"I felt like an embarrassing nuisance throughout"

I arrived to the RVH for a Sunday pacemaker clinic. I use a walker, so I need a lift, to get in. I parked up. And walked a distance to the lift. The lift had a sign, out of use. There was no sign in the carpark to tell a disabled person not to walk to that entrance. I felt very disheartened.  I walked different route, to a different door. I climbed the steep slope to the different entrance,  which I normally avoid. I was tired and upset, so I asked the receptionist for a wheel chair. She told me the lift had been out of order for a week. I saw lots of other people struggling. 

I waited for a chair for over an hour. The receptionist phoned the clinic to explain what was happening, several times.

Eventually, a porter with a chair turned up. I got to clinic very late, my husband carried my walker, as they wouldn't keep in at reception. I can only walk so far, you see.

My husband then pushed me back to the carpark, with me in the chair, holding the walker. My arms are not effected with muscular dystrophy. 

We abandoned the chair at the pay station, and as I was driving away, we phoned the RVH, to tell them where we left the chair. The thought of waiting for another porter seemed daunting.

I felt like an embarrassing nuisance throughout. As I waited for the porter, I watched as countless disabled and injured patients hobbled over to the broken lift, and read the small sign beside it. 

Even if there had been a sign at the entrance, saying please avoid the effected entrance, I would have avoided needing the chair, as I would have had much less walking to do.

A little bit of thought and consideration. 

There surely is a protocol for when the lift in broken, in an acute hospital. Apparently not.

My husband was very angry, and I felt terrible. I try my best to keep my independence. Actually,  normally I go to clinic on my own, thankfully I had help today.

I was left crying, out of distress and mortification. 

 I will dread my next hospital visit.