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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To have discharged myself from A&E?

189 replies

AandEnightmare · 15/12/2023 07:03

As the username suggests…

I attended A&E with numbness is my hand, pins and needles in both arms and legs, blurred vision and extreme stuff neck pain.

Stroke nurse was happy it wasn’t a stroke but wanted an MRI as did A&E consultant.

Both concerned about MS and tragically I then urinated myself in the A&E waiting room where I was left on a wooden chair for 8 hours.

i asked for a change of clothes, just a hospital gown and was told until I was seen by a neurologist who agreed to book me in; this wasn’t possible.

I have long covid and extreme fatigue and pain at the best of times and I was in tears in the waiting room crippled in pain and exhaustion and was just told repeatedly that only a neurologist could determine if an MRI was needed as an emergency or as an outpatient and on the time of leaving, after 7 hours, I was number 13 on the list so expected to be seen by this evening.

I will ring my GP as soon as open but I’ve never had such a terrible experience in a hospital in my life!

i feel shocked

OP posts:
FiveCows · 15/12/2023 07:05

Oh I am so sorry. That was awful.

But definitely GP asap.

Dacadactyl · 15/12/2023 07:10

Forgive my ignorance of MS, but I don't think it can be immediately fatal in the same way a stroke can be.

I'd have asked the doctors if I was correct in that assumption and if they'd said that was the case, I'd have 100% left too.

Dyrne · 15/12/2023 07:13

I’m so sorry that you were put in that situation. The state of our NHS is a shambles, it’s been gutted so thoroughly that if you’re not suffering from something time sensitive (stroke/heart attack); then there just simply aren’t the resources to treat people in a timely manner. It’s likely that the neurologist they were waiting for was the only one on call in the entire hospital, hence the long wait.

Definitely call the GP as soon as they open, they should be able to get you a referral that means you can attend an appointment for an MRI and avoid the long wait. I really hope you get a proper diagnosis and treatment soon, it really sounds awful for you.

Original poster
AandEnightmare · 15/12/2023 07:14

MS was just one of the possibilities but yes not as fatal as a stroke so I was relieved to have at least seen a stroke nurse but then told I needed an MRI by 2 health professionals only to be dumped in a waiting room for 7 hours, covered in my own urine - has to be one of my most humiliating moments to date 😢

OP posts:
Auntieobem · 15/12/2023 07:14

System needs changed. If they know you need an urgent MRI why can't they make a scheduled urgent appointment, allowing you to go home have some rest and food and then come back for planned MRI?

Fraaahnces · 15/12/2023 07:15

Honestly you need to contact PALS about that. It’s inhumane.

VeganNugsNotDrugs · 15/12/2023 07:16

Were you aware that you were urinating or did it just happen? Are you still experiencing symptoms?

allitdoesisrain · 15/12/2023 07:21

No-one should be left sitting there after urinating themselves. I'm sorry you went through that.

NoMoreShit · 15/12/2023 07:21

Staff left you sitting there for an extended period of time, on a hard chair, in pain & in a puddle of urine. Please complain to PALS. Staff cannot be allowed to continue treating people in that way. Scarce resources & being 'busy' are no excuse for dehumanising & humiliating patients. I hope you get sorted.

Original poster
AandEnightmare · 15/12/2023 07:25

Thank you for your kind responses
No I wasn’t aware it has happened until it was too late
I told the receptionist straight away and she said “ Ok I’ll update the system “
An hour later I asked if I could have a gown because I was wet and she said no as there are no cubicles available so you can’t have a gown to wear in the emergency area.

It really was awful - I think I’ll have to contact PALS

Symptoms are slightly there as in pins and needles but no numbness now

OP posts:
HelpMeGetThrough · 15/12/2023 07:32

The well worn phrase of the NHS is "on its knees" is absolutely no excuse for staff to leave you sat in your own urine. That is just disgusting care, by staff who don't care.

widowtwankywashroom · 15/12/2023 07:35

I don't think people realise the state of A&E at present, where I work there is a 14 hour wait to see a Dr!

You were seen by a nurse and a Dr who were happy it wasn't a stroke etc, but that an MRI was needed, I presume a a Neurologist wasn't on? Did you attend overnight? Not all specialities are covered 24hrs a day.

So it seems from this you were seen pretty quickly? Once an acute event ruled out you were then waiting for a specialist?

It is awful you were sat in a chair, but if all the cubicles were taken, where do you expect them to put you?

As for urinating yourself, agree, very humiliating, but staff don't have changes of clothes, yes a gown should have been offered etc.

This should have been highlighted to staff as it can be a sign of Cauda Eqina - which is an emergency

However if you have discharged yourself you have terminated that episode of care and you will now have to wait for your GP to refer you

WiseUpJanetWeiss · 15/12/2023 07:39

widowtwankywashroom · 15/12/2023 07:35

I don't think people realise the state of A&E at present, where I work there is a 14 hour wait to see a Dr!

You were seen by a nurse and a Dr who were happy it wasn't a stroke etc, but that an MRI was needed, I presume a a Neurologist wasn't on? Did you attend overnight? Not all specialities are covered 24hrs a day.

So it seems from this you were seen pretty quickly? Once an acute event ruled out you were then waiting for a specialist?

It is awful you were sat in a chair, but if all the cubicles were taken, where do you expect them to put you?

As for urinating yourself, agree, very humiliating, but staff don't have changes of clothes, yes a gown should have been offered etc.

