearly passed out from the pain. I was concentrating on breathing through the waves of pain similar to when I was in labour. I've never been in that situation before so while I agree that I should have spoke up at that time I felt more like an inconvenience or wimp, my thought at that time was surely I would be offered a chair if needed and I would have felt I was an inconvenience making a fuss. I'm not fixated on other people not helping me, I just can't believe that not one person even spoke to me or tried to offer any kind of help.

Im a senior nurse. Put in a written complaint, setting out the situation as you have done here. Send it to the CEO, the hospital Trustee's and the PALS department. If you remember the name of the nurse, make sure you name them. This is unacceptable on all levels.

This happened to me during covid I was having breathing problems and terrified I would die. The lack of compassion and consideration I experienced from faceless uncaring hospital staff was very upsetting. But it doesn’t help to dwell on these people just remember the ones who did show kindness and caring. There’s good and bad everywhere.