"Taxi vouchers"

I was admitted to emergency with an asthma attack taken in via ambulance. Upon leaving I requested a taxi voucher for myself as I’m homeless and staying a long way away from the hospital. The coordinator came to me abruptly telling me they had no vouchers which I explained that a friend had got one the day before going to the same place. The coordinator became very defensive and rude. I explained I had no family and spent Xmas alone. Their response was - well I’ve been working here!

I felt very upset having to justify why I needed help getting back home, needing to shamefully say I’m homeless. I was shocked at their rudeness. My mental issues were escalating and asked to see the mental health nurse. That was refused. They wanted me to sit outside. I explained I felt very anxious out their without knowing how to get home. The coordinator stormed off. The whole interaction left me very upset, feeling unheard and I feel no one should have to deal with this staff member. I’m in shock at what I believe are lies. There is a policy change from one day to the next that they are cracking down. I wanted their name or title as I felt people will need to know this. It was all - those people up there - no names or anyone I could get help to advocate for others as this had been terrible for me. When I asked if the coordinator would write down their name and job title due to my memory and mental health they stormed off and left. Last I saw them walking off back into the emergency ward. Totally unsympathetic, rude and disgusting, not writing down as requested due to my memory. They took no responsibility for their position. I would have liked to seen a caring coordinator that looked at my file, pursued it and saw - oh this patient's mental issues and stresses at this time makes them eligible for a taxi voucher without coming to me to be rude and defensive.

I am mostly upset at how they compared my homelessness, justifying why I didn’t have anyone and saying I spent Xmas time on my own, to her at work. So unprofessional. I was sick and never want to be treated like this again.