Woman hits out over treatment at hospital

A WOMAN who suffered with abdominal pains for more than two years before receiving a diagnosis fears she could have died if she had followed medical advice.

The Loughborough woman, who does not want to be identified, had been suffering for two and a half years with abdominal pains, with no diagnosis made.

She went to accident and emergency department over the August bank holiday this year to try and get treatment but says she was told to go home by a junior doctor, though she refused.

The woman, who is a care worker who works with registered nurses, said: “I knew there was something not right and refused to leave until I was seen by a doctor.”

She was eventually admitted to a ward at Leicester General Hospital, and following more tests the next day, she was diagnosed as having gallstones and biliary sludge.

They also identified that she had acute cholecystitis, an inflammation of the gallbladder - which can be potentially serious because of the risk of complications, according to the NHS - and gave her antibiotics to treat the condition.

She fears that if she had gone home as she had been told, and not stood her ground, she could have suffered worse infections, and possibly sepsis - which could have been fatal.

She is now awaiting an appointment for the removal of the gallstones.

She said: “I want to highlight the fact that people need to be careful.”

She made a verbal complaint to the Care Quality Commission (CQC) and was planning on writing a complaint to bosses at Leicester General Hospital.

A spokesperson for the University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust said: “We are very sorry to hear about the patient’s recent experience with us. We would welcome them to raise their concerns formally and they can be investigated further.”