"I'll be with you in a moment'"

“I’ll be with you in just a moment”

On Thursday 13th of August I was admitted to the Medical Assessment Unit of Calderdale Royal Hospital, Halifax.

On admittance I sat fully clothed for over 2 hours before a member of the Nursing Team took basic details as to whom I was etc.

I asked if it was an appropriate time to ask for a DNR notice to be attached to my file notes. The Nurse started to explain that they were not authorised to do that but just then a Doctor stopped to ask them something and the doctor said “I will be with you in just a moment”. No one came & nothing was added to my file.

After 2 ECG machines were not working I was left with the patches attached - they said “I’ll be back with you in just a moment”.

Some hours later another Doctor passed with yet another ECG machine. I called them and explained I was waiting for an ECG and they immediately agreed to carry out the test. As the doctor approached me yet another member of staff called out that ‘I had had the test earlier’. After a quick exchange of ‘I had not’, ‘He has’. The Doctor stated “I’ll be with you in just a moment” and disappeared. About an hour later the doctor appeared again, I called to the doctor and inquired, “why if I had had the ECG had I been left with the sticky patches still attached to my body and myself partially un-dressed?” On this occasion, I suspect because no other member of staff contradicted my version of events, the doctor consented to apply the test. However this was made more difficult as the sticky patches already applied to me were of a different kind to the ones that fitted this type of ECG machine. Following the quick removal and attachment of different patches the doctor left saying “I’ll be with you in just a moment” and would give me the results, plus the blood results also.

Later that night, as the doctor was passing, I asked them about the test results and the doctor explained that they were going off duty but another Doctor would call on me to explain the results, she said “The doctor be with you in just a moment”. No one came.

At approximately 03.20 I witnessed a patient fall from his bed and injure himself. Blood & dirty footprints remained on the floor on my discharge.

The same day another patient was calling out 'help' - at the Desk 6+ staff were talking - from approx 6 feet I asked for help and one member of staff looked directly at me then walked off. I called louder and then other staff responded.

It was noticeable that some staff referred to patients by numbers.

I cannot give the name of the Department as it is not listed - It was the MAU