Lancashire & South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust
Sceptre Point, Sceptre Way, Bamber Bridge, Preston, Lancashire, PR5 6AWPatient ratings and reviews
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Review titled Compassion Fatigue?
Rated 4 stars out of 5
by Anonymous - Posted on 24 February 2023
In a lot of pain for over 2 hours. Could hardly walk or talk. Eventually, my daughter called 999 as pain was deteriorating and becoming unbearable. If I could have driven, then I would. Ambulance arrived and I felt very judged - 'you're only round the corner from the hospital' being one, jovial, comment. Walking to vehicle, doubled over, no help at all to steady myself - despite three paramedics present. Felt all boxes were ticked, but no compassion. Did not feel good and I have never felt so ill, or frightened, in my life. I support the NHS, but feel maybe some workers have compassion fatigue? I am in my 50s. If I had been elderly would it have been different? If the pain had been explicit ie bleeding limbs, would that have been different? At a time when you feel very vulnerable and in (unknown) excruciating agony, it felt uncomfortable to be treated like a wearying tick box. Very odd. I rarely use services, do not take them for granted, and work for NHS myself. This experience fell far short of what I would expect and what I would want my own patients to feel. Deciding to call 999 is a last resort, made by people who feel desperate, and in need of serious help, in one way or another. I was too ill to say anything at the time and too shocked. This was not the approach that is widely shown on heart warming tv documentaries! I felt like a time waster, even though it transpires I probably need surgery. Ambulance and A&E staff do a tremendous job - but they must never lose empathy for the patient's fear, pain and predicament in the few brief minutes they come into contact with them. Or condescend their pain and vulnerability. Being glib and treated as a job number, as opposed to caring for the individual presenting, is never acceptable.
Visited February 2023
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