I have been suffering with UTI's for over 6 weeks & after 4 different courses of antibiotics prescribed by a local walk-in centre & eventually acute kidney pain, I was rushed into Darent hospital last Monday morning after doctors at the walk-in became concerned about the level of pain I was in. When arriving at the hospital I was in so much pain that I was seen fairly quickly. I had my blood taken from a nurse who hit a nerve & was extremely unconcerned telling me to 'shhh' when I screamed. I was given pain relief by a doctor who registered my symptoms and sat me back in A&E. I waited until the DR returned to tell me I needed a CT. I moved to this department where I was releaved to find a comfortable chair as the painrelief had made me drowsy. Over 2hrs later I was taken for my CT & told to sit back in A&E & await results. 2hrs later, a doctor returned to tell me the CT was clear, prescribed me more antibiotics & sent me home. Needless to say, once the pain relief had fully worn off, I awoke with acute pain in my lower back which led to an ambulance rushing me back to Darent. I waited for over an hour, to the point where I was crying in agony on the A&E floor to finally be seen by the 'triage staff' who asked very calmly "how they could be of service today". Upon realising I'd been in A&E twice in 2 days & that, even after the morphine the paramedics had given me, the pain was worsening, I was found a bed. The doctor thought it was my appendix 'referring my pain' to the other side & wanted to prepare me for surgery, also mentioning an urgent need for an ultrasound. I was taken to CDU where a nurse who was concerned about why I wasn't admitted the previous day came to see me. After a couple of hrs I still hadn't seen a doctor & when a man with a trolley offered me food, I accepted having not eaten all day. Halfway through my sandwich a nurse returned to tell me I wasn't allowed to eat as I was 'nil by mouth' which I hadn't been told & wasn't aware of, having never been in hospital before. By this point the pain was starting to return, but as I hadn't been 'clarked' I was turned down pain relief. I waited 6hrs for the surgeons to arrive (at 1am) who quickly dismissed the fact it was my appendix & said I needed the medical team. At 4am the medical team came, prescribing me IV antibiotics for a kidney infection & admitting me. By Friday I still had no ultra sound, no further testing & at 8am was told I was being discharged, giving me antibiotics & referring me to the urologist as a matter or urgency. By 6pm, my medication was (finally) ready & I left. I'm yet to receive any updates about the urologist. This hospital is overpopulated, understaffed & worrying & I will be scared to ever return in another emergency as I felt not enough was done & the painrelief they gave me was just disguising the bigger problem. Other patients around me were in the same boat & many unhappy & concerned about the service being provided here.
"Eye opening, awful experience"
About: Darent Valley Hospital Darent Valley Hospital Dartford DA2 8DA
Posted via nhs.uk
Do you have a similar story to tell?
Tell your story & make a difference ››
Responses
See more responses from Darent Valley Hospital