Rachel's Story - Treat me well

This is the full version of Rachel's Story, part of Mencap's Treat me well campaign which aims to transform the way the NHS treats patients with a learning disability when in hospital.

Rachel’s story is a combination of experiences that real people with a learning disability have had in hospital. Rachel’s experiences in this episode are based on Ronnie’s story. To read Ronnie’s story and to find out more about Treat me well, our campaign for better hospital care, please visit www.mencap.org.uk/treatmewell.

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This is the last episode of Rachel's Story, part of Mencap's Treat me well campaign.

Transcript: 

Announcer: You are now listening to Episode 6 of Rachel’s story, part of Mencap’s Treat me well campaign. 

Every episode of Rachel’s story is based on real experiences of people with a learning disability who have been to hospital. If you haven’t listened to previous episodes, please go back to Episode 1 to hear Rachel’s story from the beginning. 

Rachel:   When things are going seriously wrong with your appendix, 

you need surgery right away. 

I was very afraid. 

The doctor who was putting me to sleep. They tried to relax me, but it didn’t help. 

Dad was outside.

Doctor: Are you sure you’re okay? Do you need a blanket? Do you have a favourite toy or something you can hold onto? I could try and get your dad back in here if that would help.

I may not understand things really fastly but I’m not a kid.

No one would just say what was happening.

They went to put a needle into my arm. I jumped really badly.

They said they were sorry. I said I wanted to know what was happening.

Doctor: All I’m going to do is wipe this bit of your arm with alcohol and put in this needle. It should be just a quick pinch. Then, I’m going to put this mask over your face, but it won’t smell bad. Just take deep breaths and we’ll count to ten together.

Once they said what was happening, everything was fine. 

They put a mask on my face, but I was calm. I counted to ten.

One.

Two.

Three.

Four…..

.

Rachel’s story is a combination of experiences that real people with a learning disability have had in hospital. Rachel’s experiences in this episode are based on Ronnie’s story. To read Ronnie’s story and to find out more about Treat me well, our campaign for better hospital care, please visit www.mencap.org.uk/treatmewell.

Sign up to campaign emails on the website to get the next episode. Thank you.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This is Episode 5 of Rachel's Story, part of Mencap's Treat me well campaign.

Transcript:

Announcer: You are now listening to Episode 5 of Rachel’s story, part of Mencap’s Treat me well campaign. 

Every episode of Rachel’s story is based on real experiences of people with a learning disability who have been to hospital. If you haven’t listened to previous episodes, please go back to Episode 1 to hear Rachel’s story from the beginning. 

Rachel:    Sometimes, hospitals can be so big.

I felt like I was running for ages.

Finally, my dad ran found me. He helped me calm down. 

Some of the doctors tried to find me. They told my dad I needed a scan now.

They needed to know what was making my stomach hurt. 

I told them I was afraid of little places.

Med Professional: We can definitely do a different kind of scan if a CT scan isn’t possible.

They did an X-Ray instead.

I told the person on the X-Ray that I have a learning disability. They said their brother had a learning disability too.

They walked me through the X-Ray. They told me about each step. They helped me understand what the X-Ray does.

It only took a little bit of extra time, but I felt so much better. 

Med Professional: We’ll put you on this table, Rachel. Then we’ll put this heavy blanket over you because X-Rays can be bad for your health if you are around them a lot. I’ll stand behind there and push the button and then it’ll be done.

After the X-Ray, another doctor said there was something wrong.

I needed to have surgery right now.

My dad was very unhappy. He wanted to make a complaint.

I have gone home without no test. 

The medicine they had first given me wasn’t good for me to take.

I didn’t want to make a fuss but Dad was right. 

Announcer: This is the end of Episode 5.

Rachel’s story is a combination of experiences that real people with a learning disability have had in hospital. Rachel’s experiences in this episode are based on Angus’ story. To read Angus’ story and to find out more about Treat me well, our campaign for better hospital care, please visit www.mencap.org.uk/treatmewell.

Sign up to campaign emails on the website to get the next episode. Thank you.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This is Episode 4 of Rachel's Story, part of Mencap's Treat me well campaign.

Transcript: 

Announcer: You are now listening to Episode 4 of Rachel’s story, part of Mencap’s Treat me well campaign. 

Every episode of Rachel’s story is based on real experiences of people with a learning disability who have been to hospital. If you haven’t listened to previous episodes, please go back to Episode 1 to hear Rachel’s story from the beginning. 

Med Professional: Rachel, come with me, quickly.

