"Abusive phlebotomist"

I am 33 weeks pregnant and had an appointment at Edgeware earlier this week to have for my glucose tolerance test, which involves a blood test, a wait of 2hrs in which you have to sit still, and then another blood test.

I had to wait a short amount of time for the 1st test in which I found the waiting room really uncomfortable.

I’m under no illusions – I’m 33 weeks pregnant, most places are uncomfortable, especially when you know you have to sit still for 2hrs.

The seats were really uncomfortable, my feet couldn’t reach the floor and they seemed to stick out in your back.

It was also extremely hot.

I was called to the desk for my appointment and told to sit outside of one of the rooms.

The phlebotomist came out and was incredibly rude to me for sitting there.

The abuse continued throughout my blood test.

I appreciate everyone has a bad day but I find it totally unacceptable that abuse is given out to patients.

I asked if there was anywhere a little cooler and with different seats that I might be able to sit in for the two hour wait…they hit the roof!

I spent the two hours in tears.

Another pregnant lady passed out during that time (no doubt the heat was a contributing factor).

It was the most disgusting situation I’ve ever come across.

When I was leaving the hospital I found that there were some different seats in a really cool corridor just outside the waiting room – could she not just have suggested that?

I wasn’t requesting a sofa, just somewhere that my feet could reach the floor and my back could be reasonably comfortable.

When I was called in for my second appointment it was with a different phlebotomist who was very nice.

However, the person that I’d seen earlier came in the room and asked 3-4 times to have me back to do my second test.

I can’t help thinking they were just spoiling for a fight and looking for someone to bully.

I’m sure if I’d have been a little stronger I would have given as good as I got, but then surely that would have been classed as abuse to NHS staff and I’d have been escorted off the premises.

I’m guessing I’ll have to have the glucose test again as my stress levels were through the roof.

I certainly won’t be returning to Edgeware for it.