"My wife’s confidence in health care dented by A&E"

At the beginning of april myself and my wife visited the A&E department. My wife,who has spina bifida and has to use a wheelchair, has been suffering from abdominal pains and they were becoming progressively worse.

Having previously spoken to my sister whose daughter was having similar problems she advised me to go to A&E as they seen to my niece with no problem.

We were greeted by a receptionist who began to take my wife's details. As soon as we got to why we had called in, the receptionist called over a nurse. The nurse, whose name and what specific job title she holds I do not know as she did not volunteer it, looked over the counter to see my wife who was sat in her wheelchair as I described my wife’s current health problem. The nurse then told us that my wife would have to see her GP and that she wouldn’t be treated at the A&E.

I was almost speechless at this nurses condescending and uncaring attitude and it caused my wife some distress.

My wife later, two days later, got an appointment with her GP. Three days after that my wife was rushed by ambulance to the same A&E department with severe abdominal pain and then admitted to hospital for the next four days.

I would like to know why my wife was turned away at A&E on that Monday and an apology from said Nurse would not go amiss either. My wife’s confidence in her health care has been severely dented by that department. I only hope you can help in reassuring her in some way.