Discussion
Currently waiting in A&E at London hospital after literally refused to be seen in another one. (They said wait 7 hours or leave....)
I know Im not supposed to rant here at the moment but quite hopeless situation.
My wife got suddenly super ill midnight today, For the first time in my life I called an ambulance. It took them 50 mins to come ( i live london, Zone 2) and called them 4 times. She was semi-unconscious, loads of pain and fever, throwing up...We think it is something related to an earlier condition which she has not able to see a consultant yet as they put her in another 4 months waiting list..
The first hospital we went to was a disaster, 7 hours waiting and bunch of inadequate nurses can't even type her birth date right..
So after nearly 4.5 hours, we are in another hospital, my partner is in massive pain and waiting to be seen by a doctor.
Is this NHS? Is this supposed to be United Kingdom? A first world country? I never go to hospital as Ive been fortunate enough in the health side but I cant think of anyone with even worse conditions than us....
I will put my British passport on ebay tonight, not sure if it would worth a penny though...
National embarassment.
I know Im not supposed to rant here at the moment but quite hopeless situation.
My wife got suddenly super ill midnight today, For the first time in my life I called an ambulance. It took them 50 mins to come ( i live london, Zone 2) and called them 4 times. She was semi-unconscious, loads of pain and fever, throwing up...We think it is something related to an earlier condition which she has not able to see a consultant yet as they put her in another 4 months waiting list..
The first hospital we went to was a disaster, 7 hours waiting and bunch of inadequate nurses can't even type her birth date right..
So after nearly 4.5 hours, we are in another hospital, my partner is in massive pain and waiting to be seen by a doctor.
Is this NHS? Is this supposed to be United Kingdom? A first world country? I never go to hospital as Ive been fortunate enough in the health side but I cant think of anyone with even worse conditions than us....
I will put my British passport on ebay tonight, not sure if it would worth a penny though...
National embarassment.
Thank you for the health wishes, and sorry to hear those who had some recent/old experiences in the hospital. As I mentioned previously, I have been very fortunate with the health side myself (do not smoke, not a big drinker, no drugs, very boring type!..).
To give more info about the situation of one of the most terrible nights I have ever had again. When I called the ambulance, early friday 1.00 a.m., we just woke up to my wife's situation. She was in massive pain, a bit fever and throwing up. Shaking, and not speaking properly. She had previously diagnosed with Endometriosis, and been visiting her GP for the last few months, on/off but she still has not been able to get an appointment with a specialist. The MRI results took so slow, we actually had to ask the MRI results through Freedom of Information and got a private doctor appointment instead. Anyway, due to her symptoms, we thought this is probably related to her condition, and since she can't walk properly, I had to call ambulance right away. She could not walk to our car or leave the house. The ambulance literally took 40 mins or more. I have called them 4 times, the answer I've got "Sorry sir, we are so busy tonight, no ambulance is available!". It is absolutely nightmare to see your partner in pains, crying, screaming and can't get her to the hospital and your emergency service can't get you some ambulance in essentially central London!
The moment Ambulance came, they were doing immediately basic checks, and later pain-medication. in 30 mins or so, we have been taken to the closest A&E. (Newham Hospital). I have never been to this hospital before, so not sure what people would think or assume but as I mentioned in the first post, I have never seen such a bad place in my life, calling it a hospital is total crime all I can say. As soon as she was admitted, after a bit of paper-work with the ambulance team, the head-nurse said, the waiting period is 7 hours! yes, 7 hours! They can not be serious!? Forgetting the waiting times, even a healthy person might lose their state of health after spending at least 30 mins there. It was the dirtiest hospital/clinic I've ever seen in my life. There is no bed, quite small waiting room loads of people literally stacked together waiting to be seen. It literally look like one of the sad temporary hospitals you would see in Syria or Iraq in war zone, no joke.
I've asked the head nurse immediately that I need to take my wife to other hospital, as she can not wait that long and requested the record of medicines that given to her in the ambulance. (to show this to the next hospital). The -rude- head nurse first ignored me, then finally gave our records when I insisted. I kindly requested wheelchair, as I cant carry her to the exit door, she and her other colleague again dismissed me saying "I can not see any wheelchair here".. They were not even bothered to open the gates for us so that we could get out(the doors are locked, only opened by staff card), you could imagine my state, trying to carry my wife but I need their help to get out, I asked them again loudly, "for the sake of helping us please, can you at least open the door!". One of these nurses moved herself in discomfort and let me out, I told her she should be proud of herself today, that's it.
I drove to another hospital (Homerton A&E), which was about 20 mins drive. As I have been there before, I thought it would be O.K. We have been admitted immediately a very nice nurse came over and gave us a private room with a bed. Her blood, urine samples taken again and more painkillers given. After this, we had to wait about 3 hours to be seen by a doctor, which I find completely strange, and I do hope some one from NHS can actually give me some logical info, as the hospital/ward was not that busy?
