Tameside resident says week-long hospital stay left them in tears

A Tameside resident has spoken of a “distressing” experience at Royal Blackburn Hospital, claiming they were left in a corridor for more than 30 hours and felt dismissed by staff while seeking urgent care for a neurological condition.

Robyn, who is from Tameside and has Functional Neurological Disorder (FND), says he attended Blackburn’s A&E after 111 advised them to attend the hospital when their symptoms, including severe pain, mobility loss and non-epileptic seizures, became unmanageable at home.

Under his care plan, hospital admission is recommended when their condition deteriorates. But Robyn says he was questioned about whether he was “just there for drugs” and asked if he “really needed to be there” before waiting around 10 hours to see a doctor.

“From the start I felt judged and not believed,” Robyn said. “I was already in extreme pain and struggling, it was a horrible way to be treated.”

Robyn claims they were eventually admitted but placed on a bed in a hallway, where he remained for around 32 hours.

He says he received no pain relief for the first day, was not given a wristband, and struggled to access staff.

“I was crying and screaming in pain,” Robyn told the Reporter. “Nobody checked on me. I didn’t even have my usual medication because you’re told not to bring your own into hospital.”

During this time, Robyn says they suffered a seizure and temporarily lost the ability to speak.

“I was choking on my own saliva. Staff were walking past and ignoring me. Another patient ended up getting a doctor.”

Robyn says one doctor later began arranging tests, referrals and nutritional support, but he did not see them again

Robyn described other staff as “dismissive”, claiming he waited days to see a doctor and was told he was being discharged without being allowed to fully explain his symptoms.

“On my last day a nurse told me it was my fault I was disabled and that I should ‘get my head checked’. I felt worthless. I just wanted to go home.”

Robyn says the experience took a toll on his mental health and is now receiving support from their GP while trying to access specialist services, something he says is difficult due to limited provision for FND.

Chief Operating Officer and Deputy Chief Executive at East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust, Sharon Gilligan, said: "It’s always disappointing to hear patients have not had a positive experience and I would encourage Robyn to contact us directly so that we can thoroughly investigate this for them.

“The A&E at Blackburn is one of the busiest emergency departments in the Northwest, often seeing huge numbers of very poorly people who need to be admitted for further care. This is always exacerbated as winter approaches when seasonal respiratory illnesses, including covid and flu, add to the existing pressures.  

 "Unfortunately, when all cubicles are full with patients, we don't have any choice but to use corridor space. It is not something any of us want to do but at times of high demand there is no other choice other than to turn people away. Patients and their families can be assured, however, that everyone is being monitored, cared for, reviewed, assessed and supported by colleagues at all times.

“I would like to appeal generally to local people to help us by only attending urgent or emergency centres if you have medical needs that are life threatening – otherwise NHS 111 has clinicians who can immediately guide you to the most appropriate place for help, including GP surgeries and pharmacies."

Despite his experience, Robyn says he understands how stretched NHS staff are but wants recognition that he needed help.

“I know they’re understaffed and under pressure,” Robyn said. “But when someone is in that much pain and struggling like I was, you can’t just leave them. I just want to be treated with empathy and believed.”

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