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"Lack of patient empathy/consideration"

About: St Thomas' Hospital (London)

On Tuesday, after a fall at the weekend, I was referred for an xray on my knee by my GP as it was suspected to be fractured. I live alone but managed to limp my way painfully and slowly via public transport to St Thomas' to the walk in x-ray clinic. I was initially pleased with the quick and efficient way I was booked in, but it was during my actual x-ray that I was made to feel like a nuisance and a liar. The initial top view xray was completed but the nurse then had difficulty with the side on view. I was manoevered into positions that I found very uncomfortable for my leg/knee in order to try to get the best view. After 3 or 4 failed attempts the nurse then went to ask a senior radiographer for assistance. A male joined her who then proceeded to move my leg into positions that actually caused me to cry out in pain. He looked at me and said " I can see you have boots on and you obviously made your way here so it can't be that bad". He was seemingly implying that I was faking/imagining the pain I was in and it couldn't be that bad. His attitude was less than caring and I found it quite distressing, adding to my feelings of discomfort of the whole ordeal. Whilst I appreciate that a job needed to be done, this so called professional's attitude was far below what I would expect from someone working in a hospital. Implying that I shouldn't be in pain when I was actually in a great deal of pain was completely unnecessary and very uncaring. Luckily for me there was no fracture evident, but the attitude displayed when it was then suggested that I attend A and E if I was "In that much pain", compounded the entire issue. I was made to feel as if I was making it up and shouldn't be there wasting their time. I can assure you that the following 3 hours that I wasted in UCC with the further attitude shown there was not something I would have normally endured by choice, but I simply wanted to ensure that my injury was not more serious considering the pain I was feeling. Frankly I am disgusted!

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