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"Concerning lack of care"

About: The Ulster Hospital / Emergency Department

(as the patient),

Was sent by GP to get ultrasound for appendicitis, ruptured cyst. Arrived 19.30, was triaged at 21.00, had to ask 4 times for pain relief as it was unbearable.

Was told at 1am no doctors would see any waiting room patients until after 8am. Waited. Seen a doctor at 11am.... 15 1/2 hours later to be told it probably is a ruptured cyst and they would need a consultant to see me.

3 hours later the same doctor came and said they can't do an ultrasound because they aren't a gynae department, and that the doctor said the consultant advised my GP to arrange an outpatient ultrasound and I was sent home with cocodamol.

After 18 and a half hours to be left in the same pain I arrived, with no scan to confirm anything. The nurses were fantastic. However, the lack of care delivered by the the doctor was concerning.

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Responses

Response from Jennifer Nicholson, Lead Nurse - Emergency Care, Emergency Medicine - A&E, South Eastern Health and Social Care Trust yesterday
Jennifer Nicholson
Lead Nurse - Emergency Care, Emergency Medicine - A&E,
South Eastern Health and Social Care Trust
Submitted on 04/04/2025 at 18:42
Published on Care Opinion at 18:42


Hi Anomt79

Thank you for telling us of your experience when attending the ED, it is regrettable you did not get the outcome you wanted. Unfortunately we have experienced increased attendances and the demand for our service does not match the resource we have due to many factors including funding and patients having prolonged waits for hospital beds within the ED. Overnight the staffing levels do decrease but particularly late evening we do see a significant number of patients attending when we do not have the 24 hour service to provide some imaging that includes Ultrasound scans. This in turn all contributes to prolonged waiting times which is something we do not wish for our patients.

It is good that you did not have a rupture appendix but unfortunate that you were discharged without confirmation of your diagnosis which is a condition that is not managed by an ED medical team but rather a gynae team, who would then decide and manage any ongoing treatment required as the clinical experts in that field.

Thank you for your kind comments about the nursing staff.

I hope you get the help you need and follow up scanning by your GP as this is the correct pathway.

Kind Regards

Jenny

Lead nurse ED

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