"Waiting time in emergency"

I had come to the Sutherland hospital ER due to me thinking I had ruptured an ovarian cyst. I was in agonising pain, I had a fever, vomiting, I was shaking, and I couldn’t talk or walk properly.

I arrived very early in the morning and spoke to the person at the desk, telling them I have a history of PCOS and endometriosis and had never been in this much pain before.

I later saw the triage nurse who I felt was very dismissive. Before saying anything they told me to put my vomit bag in the clinical waste, making me walk when I couldn’t really. They asked if I had been drinking and I said yes, I had 3 drinks. They gave me some medication for the vomiting and told me it was a long wait (about 5 hours). The triage nurse then sent me out to the waiting room. They did not ask me a single question, they did not do any assessments. I am a nursing student and I believe this was just pure neglect. It seemed every other patient that came through was seen before me. Patients who came through 4 hours later were called in within 30 mins.

My partner had asked one of the staff members behind the desk how long the wait would be. I believe they sighed very loud and said I was in the queue. The person behind the desk I felt was extremely rude to not just me, but, I believe other patients too.

I ended up leaving after almost 5 hours, after being what I felt was neglected for hours and being the only one in the waiting room. This situation disgusted me. I understand there are emergencies that take precedence over me but it appeared a person came in with mild swelling and was immediately treated.

I am now worried I may experience sepsis or go into septic shock. I was still in pain the next night.