I’M disabled and chronically ill.
I was assessed at home on 25/6/18 and advised I should go to hospital for IV antibiotics.
The surgery booked a bed on Ansty Ward, and asked for an ambulance to collect me ‘within the hour’. This was in the afternoon.
At midnight the ambulance finally arrived, and I was taken directly to Ansty Ward as arranged.
I was told that someone else was already in my bed and there were no other beds available. I would have to go to A&E.
At A&E, the queue to be admitted to A&E was simply hours long. Just to point out, June 25 was a Monday! I begged them to take me home. Too ill for this chaotic environment.
The paramedics, as always, were very kind but could do nothing to help.
My distress was increased by the need for the toilet but impossible to get to one. I wet myself! At 2am I finally made it to the top of the queue and following assessment I was admitted to another ward.
A week later I was transferred to Swanage Community Hospital which was heavenly quiet in comparison.
Regular visits to hospital has given me a regular viewpoint in the horrendous decline in our NHS, which scares me to death. E.g. plastic picnic cutlery and outdated, often malfunctioning equipment. Two GP surgeries in this area have closed impacting remaining surgeries. Not enough GPs, doctors, nurses, community services, everything. This cannot continue. The situation is now desperate.
DAWN SHARMAN
Wakely Road, Bournemouth
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