A nurse keep coming every 20 mins or so checking us kindly, how we are doing but I've asked him when we could see a doctor. He said, they are busy but we are the next on line. The ward was not that busy, but there is a big circular work/desk arrangement in A&E layout, where all junior doctors/registrars (not so sure about their hierarchy?) and nurses seating and typing or recording their notes.. I've seen 2-3 junior or registrars there for this 2-3 hour period, usually doing some admin work or chatting quite casually. As I keep asking our nurse when can we see the doctor, they saw and heard me so I thought we would probably waiting for a senior doctor or consultant. Anyway, after nearly 3 hours wait, one of these young gentleman just came to see us! Of course that minute, I had no effort to argue with him or question what he was doing in there for the last 2-3 hours? literally this is for curiosity, are doctors supposed to fill and do their admins there, even though you have quite emergency patients waiting just opposite? This is totally bonkers to me hopefully someone from inside can give a logical explanation. The young doctor, just asked all the history of the events, took some notes, then he went to make some phone calls. I had to go out at some point to change our parking place, during this time my wife asked him for help to walk to toilet but he also dismissed. On my return, clearly there was a shift-change, and another senior doctor came in (female) and took a more hands-on approach with my wife. Took more tests, and checked upon us with new medicine until we leave, she was great. My wife would probably need an operation but since we still have not able to see her consultant she could not advise more but said we need to see the consultant with MRI asap. (Tell us about it, we are in the queue for months!)
I took the final pull, and taking loads of recommendation/experiences from friends/relatives, we just travelled to Turkey (Istanbul) today, and made appointment with a quite well known doctor in this field. The appointment was made quickly due to our friends/relatives, and I can only say we are lucky/fortunate to have this travel in short-time. I had no prior knowledge on this previously but clearly; Istanbul (Turkey) and Barcelona (Spain) just became the major popular cities for mainly British citizens to get their operations done, since NHS failing to act on them. The facilities are fantastic, doctors are extremely talented and well educated. I have also made appointments for getting a private health cover for both of us in the future in U.K., I'm afraid I have no believe or trust in the system anymore...
I will definitely send my experience to PALS system at Newham Hospital and Care Quality Commission but after seeing what is happening there and how actually they are being allowed to act/work in that way, I doubt any action would be taken.
Thank you for the best wishes again, I really would not know how to act or what to do if I have much more serious condition, such as a ill toddlers.
PS: Some one earlier asked me how did I vote? I'm sorry to say as much as we believe this is mostly related to politics and budget but in my experience what I've also seen doctors/nurses who have no empathy to patients, which is beyond politics but pure humanity. - "first, do no harm."
To give more info about the situation of one of the most terrible nights I have ever had again. When I called the ambulance, early friday 1.00 a.m., we just woke up to my wife's situation. She was in massive pain, a bit fever and throwing up. Shaking, and not speaking properly. She had previously diagnosed with Endometriosis, and been visiting her GP for the last few months, on/off but she still has not been able to get an appointment with a specialist. The MRI results took so slow, we actually had to ask the MRI results through Freedom of Information and got a private doctor appointment instead. Anyway, due to her symptoms, we thought this is probably related to her condition, and since she can't walk properly, I had to call ambulance right away. She could not walk to our car or leave the house. The ambulance literally took 40 mins or more. I have called them 4 times, the answer I've got "Sorry sir, we are so busy tonight, no ambulance is available!". It is absolutely nightmare to see your partner in pains, crying, screaming and can't get her to the hospital and your emergency service can't get you some ambulance in essentially central London!
The moment Ambulance came, they were doing immediately basic checks, and later pain-medication. in 30 mins or so, we have been taken to the closest A&E. (Newham Hospital). I have never been to this hospital before, so not sure what people would think or assume but as I mentioned in the first post, I have never seen such a bad place in my life, calling it a hospital is total crime all I can say. As soon as she was admitted, after a bit of paper-work with the ambulance team, the head-nurse said, the waiting period is 7 hours! yes, 7 hours! They can not be serious!? Forgetting the waiting times, even a healthy person might lose their state of health after spending at least 30 mins there. It was the dirtiest hospital/clinic I've ever seen in my life. There is no bed, quite small waiting room loads of people literally stacked together waiting to be seen. It literally look like one of the sad temporary hospitals you would see in Syria or Iraq in war zone, no joke.
