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Newton Stewart hospital, vaccinations

Posted By bookfn44

"Newton Stewart hospital, vaccinations"

About: Newton Stewart Hospital / Rehabilitation and Reablement

(as the patient),

Terrible experience with one of the nurses. I was having routine vaccinations and the nurse was extremely blunt and it seemed they were not trained in dealing with Autistic patients. They hurried me through the vaccines not giving me any information other than take paracetamol if it hurts, Autism trained nurses always explain exactly what is happening and help as much as possible, they also are supposed to offer a private room seeing a sunflower lanyard (which I was clearly wearing.)

They were rough with the needles which were painful and bled lots, so much as so they bled through my t-shirt. They didn't apologize or anything. 

I'm a wheelchair user so badly done needles mean I can't push myself for a few days. This takes away my freedom and the ability to leave my bed. Thanks to this I'm going to be scared for my next vaccine appointment and will leave me unable to move for about a week. 

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Responses

Response from Michaela Cannon, Patient Feedback and Complaints Co-ordinator, Patient Services, NHS Dumfries & Galloway nearly 2 years ago
Michaela Cannon
Patient Feedback and Complaints Co-ordinator, Patient Services,
NHS Dumfries & Galloway

I am responsible for the co-ordination of Patient Feedback and Formal Complaints received by NHS Dumfries and Galloway.

Submitted on 25/07/2022 at 16:29
Published on Care Opinion at 16:29

picture of Michaela Cannon

Dear bookfn44

Thank you so much for taking the time to share your feedback with us. I am sorry to learn of your experience and the distress this caused you.

I understand that the lanyard you describe does not identify that an individual has autism, but rather that the individual is mask exempt or has a disability which is not always visible. Staff do not question patients when they are wearing a lanyard as many people wear it to indicate they are unable to wear a face mask. The nurse would not necessarily be aware of your condition, unless you had advised her.

I am aware that staff do offer a privacy area for various different reasons, such as needle phobia and adults or children who have a disability. I am sorry to hear this was not offered to you on this occasion.

We would welcome the opportunity to look into your concerns further and I would urge you to reach out to us to help us identify how we can improve our services for you and other patients in the future.

Please contact Patient Services at dg.patientservices@nhs.scot, 01387 272733 to allow us to discuss this matter further with you.

Kind regards

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