"Rude, abrupt, uncaring staff in emergency department"

I presented to Emergency Department Redcliffe Hospital QLD. The first person of contact was the Triage Nurse. I was standing behind red privacy line and I believe the Triage Nurse glared at me. In an extremely rude, irritated manner, I felt they hatefully said to me "Are you waiting to see someone?" She was extremely rude, so I asked, "May I proceed to the counter to speak to you in private?" She allowed me to do this. She then stated "Why are you here? You do realise that this is an Emergency Department don't you and we are extremely busy and you may have a very long wait to see a doctor."

This was before I had even spoken to her about why I was there. I attempted to tell her why I was there when I believe she screamed at me, "I asked you, why are you here? I do not want to hear any history (which later, was very relevant to the doctors as to why I was there)...just why you have presented here today?"

I was sick, crying, frightened and shaking at this stage so my friend tried to say something to her and once again I believe she screamed at him, "Excuse me, will you please say nothing. I am typing and you have no reason to speak."

After doing a set of obs she ordered me out to the waiting area and again said, "You will probably have a very long wait." I stated "You seem extremely irritated by me presenting here for medical help and would you prefer me to go to another hospital?"

That is a brief account of events with her. To cut a long story short, in the past number of months I have been hospitalised there and developed many life threatening conditions and when I became very ill that afternoon, I decided I needed medical help. (I'm an ex health care worker.) The general treatment I received by all medical staff involved in my care that evening was, rude, uncaring and I was treated with so much disrespect. I am still in pain and suffering from what I presented there with, but am too frightened to return there for medical help. The final result was that a CT confirmed that the conditions I am suffering from are indeed real (I have also had many CT, MRI, Ultrasounds tests within those months. Their advice to me was - we are an Emergency Department and we suggest that you keep your appointment here with your surgeon in a months time, so that he can sort out this particular condition. I said, "I do not believe that I will still be alive then. Their response was - if you want immediate attention we suggest you go to a private hospital as a private patient and you will be treated straight away.

So much more to tell about the whole debacle that night but it would take pages. Summary is - I feel that they are extremely rude, uncaring, lazy, confrontational, abusive, dangerous staff. They have made me feel like cancelling my surgical appointments and when a disaster occurs, then present to emergency. I believe the doctor who discharged me said - What care were you expecting here?