"Initial assessment unit"

I attended out of hours GP service, my oxygen saturation was very low, was running a temp and had the most horrendous cough. I was referred straight to QEUH IAU. On arrival I became very breathless and a kind porter who was just about to start shift could hear me wheeze. They told me to stop and got a wheelchair and then escorted myself and my daughter to the unit. My daughter booked me in while the porter parked me up.  

Around 20 minutes later I was taken for T/P/R and two hours after that I was taken for ECG, and bloods. My daughter explained to the nurse that I thought I had the flu however the doctor was worried about my breathing. The nurse was very flippant and disinterested replying that flu can do that. They then very badly took my blood - 2 and half weeks later I still have the bruise and lump in my arm! Now normally the cannula is left in - this is in case of further treatment.  Not mine - taken out and when I questioned why I was told that I wouldn't need further treatment.

I was also given a Covid and flu test at this time. A while later myself and my daughter where approached with masks - I was positive for flu. Skip to the early hours of the morning - I am taken for a chest xray. Now there were 2 people in front of me in order of being seen. These 2 people were taken to beds to rest. Then 2 people after me the same thing happened. There was no reception staff at this time and also very little nursing staff were visible due to where the IAU is in relation to the nurses station. One nurse came round and when my daughter asked her where I was in line to be seen, I was told 4 in front of me? This did make me angry as there should have only been 2 in front! I decided I was going to ask for somewhere more comfortable as I had literally been sitting in that wheelchair around 8 hours.

Another nurse didn’t appear until after 3am - this was the charge nurse. When I explained to them they said to let them check as I might be going home - however upon looking at my blood test results said nope I'd be kept in as my infection markers were extremely high. They asked me to wait to see what they could find and came back a few minutes later and took me to a trolley that was in the corridor.

The charge nurse was very apologetic and honestly couldn’t do enough for me in terms of comfort, and also started admitting me. I was so cold, and brought me blankets as well as bottled water, however when taking my temperature it was very high. I was given paracetamol however this didn’t really work. 

I was eventually taken to a cubicle to see the doctor after 5am. I was told  it was a combination of flu, chest infection and an asthma attack. I was prescribed 80mg steroids, naproxen to help try bring my temp down, and antibiotics. At this point the doctor questioned why my cannula had been removed and I explained about the rude staff member.

Also the bruise and lump were already apparent and as I hadn’t been eating or drinking, the doctor couldn’t find another vein so unfortunately antibiotics had to be tablet rather than IV. I was then given a nebuliser and put back in the corridor. I was moved to a cubicle further into the unit around 8am and told not to go to bed as breakfast was being served.

I think I must have been last as toast was rubbery and inedible (which is hard to do!) Now my room was right beside the nurses station and I could hear every part of the ward handover. When it came to my section then room number I could hear a comment being made that I "only had flu”. Then cue someone else saying that it's a joke that people with flu are being sent to the hospital.

Now when you have flu you feel bad enough, and had I the energy and voice I would have gone and said how unprofessional, intimidating and disrespectful such a comment was from a so-called caring professional person. I never bothered anyone, asked for anything, and very much kept quiet. The only time I saw a nurse was for medication, my nebuliser and my OBS.

I was moved to a ward in the afternopon. I was kept in for 4 nights due to breathing issues as well as high infection markers. This was in mid december and now into January I am slowly getting back on my feet. I am still suffering from shortness of breath due to my asthma and been told that could take a few months, if ever, to be back to normal.