AIBU to be angry at A&E?

[fashu]

I'm currently in hospital A&E, I've been here for 9 and a half hours. I'm 35 weeks pregnant. AIBU for getting upset or should I just suck it up?

At 8pm last night I had the oncoming of a migraine, funny vision, light-headedness etc.
I went to tell my husband and called the midwife, then started having a chat with DH. Mid conversation I started talking nonsense. Instead of car I was was saying mayonnaise, on top of other things I was just talking crap.
I tried to Google the symptoms and I couldn't type either. I couldn't think of what I wanted to write, although I knew what I was doing and when I did think of the words it looked like this 'hdhcjsk'

I panicked a bit and went back to my husband and then I went completely numb on in my hands and my mouth. I panicked and told him to call an ambulance. Ambulance came just over an hour later and said I needed to go to hospital as it sounds like a mini stroke.
Queue major panic mode!

Paramedics called maternity unit they said its not for them but keep them updated.

So I arrived in an ambulance at A&E just after 12am. Went to majors and the triage said to wait in waiting room and they will tell senior doctors.

Well I'm still waiting. 35 weeks pregnant on a hard metal chair. For 9 and a half hours. Panicking that I've had a mini stroke.

I've told the reception and nurses several times that my belly is now hurting from sitting for so long and being awake for 26 hours. I asked for water and they said I had to use the vending machine for a can of coke.
Receptionist told me I'm not poorly enough for a bed or the arm chairs.

I'm so upset, emotional and scared. DH has dropped kids off at my mums now as they were asleep and didn't want to disturb them in the night.

But, am I right to be upset or is this just how it is? Surely a pregnant woman with suspected mini stroke should be left for this long alone without treatment?

@Torchdino those are the discharges I am referring to, the ones who have been in for 6 months because their family don’t want them to go to the cottage hospital that has an available bed because it’s a little further away etc

@Torchdino I hear much frustration about the lack of communication and co-ordination between the NHS and Social Care.
Imagine if we consolidated the management of both within a single government department - we could call it The Department for Health and Social Care ... oh.

I would say that seeing as we know waits are very long then an obvious thing to do would be to make water available in waiting rooms (the lack of availability on wards is another matter 🤦‍♀️)

That’s often a sign of poor management. In my area, we take no nonsense. They have an alternative place to go, they are not staying on the ward. Obviously if there are serious concerns or safeguarding issues, that is addressed.
I have heard of some going so far as to serve formal eviction notice. Usually it scares families into accepting what is on offer.

When I was in hospital the family of the elderly lady beside me decided to renovate her kitchen and bathroom while she was in hospital and tried to argue she should stay there until they had finished decorating!

Mo water, no where comfortable to sit and not triaged directly, ie via paramedics not a qualified direct assessment, I'd be complaining to pals.
Yes I'm fully aware the NHS is under pressure, but if no one complains, nothing will change.

I would implore you, for the sake if the future NHS, please complain, because the more we sit back and say 'I know they are under pressure' the worse it will get.
Hold someone accountable, lack of water is a basic function, dehydration us a major cause of symptoms. For example I have a renal issue, if I don't drink sufficient appropriate fluid, I start to get chest pain, this is so bad I could end up in ED, not being given fluid I'd be on the floor in agony. Now I know and understand my symptoms, it won't happen, but pre diagnosis I'd have been in ED.

Please complain, its not right.
And best wishes for safe delivery for you and bubs.

I would go home if I felt normal again.

My uncle, a bachelor who lived his life for others was in hospital with heart problems. He was very well looked after and given his own room.
Although he was expected to be discharged, being spoiled for the first time in his life - in his eighties - he took the opportunity to die in comfort.
A large team of relatives had worked round the clock to redecorate his house from top to bottom - he never got to see the results, but the next council tenant got a nice treat.

I believe there’s 1 in north London - Hampstead or St John’s area if I remember correctly - but you can’t just rock up there, you still have to be ‘referred’ even if its just the GP or equivalent ringing to confirm you’re on your way there!!