Sandrine Anterrion

Review of St Marys NHS TRust

I am keen to post an irate complaint about the way...

I am keen to post an irate complaint about the way I was treated at st Marys Hospital today and tonight.
A few months ago, I was diagnosed with large fibroids, which unfortunately added much pressure on my legs veins.
The way this was discovered was because of my intermittent swelling of the legs.
I went through various tests at the very same hospital, including very recently a couple of heart tests.
To prevent clogs in the legs, which could result in clogs in the lungs, they prescribed blood thinner injections.
I did this for awhile, but after a month, having still not changed GPs, I didn t follow it up with pills.
The last time I used an injection was a few months ago.
Last Thursday, I started feeling nagging contractions in my left thigh, but thought a few stretches would do the trick. Then on Friday, I was seriously limping. Saturday morning 03am, I got up and couldn t walk, nor sit on the loo.
I called an ambulance, having strained my leg to the nearest bus stop.
I was in agony, and took 40 minutes on a 5-minute journey. I was also straining to breathe, as my throat was tightening and felt faint. This was all described to staff at the hospital.
I waited 3 hours for an ambulance, until 07am past. Just before 08am, I got to the hospital in a wheelchair. I stayed in that wheelchair until 20:30, except for several tests and X-rays.
Doctors and nurses could see the pain I was in, as I couldn t fold or stretch my leg properly, nor stand up.
They gave me a few painkillers, which helped little (paracetamol, and I took codeine i had on me).
After 13 hours mainly sitting on the wheelchair, they discharged me, having failed to resolve the problems. Asked me to come back on Tuesday morning for more tests, as well as Sunday to their pharmacy, for medicine to relieve the pressure and pain. They had none left at the time in the hospital.
Because I wasn t diagnosed apparently, I couldn t get crutches from them, to help me walk. I begged for them. Doctors, nurses who were looking after my case... Staff at their computer blatantly ignored me standing there in front of them, asking for help with walking sticks; until one male staff aggressively threw at me that I was walking fine , over and over again, and then proceeded to follow me with his words as I left... As if this was some emotional luggage relief to him.
I was not abusive or rude to anyone, nor did I raise my voice: I just let them know this was unacceptable, and explained why.
13 hours wait on a wheelchair, no ambulance, no crutches, no medicine, no bed.
A few minutes later (10 minutes), I was told that if I didn t leave the waiting area, they would call security (by the female nurse who came to remove my canula). This as she could clearly see me crying in helplessness and pain, after I told her about my vulnerability, and of the fact that I lived on my own, and had no money for cabs...
I was in fact recharging my phone (obviously flat by now), recuperating, trying to find physical strength, and contacting people who might be able to help... I found no one local to pick me up, so I limped to the downstairs waiting area, in tears and in pain.
I am supposed to go back to st Marys for medicine tomorrow. I am supposed to go back on Tuesday for further tests. This will be difficult if my legs are so stuck.
I am extremely disappointed and wounded.
I am pretty sure this is illegal, as well as discriminatory. They left me a vulnerable person, physically and emotionally, also feeling undignified and insulted. Dehumanised.
Surely unique specimen of drunks occupy their beds on weekends, but no crutches for me because the doctor didn t order any?...
With my medical history?!...
Great Insult to great injury.
They treated me like a dog at the end of the day, with doctors and nurses blatantly ignoring me, and even shouting arguments back at me, telling me my walking was fine !!
This is not right at all.
And I m still hurting, sitting now in the downstairs reception area, which is empty but for two regular homeless guys.