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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To think this nurse shouldn't have laughed / scoffed at me for asking for a room?

306 replies

supertrainers · 25/06/2024 18:20

Last night at 3 am I had to take my DD to a and e as she was struggling with her breathing.

Unfortunately this coincided with me having been up all night already vomiting. Second night in a row. It's not a stomach bug, before anyone says I shouldn't have taken my child to the hospital.

I was feeling absolutely rotten. Two nights of no sleep, worry for my DD. Pain, nausea. Everything.

I'm familiar with the hospital as I have found myself many times in there with one of my children in the middle of the night.

Most of the time, we get offered a room, once we've been triaged. Not always, but more often than not. The room has a bed in it and we just stay in there and the doctors come in and out.

I said to the triage nurse last night that I was also feeling extremely unwell and are there any rooms we could possibly wait in. I said I'm sorry for asking and I wouldn't ask unless I really needed to.

She did a scoff / laugh at me for even asking. 9 times out of 10 we have a room and you scoff at me ? I was taken aback by it and in my horrible state for her to just laugh / scoff at me was super rude. I told her, I understand but I really don't appreciate you laughing at me for even asking. I'm really unwell and I wouldn't ask you. It's not very nice that you laughed.

She denied laughing at me. I left it at that and went and sat on the plastic chairs for 6 hours.

OP posts:
pollymere · 27/06/2024 14:04

If they have a room, of course they give you one. However, I've been there when kids with broken limbs are in the Waiting Area and have been for six hours.

Sometimes you get a room with free tea and toast. Sometimes it's more hellish than adult A&E. You weren't unreasonable to ask but her response wasn't unreasonable either.

Champers66 · 27/06/2024 14:37

She shouldn’t have laughed, but then again I laughed when I read this post- laughed that you think you are more entitled than anyone else who is visiting hospital. Everyone is unwell. And the NHS is maxed out.

Tessabelle74 · 28/06/2024 11:30

YABU! She probably couldn't believe the bare faced cheek of you expecting priority treatment

TorturedPoetsDepartmentAnthology · 28/06/2024 12:14

Runnerinthenight · 25/06/2024 19:28

This! And so many going out of their way to criticise the OP! Of course she was likely to deny it when challenged! What is wrong with some of you?!

I had to stay overnight with my ill DC1 in a children's hospital (pneumonia and DC was a toddler). I was 6 months pregnant and couldn't even get a drink of water. I hadn't eaten all day as I'd rushed my child to the GP who sent us straight to A&E. Luckily one nurse took pity on me and brought me toast and Ribena, before DH finally got to us. Sometimes these places are less than ideal.

I’m glad you experienced a nurse being helpful. I had a busy doctor rushing around A&E offer me a cup of tea and sandwich. I politely declined but I watched her get it herself for another patient. She was wonderful!

Clinically resources like having a side room are different.

I hope the nurse was scoffing at the situation and not the OP! Either way, it didn’t feel nice for the OP and I understand her upset.

SkaterGrrrrl · 28/06/2024 17:19

YABU.

Cloudtime · 28/06/2024 18:27

supertrainers · 25/06/2024 19:06

Of course I understand that.

But she didn't need to scoff. Usually they either offer it or if we ask if one is free, they say yes - or no sorry not now, maybe later we will come to get you.

It's unusual that she did that.

So although you have said you were feeling particularly ill yourself hence asking if a room was available you've now said you’ve asked in the past too?
As everyone else has said ……. Everyone in A & E is unwell ….. you’re not special . I would have snorted too

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