"Everyone deserves to be treated with respect and dignity"

I was admitted as an Emergency to Craigavon Area Hospital A&E dept via ambulance. I was given medication for suspected heart attack in the Ambulance. The Ambulance service was excellent and a thorough report was written up containing my medical information to handover. This included information of my previous airway surgery in September 2021, during which I had had a cardiac arrest and received CPR.

I was tested for COVID and bloods were taken and an ECG and then I was wheeled in a chair and left in the corridor opposite the main entrance doors. Despite several requests for pain relief I was not given anything until 4+hrs after admission. I had suffered a functional nonepeleptic attack which resulted in me falling of the chair onto the ground. This was most likely triggered by pain and sitting in a cold doorway for over 4hrs. I couldn’t get up off the floor myself as I have no control over My limbs when this happens. One of the Nurses was very rude and insisted that if I was able to get myself off the chair then I could get myself back on it again. A hoist was sent for but it took 3 to 4 attempts to get me into it as it seemed the staff hadn't been trained in its use. I was then put back onto the chair and ignored. I was still in pain and this was worse since they’d rolled me in and out of the hoist.

I asked a cleaner to ask one of the nurses for pain relief. A nurse came out and took my blood pressure and went and got me Paracetamol. The staff member that had been rude earlier then came out and I asked how much longer I’d have to wait to be seen. The reply was that at the start of their shift there had been an 8 hour backlog, so I could work the rest out for myself. I had been waiting over 4hrs and by these calculations it would be at least another 4 hrs before I would be seen. It was already the early hours of the morning, I was tired, in pain, cold, and didn’t feel safe, especially because of the way I was treated earlier. I said well then I am going home.. to which they replied that this was my choice. They then pulled my bag from behind the chair, that the ambulance crew had said to pack. My husband arrived later and stood at the door of the treatment room but then had to go in as nobody came out. He told them he was here to take me home. They said that given the seriousness of your my condition, they would strongly advise waiting to be seen by a Doctor. My husband replied that I'd be better off at home and we will speak to the GP in the morning.

The next morning my daughter rang to find out the results of my blood tests and was told as I hadn't stayed to be seen, we couldn't get the results, and that they will be sent on to the GP.

My daughter rang the GP and they said they hospital should have given the results to me. I was able to get a review appointment with My ENT consultant the next day ,who was able to see the results and confirm that they had been alright. The most likely cause of the severe chest pain was from subluxation of my ribs and bruising from the CPR. I have hypermobile joints and they hadn’t broken but had moved. 

I know A&E departments are under pressure but there was no excuse in My opinion for the total lack of care I received. Everyone deserves to be treated with respect and dignity..things need to change.