"Patient's treatment in ED"

I feel frustrated, disbelieved and treated as a nuisance. A few weeks ago, I was unable to eat or drink and when I tried I vomited. Prior to this, I had intermittent vomiting and difficulty drinking water. I contacted my GP and several other Doctors, however, I could not get an appointment. I waited until the afternoon to ring the out-of-hours doctor and was again unable to get an appointment.

I phone the surgeon who had performed my weight loss surgery who advised me to visit the Rockingham Hospital and for me to give them their mobile phone number. I believe I sat in ED for four hours. After sitting for that length of time I had developed a pounding headache due to lack of fluids, I was told to drink water and that there were at least 6 or 7 people ahead of me. I contacted my Surgeon who was unable to admit me to a private hospital as there were no beds available. We decided I would tell the staff I was getting worse and find out how many people were ahead of me. When I went back inside I was told due to more arrivals there was still 6 or more people to be seen. I am sorry to say but I became annoyed. I waited another three-quarters of an hour before I contacted my surgeon again. I told them how many people were ahead of me and that I believe others were coming in and seeing the doctor before me. I suggested I go home and wait until the weekend to see my GP. My surgeon's response was that I would not last that long and because I am a diabetic I needed fluids sooner rather than later. They told me to come to the private hospital's ED. I went back to the Rockingham ED and told the staff what was happening. I was annoyed and it was in my tone of voice.

By this time I was having an anxiety attack and was concerned it would bring on a panic attack due to the number of people confined in the ED. Later in the night, my spouse drove me to the private hospital. I was admitted to the ED and started on intravenous fluids. I was given a bag of fluids every four hours for the following three days. I had various tests and basically, I believe I had a severe reaction to a new medication prescribed by my GP. Having worked in ED, I understand urgent cases come before non-urgent and I completely understand and have no problems with babies and young children going ahead of me. What I don’t understand is why an individual with a broken bloody nose I believe, another with severe stomach pain as I understand it, and a young person with their family were made to wait for over 6 hours. As stated I am Diabetic, my sugar levels were rising although I had not eaten or drunk anything for two days. 

I felt the staff did not look at the bigger picture. With my limited medical knowledge, I know it is not appropriate for diabetics to go without food or fluids for a long time and it was already the second day. I question why I was brushed off when I told the staff my condition was worsening, and why they did not take my surgeon's mobile number and verify how ill I was. I felt the staff were not taking me seriously or looking at the bigger picture. Because someone is able to walk in, articulate, have reasonably good vital signs, does not mean they are not sick. The hospital asks patients to be courteous but based on my experience, patients are being placed in tenuous situations. After waiting for five hours I didn't want to hear there are still six or seven patients ahead of me and that could change each time someone else comes through ED doors. After five hours I did not want to hear that they are the only admin staff. I wonder how long I would have waited if I had not been proactive. As I was already experiencing anxiety symptoms I am sure I would have had a panic attack if I had sat in a crowded ED for any longer. My sugar levels had plummeted and I was having a Hypoglycemic attack.