" “Frequent flyers”"

I attended the Emergency department and they class me as a “ frequent flyer” I have a number of chronic health conditions, including epilepsy, asthma and more.

This term is unfair, those with chronic illnesses do not choose to be unwell, I feel we are “judged” by doctors, nurses and consultants.

Most of us have a hospital passport for this reason, so we can be treated appropriately however we often get dismissed, I have heard nurses and doctors discussing another paitent, who is a “frequent flyer” and it was awful to hear the way they spoke about this individual.

I respect and appreciate the care and time, but this does not change that paitent confidentiality was broken, and a lot of paitents heard this aswell.

As someone who lives with a chronic illness I often have to attend RCHT, through no fault of my own.

I really wish staff were educated on those living with chronic illnesses and also mental illness, and would understand this is out of our control, the minority of people that abuse the NHS should not mean that we are all seen in this way.

Please understand chronic illnesses, and ill mental health is horrible to live with, and we shouldn’t fear coming to the hospital due to being “judged”.

We are like any other paitent and we already have enough to deal with without being treated unfairly.

Some nurses/doctors are very understanding but this is a minority, and it needs to become the majority.