I've asked the head nurse immediately that I need to take my wife to other hospital, as she can not wait that long and requested the record of medicines that given to her in the ambulance. (to show this to the next hospital). The -rude- head nurse first ignored me, then finally gave our records when I insisted. I kindly requested wheelchair, as I cant carry her to the exit door, she and her other colleague again dismissed me saying "I can not see any wheelchair here".. They were not even bothered to open the gates for us so that we could get out(the doors are locked, only opened by staff card), you could imagine my state, trying to carry my wife but I need their help to get out, I asked them again loudly, "for the sake of helping us please, can you at least open the door!". One of these nurses moved herself in discomfort and let me out, I told her she should be proud of herself today, that's it.
I drove to another hospital (Homerton A&E), which was about 20 mins drive. As I have been there before, I thought it would be O.K. We have been admitted immediately a very nice nurse came over and gave us a private room with a bed. Her blood, urine samples taken again and more painkillers given. After this, we had to wait about 3 hours to be seen by a doctor, which I find completely strange, and I do hope some one from NHS can actually give me some logical info, as the hospital/ward was not that busy?
A nurse keep coming every 20 mins or so checking us kindly, how we are doing but I've asked him when we could see a doctor. He said, they are busy but we are the next on line. The ward was not that busy, but there is a big circular work/desk arrangement in A&E layout, where all junior doctors/registrars (not so sure about their hierarchy?) and nurses seating and typing or recording their notes.. I've seen 2-3 junior or registrars there for this 2-3 hour period, usually doing some admin work or chatting quite casually. As I keep asking our nurse when can we see the doctor, they saw and heard me so I thought we would probably waiting for a senior doctor or consultant. Anyway, after nearly 3 hours wait, one of these young gentleman just came to see us! Of course that minute, I had no effort to argue with him or question what he was doing in there for the last 2-3 hours? literally this is for curiosity, are doctors supposed to fill and do their admins there, even though you have quite emergency patients waiting just opposite? This is totally bonkers to me hopefully someone from inside can give a logical explanation. The young doctor, just asked all the history of the events, took some notes, then he went to make some phone calls. I had to go out at some point to change our parking place, during this time my wife asked him for help to walk to toilet but he also dismissed. On my return, clearly there was a shift-change, and another senior doctor came in (female) and took a more hands-on approach with my wife. Took more tests, and checked upon us with new medicine until we leave, she was great. My wife would probably need an operation but since we still have not able to see her consultant she could not advise more but said we need to see the consultant with MRI asap. (Tell us about it, we are in the queue for months!)
I took the final pull, and taking loads of recommendation/experiences from friends/relatives, we just travelled to Turkey (Istanbul) today, and made appointment with a quite well known doctor in this field. The appointment was made quickly due to our friends/relatives, and I can only say we are lucky/fortunate to have this travel in short-time. I had no prior knowledge on this previously but clearly; Istanbul (Turkey) and Barcelona (Spain) just became the major popular cities for mainly British citizens to get their operations done, since NHS failing to act on them. The facilities are fantastic, doctors are extremely talented and well educated. I have also made appointments for getting a private health cover for both of us in the future in U.K., I'm afraid I have no believe or trust in the system anymore...
I will definitely send my experience to PALS system at Newham Hospital and Care Quality Commission but after seeing what is happening there and how actually they are being allowed to act/work in that way, I doubt any action would be taken.
Thank you for the best wishes again, I really would not know how to act or what to do if I have much more serious condition, such as a ill toddlers.
PS: Some one earlier asked me how did I vote? I'm sorry to say as much as we believe this is mostly related to politics and budget but in my experience what I've also seen doctors/nurses who have no empathy to patients, which is beyond politics but pure humanity. - "first, do no harm."
Edited by ooid on Sunday 15th December 01:15
Europa1 said:
OP, this is the point at which I lost empathy with you.
You have clearly had an unfortunate, personally frustrating and at times worrying experience.
However, to brand the NHS a national embarrassment on the basis of your one off, personal experience strikes me as grossly unfair on the staff of the NHS who (in my experience, having been a heavy user of the NHS over the last few few years) generally give their best.
By all means ebay your passport.
Sorry but I really do not need your empathy and it's not really a place to have your unnecessary "national pride". If I may politely say sing your "Land of Hope and Glory" at somewhere else... I can only talk about our own personal experience. I've never had to use an ambulance in my life, the only time I needed they failed. The only time my wife needed an A&E, they failed. If a very hard working, British couple today (2019), has to travel overseas to get their health sorted because their national health system is failing, that's pure embarrassment for this country, nothing else.You have clearly had an unfortunate, personally frustrating and at times worrying experience.
However, to brand the NHS a national embarrassment on the basis of your one off, personal experience strikes me as grossly unfair on the staff of the NHS who (in my experience, having been a heavy user of the NHS over the last few few years) generally give their best.
By all means ebay your passport.
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