• Replies 6 replies
  • Subscribers 30 subscribers
  • Views 1604 views
  • Users 0 members are here
Options
Related
Hints and tips
  • To quote someone's message, first select/highlight the relevant text, and then use the Quote button that appears
  • To "mention" someone, type @ followed by the start of the forum name, and choose from the list; that person will get a notification of being mentioned

A&E Experiences

awetismblog

We regularly have to visit doctors with our son who has autism and also need to visit A&E often. Our experience of A&E has mostly been negative with even the better visits, where we encounter kindness, being marred by ignorance, lack of empathy or long waiting times In inappropriate surroundings. Do many people have this experience? I would be intrested to know what kinds of experiences people have.

I have also started a petition to try to start change in this area. If you have time could you please sign this and share it with your friends?

www.change.org/.../shona-robison-improve-nhs-a-e-care-for-people-with-autism

Many thanks.

Parents

  • Yep I had this problem although I am the one who is Autistic. After 3 hours in a cramped and packed waing room with chatter and bleeping phones I finally got to see a doctor who was also stressed out. He was kind and thorough but when I told him I was Autistic he dismissed it as I am still waiting fir a formal diagnosis.( 2 year waiting  list.) In the past I would have masked and done a good act of appearing "normal". This time I let the mask slip. Big mistake. He seemed to take my manner as confusion due to my age. I now have an appointment with the geriatric clinic. Moral is that even professionals who should understand, don't.  

Reply

  • Yep I had this problem although I am the one who is Autistic. After 3 hours in a cramped and packed waing room with chatter and bleeping phones I finally got to see a doctor who was also stressed out. He was kind and thorough but when I told him I was Autistic he dismissed it as I am still waiting fir a formal diagnosis.( 2 year waiting  list.) In the past I would have masked and done a good act of appearing "normal". This time I let the mask slip. Big mistake. He seemed to take my manner as confusion due to my age. I now have an appointment with the geriatric clinic. Moral is that even professionals who should understand, don't.  

Children
  • in reply to VLD

    Wow, only 3 hours?! My Dad had to go in 2 days before new years eve. He phoned 111 and they called him an ambulance, but it hadn't shown up after a few hours so when he told use we drove over and took him in (after cancelling the ambulance, which would have been 8 hours! It was after 11pm by the time we got him there and it was so crowded. He did get a seat, but i had to leave him there as we were told the wait would be at least 8 hours and he was not unable to advocate for himself, but I would have been too unwell to help him the next day if I had stayed with him. The wait was in fact longer than that. Providentially his condition improved somewhat (he had a kidney stone and it must have moved) but if it had got worse enough that he passed out he did not feel confident he would have survived! It is totally unacceptable, not just for autistic people.