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At no time was she offered a glass of water

Posted By Breast Pain

"At no time was she offered a glass of water"

About: Antrim Area Hospital / Accidents & Emergency

(as a service user),

GP sent my mum to A&E as he thought she may have had a bowel obstruction. 

She had a bowel obstruction previously and was very poorly with it. 

She attended A&E at approximately 1.30pm

GP sent her up for bloods and an X-ray. 

She had bloods, intravenous antibiotics, had an X-ray and then went for CT.  

She was discharged home just before midnight. 

At no time was she offered a glass of water, she wasn’t told by any staff that she should be fasting. She reported that there were a lot of staff in pale green uniforms (were they domestics?) 

When she was brought down to CT she was brought into the room within a few minutes. 

When she was brought out of the room she was left in a secluded corridor, no staff present, the doors were closed in front of her and there wasn’t a sound. She was left there for more than 20 minutes until a porter came along to use the bathroom and asked if she was ok and then brought her back to where she was supposed to be. 

She was treated with care but I feel due to the duration of time she was in the department she should have at least been offered some water, this was during a heat wave. 

Also improvements need to be made in relation to leaving patients in a very secluded environment. 

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Responses

Response from Cathy McCoy, Clinical Service Manager, Emergency Medicine, NHSCT 3 days ago
Cathy McCoy
Clinical Service Manager, Emergency Medicine,
NHSCT

Submitted on 14/07/2025 at 13:12
Published on Care Opinion at 13:12

Dear breast pain

thank you for your correspondence. I am sorry to hear that your mum was unwell. It would be normal practice not to offer patients food and drink if they are being investigated for a potential surgical problem and the potential need for surgery. This should have been explained to your mum at the time and I apologies if this was not the case.

Staff in green uniforms are normally domestics and catering staff but would not be permitted to provide food or drink without the permission of the nursing staff.

I will raise with radiology staff that your mum was left on the CT corridor alone which should not happen.

thank you for brining your concerns to our attention and I hope that I have clarified some of your concerns

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