"Some really nice staff but not always terribly competent"

Started off really good, nightstaff when I first arrived were very attentive and kind - pain relief, anti-sickness and fluids were readily available (as I was unable to eat or drink). Scan was organised for the next day and I was fasted, however was denied IV fluids despite informing staff at least 5 times that I have PoTS and Chronic UTI which requires I get at least 2L of fluids every day. It felt like banging my head off a brick wall.

I was left 6 hours, told not to drink and given no IV fluids and I was already dehydrated. I ended up so dehydrated that I couldn't urinate and the UTI (which had literally just cleared up) flared up again and I was in terrible pain with that plus the gastric pain I'd come in with. Adequate pain relief and anti-sickness meds were now few and far between, I also observed other patients given meds but when they told staff they weren't working  were offered no alternative. My test was then cancelled, due to emergencies, which was understandable, but denied fluids for 6 hours for someone already dehydrated?! The test only requires fluid fast for 2 hours prior.

I'm autistic and became so anxious and sleep deprived due to noise (which in fairness is the same everywhere) I started having panic attacks but wasn't allowed to leave and come back for the test. Wasn't offered anything to help with the anxiety or sleep either, other than an extremely low dose of meds I'm already on which aren't for sleep (or anxiety at the dose I'm on). No accommodations were made for an autistic person at all. Super poor communication, asked the same questions numerous times and often told different things by different people. Urine samples kept going missing or were left for hours in the toilet (used by all the patients) which was frustrating for those of us struggling to give a sample. And staff were observed to be adamant that patients hadn't handed one in, even though they had been clearly seen doing so by the other patients.

Staff were pleasant enough and I understand they're busy and are emergency trained and not specialised but why not listen to the patient who knows more about their long-term health conditions than they do? On this occasion, they seemed to go off bloods only without taking into consideration other factors or even looking at me as a patient. My lips were dry and cracked, no saliva in mouth, skin flaking plus not peeing. Bloods can say what they like, that's dehydration! Also told IV fluids would damage my kidneys despite the fact that usually I drink 2L + everyday with salt and electrolytes, as advised by a Cardiologist. It was just so frustrating.

Patients with PoTS are fall risks due to fainting, and I was told just not to stand up without staff (rather than be given fluids to prevent fainting) which would make no difference to whether I'd faint or not. I saw an older person fall on the ward due to a staff member walking away to get something and leaving them standing on their own. I also overheard incorrect information about a medication being told to another patient.

I ended up getting my test done which didn't give any answers unfortunately so I was discharged still unable to eat (having lost a lot of weight before going in, probably more now) without any advice regarding meds etc. but told to go back to my GP if I continue losing weight (which I will because I still can't eat 🙄). They also had no idea whether the sample that was supposed to be taken during the test was actually done. Back to the GP I guess!

The test (endoscopy) itself was pretty unpleasant and I was being told by numerous people to just breathe while I retched constantly. After sedation was administered, I had what seemed like a swarm of people descend on me! I had been told if patients were struggling with retching they'd stop and give more sedation and go slower but that didn't happen as far as I know. There was a lovely member of staff that held my hand though.

All in all, pretty much what I've come to expect from GRI. Some really nice staff but not always terribly competent.