"Was made to feel like I am being dishonest"

I contacted the ambulance service following experiencing severe abdominal pain with longstanding nausea upon palpitation, causing significant impact on daily living activities and at worst preventing myself leaving the home or supporting mum who has palliative care needs.

I appreciate the ambulance service is under significant demand from the communities which it serves locally. I experienced sudden severe abdominal pain which was confirmed by GP and Hepatologist as the Liver related illness which flared recently causing disabling and very rapid heart rate with rapid breathing.  It caused enough concern to contact 111 who because of complexity went through module zero questions, then warm transfer directly to clinician. I was triaged by 111 clinician who went through past medical history, medication and detailed questioning. I made them aware of the issue of feeling fatigued, raised heart rate, moderate to moderately severe upper abdominal pain with nausea upon pressure or touching. I had viral illness recently which caused severe inflammation and altered function of several organs causing extended stays in hospital with raised glucose. This whole presentation has continued ever since even with raised glucose being a factor as I increased fluid intake, took correction dose of short acting insulin which brought it down very minimally. I explained all this to 111 clinician who sent details through to West-Midlands ambulance service.

I then had a telephone call from a clinical validation clinician who was calling to conduct a second assessment more or less checking up on the DHU Healthcare 111 clinician, which has happened a lot and i find it deeply disturbing and offensive. I was made on this call to feel like I am being dishonest and that the 111 clinician was giving too generous disposition which is very unfair and I feel at least they should be contacting the relevant 111 clinician before closing the clinical case for attendance.

I have noted on this case and several others the West Midlands Ambulance Service will almost always telephone me back though this is substantially delayed by two hours or more, like this time, delaying care and assessment with possible interventions. In certain cases you cannot assess competently over the telephone. I have observed a clinician being very derogatory and very unkind regarding the way they spoke about other registered healthcare Professionals who request assistance from West Midlands Ambulance Service. I feel that revalidation of their decision can cause unnecessary suffering and distress which is very unfair and puts lives at risk. I appreciate the system has to be robust ensuring the ambulance service is utilised appropriately but the tactics observed are absolutely offensive. I feel the community teams or district nurses  are not suitable for everything and people I have spoken to at the ambulance service have made assumptions putting a more complex patient  at significant risk which causes unnecessary anxiety.