"Staff attitude"

I had presented several times over 4 days to the local GP practice regarding a spider bite that was steadily worsening in spite of me taking the prescribed antibiotics. My GP had a swab taken, prescribed stronger antibiotics, and advised me to present to Hospital A&E if it was worse the next day.

This occurred, and I was well cared for by the Student Doctor and the Nurse Practitioner who quietly coached the student through her first-ever debriding work, on my wound, and its dressing. I was told to return the following day for the wound to be checked, as I may have needed IV antibiotics if the state of the wound worsened.

The following morning I presented to A&E for the wound to be re-assessed and re-dressed. I explained my history and showed the daily progress photos to the attending nurse, who set about preparing to deal with my wound. She stepped away from my cubicle and spoke about my case to another staff member, it seemed to me presumably a colleague or perhaps a supervisor.

I recall the second staff member remarked in an unmoderated tone, that if it was up to them, I should be sent off with just a spot of Betadine and a band-aid. I believe they said that farmers just deal with that kind of thing all the time, and that some people make way too much fuss about insect and spider bites - this in spite of not having personally seen the facts of my case.

**I feel that this stating of personal opinion about a wound they had not seen, in a voice that I believe was easily overheard, in an uncomplimentary manner, was inappropriate. I believe they appeared to downplay and belittle my presenting to A&E for medical attention, without knowing my case history **

The attending nurse did subsequently check and dress my wound in an appropriate manner, and did not change her approach from hearing the opinion of the other staff member; but I felt the other's uninformed and unfounded assertion that I was overreacting should not have been stated, especially within hearing of the patient.