"My Visit"

Went in with chest pains and spoke to the receptionist. I explained that I had come a week ago with similar pain and after having my ECG done I was told it’s a 5 hour wait to see the doctor which on new year’s day was expected however this time it was after my gym session and this kept me up all night and wanted to see a doctor rather than waste their time having an ECG done to which they said I would need to be checked by the nurse based on the symptoms. Triage nurse was really helpful and very friendly, as suspected the ECG came out fine and felt bad because this was the second time however I did express that I really just wanted to see a doctor in the walk in centre to get an understanding as to why the pain in the centre left was there for so long. They then sent me to the walk in centre and said I would be seen by a doctor.

After a 2 hour waits which personally I think was reasonable as the board stated 3 hours waiting time I was then seen by someone who started with reading my file and pointed out that my numerous visits with a comment ‘well you’ve got your money’s worth of ECG’s’. I found that very rude not mention the person said that both time it shows it nothing to do with your heart in attitude way of saying I am wasting their time. I then had to correct them saying well no because an ECG could not guarantee that there is nothing wrong with my heart as doctors don’t base heart disease just on an ECG to which they then said ill rephrase that “you are not having a heart attack” I replied saying I never said I was and was reluctant to have an ECG on that basis and I went on to ensure they knew that I had actually had 3 ECG one abroad about 1 month ago which I paid almost £300 for including a Troponin test just in-case they thought my intention was to simply waste the NHS’s time. It definitely was not however surely people would be very worried when such pain occurs in the middle of night and keeps you up with worry.

My point is the hospital is a great place and the people working there are just as great even the person who I spoke to at the end however understandably they are stretched but that is no reason to have such attitude towards patients, it has certainly made me very reluctant to attend with such pain again which is scary given if next time it is something serious.