Visited A&E rececntly with severe dehydration due to pregnancy hypermesis. Understandly there are higher risk patients that need to be seen before me. However, I waited hours to be seen by triage and was exteremely upset and crying due to my illness and anxiety and when seen was given no information and told to wait back in waiting room, no emotion expressed or understanding from particular nurse. Eventually after coming back to A&e later that evening different reception staff saw how ill I was and put me immediately on a drip. I was left in the hallway in a wheelchair which was an upgrade on the a&e waiting room. I was eventually moved to high risk a&e area in the reception area. Still in the corridor. There were no beds. I did not mind waiting. I was asked to give urine sample and when I left me wheelchair I came back to another health care professional walkin off with it with my drip!!!!! They said it was not my wheelchair and was left with no where to sit.
Hours later still no bed so I asked and was left in the now out of use low risk assessment area. Eventually was put back on drip and told I had a bed. Moved up to ward 34 where I was put in visiting area? In a chair in some sort of back room. I was given anti sickness meds that I had bad reaction to but was told it was just my anxiety. Was seen my gynae doctor who was very kind and upset I had no bed. Moved up to women's ward and had bed in breakfast area. The staff were very nice here but the meds I was given had given me tremors and I was very agitated and after long night discharged myself.
I had hypermesis in previously pregnancy. I knew what to expect. I understood the hospital had a particularly busy night. But I was left I. Hallways all night when I have never felt so Ill and I knew that I could not continue with my pregnancy if this was the care i would receive next time I needed to come to a&e due to dehydration. The experience for me was traumatic, I'd been through this before with my first pregnancy.
It's like no one knew what to do with me, I was a spare part because there was no where to put me. I really needed fluids, not having been able to keep food down for weeks i felt like I was starving. I was weak and frail, there really needs to be somewhere locally that can support women with this illness so that they can avoid the a&e process. Somewhere they can attend for much needed fluids
"Mixed experience"
About: Luton & Dunstable Hospital Luton & Dunstable Hospital Luton LU4 0DZ
Posted via nhs.uk
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