By Patients ‘furious’ with treatment at Grimsby A&E
A number of patients who recently attended Diana Princess of Wales Hospital in Grimsby have come forward with experiences of negative treatment in the A&E department.
This follows reports from staff within the department regarding bullying.
Several members of staff stated that there is a ‘hierarchal system of bullying’ within the hospital.
But the worst claims came from the A&E department, where there are rampant claims of misogyny and racism amongst other forms of bullying from senior doctors to the nursing staff.
A member of staff claimed that the department “isn’t safe,” alleging that in the event of an emergency they would rather drive to Hull or Lincoln for treatment than go to the Grimsby hospital.
Following the publication of this information, patients came forward with their own experiences of Grimsby’s A&E department.
Overall, the NHS has a target of seeing A&E attendees within four hours of arrival.
But many reported excruciatingly long wait times, with some claiming they had waited up to 14 hours to be seen by staff and to receive treatment.
Speaking to Gi Grimsby News, one patient explained how they asked for pain relief multiple times but never received any despite being in extreme pain.
They said: “I asked at least three times fo some painkillers as I was curled up on the bed in extreme pain. Each time a differet nurse came but never brought back the pain relief, I could see them all sat at the nurse station chatting and laughing.
“I’ve always had a huge respect for the NHS and I understand they are under pressure but I felt so neglected during my time in A&E I wanted to cry.
“The doctor didn’t seem bothered about finding out why I had collapsed or why I was in so much pain, because my blood pressure was fine he wanted to send me home.
“If I hadn’t pushed for another opinion I never would have found out what was wrong.”
Other patients reported similar experiences, stating that staff wanted to send them home despite not having any answers to their ailments.
Responding to these claims Dr Peter Reading, Chief Executive, said: “It is disappointing to read such negative feedback from patients.
“The safety of our patients is our number one priority and staff are expected to live our Trust values of Kindness, Courage and Respect at all times, treating patients and colleagues accordingly.
“If you are a current patient with questions or concerns about your care, please speak to a member of staff in the relevant service or department so they can provide you with answers and reassurance. If you have previously visited the emergency department and would like to provide feedback to us about your experience, please visit our website for more information on how to do so: www.nlg.nhs.uk/patients/experience.
“Our emergency departments are often incredibly busy and patients are prioritised based on their clinical needs. Patients attending with a minor injury or a condition that does not require emergency care may experience a long wait while we care for others with life-threatening conditions.
“If you have an urgent medical problem and you’re not sure what to do, get help from NHS 111 by going to 111.nhs.uk (for people aged 5 and over only) or by calling 111. NHS 111 is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.”
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