to be peed off with hospital staff...bit long, sorry.

[MoreSpamThanGlam]

I had to go to the clinical assessment unit (or whatever its called) today to have tests done on my heart because I have been having a lot of chest pain, pain in left arm and lots of other symptoms that are scaring the crap out of me.

Anyway - when I get there i notice a nurse that is a woman I know that I have a real issue with, she is a really nasty piece of work with no remorse for what she did at all. She smirks at me and wanders off with my file.

My heart is now racing and I am feeling really cross. So I ask the receptionist (very quietly and discreetly)if its possible for this nurse to not be in the room when I have my ecg as we have a bit of history and my heart is banging and it will give a "false reading". She said of course - no problem.

She then speaks to the senior nurse who glances up at me and then goes into the room. A young male nurse comes out and calls my name. I go with him to the room which is tiny and she is sitting at the computer with a smirk on her face. The male nurse asks me to go behind the little screen to get changed. I said I will not do it with her in the room. He then says she has every right to be there and if I dont like it I can get out and points to the already open door. A discussion had clearly taken place.

I walk out to the receptionist and said that I had been told to leave and I was not happy with their behaviour. That this situation would affect my results and my request was a reasonable one, and quite frankly, his rudeness and her smugness had made me feel worse.

At this point I was so cross I looked at her and said she was disgusting and she had ruined peoples lives and she knew it. I was shaking and crying - in no fit state to have an ecg or any other heart tests.

I walked out and a few min utes later the sister called and asked me to come back. I said I was in no fit state and would prefer another hospital. She said it was up to me, but that she would now ensure that I was away from this woman in another room.

My point is, was I being reasonable to ask her not to be there or to be seen by someone else? Was I being reasonable to get so upset and feel so humiliated?

I second writing what you put in your OP. YANBU in any way. They treated you and your wishes with utter contempt - practically laughed at you - that is totally unprofessional and unforgivable. Make sure you write to PALS but also copy in the Chief Executive.

Just bear in mind that the male nurse may well have been required to have had a female chaperone in with him if you were stripping off. He may have found it odd if he felt you were trying to get rid of the chaperone. I think you were treated v badly but just giving another POV with regard to the male nurse.

I can see your point londonone however if she specified that it was that particular woman she didn't want in the room (which it sounds like she did), then the male nurse should have the common sense to realise it was a personal thing and offer to find another chaperone to be in the room.

I did tell the receptionist that it was a personal issue that was the problem and the reason why I did not want her in the room. There was a fabric screen in the room for me to strip off behind and lay on the bed, but she would have remained (I assume) behind the screen and carried on working on the computer in the room. They were both just digging their heels in and adamant that she was not leaving.

Does everyone not have the right to ask for different HCPs anyway for whatever reason? YANBU! Definitely!

Im not sure MaryPoppins... I thought you did but judging by this nurses (male) reaction, maybe not? I might look a right fool if I complain...

You do have the right to refuse to be seen by any HCP for ANY reason. The male nurse is clearly a friend of hers and decided to humiliate you out of spite. Report him at once.

YANBU at all.

I hope they address your complaint in a proper way.

OK - am on to it now....phew. Wish me luck!