Poor ED care and unsafe triaging
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Summary: Poor ED care and unsafe triaging
Visited the ED at Aintree due to sudden onset serious cardiac symptoms on a background of complex congenital heart condition. Had ECG done - gave baseline to compare. Was not seen for 8 hours - had been told during this time that this meant a doctor had felt my ECG was normal. When I finally saw a doctor, she said that my ECG in ED was different to usual. In the 8 hours I was waiting I only had my obs done once (after triage). It took approx 4-5 hours for my bloods to be taken as my veins were difficult and they wanted a doctor to do them with ultrasound. After chasing at this 4/5 hour mark, the nurse tried (successfully) again. Otherwise I wouldn't have had my bloods taken until I was seen by the doctor 8 hours later. I was very cold as a result of my condition but was denied a blanket and told they didn't have any - someone else was given one a few minutes later. I was then given one on pointing this out. The doctor told me my chest x-ray was normal (they had nothing to compare it to). As a doctor myself, on seeing it later I could see very much it was not a normal x-ray and was actually concerning given my presentation. I was told I couldn't go home with my symptoms but then did not have any kind of check at all. After 6 hours (and going through PALS) I was able to see someone to discuss my concerns and how I wanted to go ahead. I wanted to see my specialist due to complexity of background but they were very obstructive of this. Thankfully a lovely consultant got everything sorted but it was a hard slog. Would never come to Aintree again.