This should have been highlighted to staff as it can be a sign of Cauda Eqina - which is an emergency

However if you have discharged yourself you have terminated that episode of care and you will now have to wait for your GP to refer you

Edited

Can you put yourself in the OP’s shoes, and hear yourself?

Allthecatseverywhereallatonce · 15/12/2023 07:39

I am so sorry that is awful. No excuse for that definitely alert PALS, if staff think that is acceptable it is very worrying.
Speak to GP today I can completely understand why you left. I would have. I am an NHS nurse and am so saddened to hear these stories. Poor care like this should be highlighted.
Hope you are feeling a bit better.

HelpMeGetThrough · 15/12/2023 07:41

I don't think people realise the state of A&E at present, where I work there is a 14 hour wait to see a Dr!

Oh people do, I certainly do, as I've been taken in twice this year. It's not an excuse for them to treat and talk to people like shit, which has been my experience and others, having spoken to them about it.

Original poster
AandEnightmare · 15/12/2023 07:41

No I didn’t get to see a neurologist - I was told by the a&e doctor and the stroke nurse that I would need to have an MRI to look for MS / other neurological symptoms.
7 hours later and the urinating episode, the receptionist couldn’t confirm whether the neurologist would likely do the MRI today as an emergency or just refer me as an outpatient in the same way a GP would.

If I had been told that was a possibility at 11pm; I would have gone home then and saved myself extreme fatigue, pain and humiliation!

OP posts:
widowtwankywashroom · 15/12/2023 07:44

WiseUpJanetWeiss · 15/12/2023 07:39

Can you put yourself in the OP’s shoes, and hear yourself?

Show quote history

Yes I can, its isn't acceptable, but what do you expect staff to do?

There were over 100 people in the dept I work in, we have 50 cubicles, patients are being nursed in corridor's for 24 hours, it it himilitating for them and harrowing for staff, it isn't nursing, its firefighting, but what do expect staff to do?
Where do you suggest we put patients?

IhaveanewTVnow · 15/12/2023 07:46

Complain OP.

we don’t treat animals like this.

I appreciate staff are over worked. Everyone is in the public sector front facing services. But we must still treat people with kindness. If you can’t do that then you need to change careers urgently.

widowtwankywashroom · 15/12/2023 07:46

AandEnightmare · 15/12/2023 07:41

No I didn’t get to see a neurologist - I was told by the a&e doctor and the stroke nurse that I would need to have an MRI to look for MS / other neurological symptoms.
7 hours later and the urinating episode, the receptionist couldn’t confirm whether the neurologist would likely do the MRI today as an emergency or just refer me as an outpatient in the same way a GP would.

If I had been told that was a possibility at 11pm; I would have gone home then and saved myself extreme fatigue, pain and humiliation!

How can the receptionist make the decision about what a neurologist would decide?

I am sorry you were there for such a long time, on a hard chair etc, but an acute episode was ruled out and you were waiting for a specialist that wasn't available, I haven't been aware of any MRI being offered out of hours, CT yes, but not MRI.

BlackeyedSusan · 15/12/2023 07:47

Fraaahnces · 15/12/2023 07:15

Honestly you need to contact PALS about that. It’s inhumane.

Second this. Sitting in your own pee is going to cause additional medical problems.

HousedInMySoul · 15/12/2023 07:48

As a PP has said, the incontinence could be a sign of cauda equina, which is an emergency as it can lead to paralysis.
I think you need to go back to a&e. No point going to GP as they will just send you to a&e.
Make it clear when you are triaged that you have been incontinent and were not aware until you felt wet. You should be triaged in a more urgent category.

Also as someone else has said, this is what a&e is like now, sadly.

If anyone is considering voting tory next time, please don't 🙏

Alicesmagicmushroom · 15/12/2023 07:48

@widowtwankywashroom Christ, if you’d have left out the bit about where you work there is a 14 hour wait, your post would be a ‘how to tell us you work in an NHS hospital without actually saying it’ sort of post...

@AandEnightmare I’m so sorry you had to endure this, it’s a disgrace.

WiseUpJanetWeiss · 15/12/2023 07:52

widowtwankywashroom · 15/12/2023 07:44

Yes I can, its isn't acceptable, but what do you expect staff to do?

There were over 100 people in the dept I work in, we have 50 cubicles, patients are being nursed in corridor's for 24 hours, it it himilitating for them and harrowing for staff, it isn't nursing, its firefighting, but what do expect staff to do?
Where do you suggest we put patients?

Show quote history

I expect you to show some compassion to OP. In this circumstance I would expect OP to have been given a gown, a towel and a patient’s property bag so she could go to the bathroom and sort herself out at least.

Alicesmagicmushroom · 15/12/2023 07:53

@widowtwankywashroom a decent person not even a nurse would find a solution rather than let her sit in her own piss.

To state the obvious, find her clean hospital clothes, somewhere to wash herself, I’m sure even though it’s and NHS facility there is soap and warm water. Even the receptionist could have done this. Not to worry, I’m under no illusion they would dream of helping like this.

Professionalmess · 15/12/2023 07:54

In my hospital she would have been offered some scrubs pants to change into. Sitting in urine soaked clothes isn't only humiliating but can lead to ulcers and other skin complaints. That's the least I would have expected.

Sorry for your experience OP. Please report to PALS. This is unfortunately what they are for.

I hope your GP can help get the appropriate referral.

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