"I fully intend never to go there again"

I have secondary terminal bone cancer.

I was unwell for a few days with upset stomach and vomiting. I called NHS 24 who advised that I be booked to University Hospital Monklands to have my bloods checked as I may be toxic or have sepsis. I went to the hospital A&E department as advised. The waiting room looked like a war zone the were people sprawled out on the floor vomiting and passed out.

The receptionist told me to wait in my car as I was immune compromised. I sat for two hours before someone called my phone and I was triaged. I had a canula put in my arm and was told to sit out in my car again. I sat for another three hours.

My battery on my phone was very low and I went back in to ask if someone would get me from car as my phone was out of battery. By this point I was cold, hungry and increasingly sore.

The receptionist said no one would come and get me. Then they said if they heard my name being called they would try and get me. At this point I was ready to just go home. A family member arrived with a flask of tea and a blanket.  She went back in to speak with the reception staff who informed her that because I was referred by the out of hours GP there was a wait of 15 hours.

I have less than 1 year to live and had spent 5 hours of that time waiting to be seen by a Doctor. I felt that I was being overlooked as I am dying anyway so what's the point in giving treatment. I was eventually allowed into the hospital and placed in the family room. I had still not been offered any pain relief. 

I was admitted to the Medical Receiving Unit (MRU) where I was given fluids. I spoke with a Doctor who advised that he was prescribing different pain medication from what I was on. This was late at night. 5 hours later and in the early hours of the morning I still had not been given pain medication for my bone pain. I asked several times and was told by the poor over worked nurses that they would check.  Lunchtime the next day I still had no medication for pain. The nurse then advised that I take my own medication as there was nothing in the notes about changing it. I was discharged at an hour and a half later, thankfully. 

I fully intend never to go there again. I have been treated poorly by NHS over the years and misdiagnosed hence my bone cancer but the lack of resources and attitude of staff has made me realise just how broken the system has become.

Thinking of the waiting room, there were numerous cases there that should have been seen and dealt with by a GP. I even think my issue could have also but instead I had to sit in a cold car for 5 hours scared to move incase I was septic or toxic with a canula hanging out my arm.