"Needles for procedure"

Hi there,

I am writing this as I have had an unsatisfactory, in fact, traumatising experience. I believe there to be a breach in duty of care. About a year ago, I had a procedure and having informed all beforehand of my needle phobia and my simple demands to ease my pain, I felt they were ignored. I recall I had a staff member insert the needle and I was miserably ill and had to be left for a long while to recover. Now I was told by Bass Coast afterwards that things had been attended to there.

I had the same procedure again recently. I informed all beforehand that I seem to have a reaction to needles and the pre-procedure nurses were great and mentioned they may use something else for me.

While in waiting, a clinician, it seemed quite aggressively, stated to me they would not use anything else. I claimed what I needed then as an alternative as I believe I am very calm by nature. I needed support and a firm hand on either side to help me. Neither was appropriate or given. I recall a senior clinician was aggressive and basically said it was all in the mind, I felt like they were telling me off. I know that as I have been living with this physical reaction- as if I haven’t done all the mental gymnastics I need to.

Anyhow, it all felt like a complete violation of my needs - as the first attempt at the needle appeared to fail and I was then left very ill for over an hour or so again wriggling in pain and nausea. I was traumatised from this. Every step of the way pre- procedure I said I have a big allergic like reaction to needles and I felt it was ignored as if with disdain or seemingly waved away as my fault!