Rachel:   I’m not sure who it was, but they rushed me out of the 

room. I didn’t know what was happening. 

The doctor was talking so fast. They rushed me to another room. Where is my hospital passport? And where is my dad? I wanted to ask but couldn’t get the words out.

Med Professional: So sorry for the delay and the mixup but we’ve just been backed up with different requests. I’ve managed to get you in to get a CT scan so we can see whether or not you’ve got appendicitis or if it’s just maybe just a fever along with some gastrointestinal problems.

Rachel: When we got there, I saw this big machine. You could lie down inside it. They wanted me to lie down so that I could go in the machine.

No one told me what’s gonna happen. I wished that nurse from before was here.

Med Professional: Now if you’ll just get on the table, we’ll get you into the CT scan so we can…. 

Rachel:    I don’t like little places. They scare me. 

And my dad wasn’t there. I can’t understand what this person was saying.

I couldn’t help it. I started to get upset. 

They tried to get in the machine. I screamed and I ran.

Announcer: This is the end of Episode 4.

Rachel’s story is a combination of experiences that real people with a learning disability have had in hospital. Rachel’s experiences in this episode are based on Desmond’s story. To read Desmond’s story and to find out more about Treat me well, our campaign for better hospital care, please visit www.mencap.org.uk/treatmewell.

Sign up to campaign emails on the website to get the next episode. Thank you.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This is Episode 3 of Rachel's Story, part of Mencap's Treat me well campaign.

Transcript:

Announcer: You are now listening to Episode 3 of Rachel’s story, part of Mencap’s Treat me well campaign. 

Too many people with a learning disability face problems when they go to hospital. We want to change this. Every episode of Rachel’s story is based on real experiences of people with a learning disability who have been to hospital. If you haven’t listened to previous episodes, please go back to Episode 1 to hear Rachel’s story from the beginning. 

Rachel: I’m lucky that my pharmacist knows me really well. She helped calm me down. She says things in a way I can understand. She called my dad so that he could go with me. Blood tests make me feel really nervous. 

I told the nurse I had a learning disability. The nurse said they had had training last month in helping people with a learning disability. I had brought my hospital passport with me, and the nurse read everything inside it.

Nurse: Now Rachel, I’m going to feel this part of your arm to find a vein first. Is that OK? Then we’ll put this rubber band on your arm to make it easier for us to get the blood. I’m going to take this small needle and then we’ll quickly put it in the vein and get the blood.

Rachel: The nurse told me everything she was going to do with the blood test, but she noticed that my head felt hot. I told her my stomach was hurting all of the time now. The nurse looked worried. So did my dad. 

She said we can’t wait for the blood test results.

Nurse: I’m going to see what I can do to get a scan for you, Rachel. I think it’s going to take too long to get the blood test results.

Rachel: My dad and I were waiting in the lobby. 

He went to the toilets and while he was in the toilet, they called my name. 

Announcer: This is the end of Episode 3.

Rachel’s story is a combination of experiences that real people with a learning disability have had in hospital. Rachel’s experiences in this episode are based on Nick’s story. To read Nick’s story and to find out more about Treat me well, our campaign for better hospital care, visit www.mencap.org.uk/treatmewell

Sign up to campaign emails on the website to get the next episode. Thank you.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This is Episode 2 of Rachel's story, part of our Treat me well campaign at Mencap.

Sign up to get more episodes and hear about our campaign, Treat me well, at mencap.org.uk/treatmewell.

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Transcript

Announcer: You are now listening to Episode 2 of Rachel's Story, part of Mencap's Treat Me Well Campaign.

Too many people with a learning disability face problems when they go to hospital. We want to change this. Every episode of Rachel's story is based on real experiences of people with a learning disability who've been to hospital. If you haven't listened to previous episodes, please go back to Episode 1 to hear Rachel's story from the beginning.

Rachel: I calmed down and the doctor pushed on my stomach. It hurt so much. The doctor mumbled something but I couldn't understand what it was.

Doctor: Does it hurt there? Or there? How about there? It could be appendicitis or could just be some gastrointestinal issues. You don't seem to have a fever so we'll get you a blood test.

Rachel: I left the room with two pieces of paper: one green, one white. Honestly, I didn't know where to go. The doctor told me, but I couldn't remember. One of the papers was for the pharmacist. The other was for the blood test. But which one? And where should I go first? The hospital was loud and busy. I just had to leave. I remember my pharmacy gives me green papers, so I thought maybe I should go there first. Soon, I was at the pharmacy near my house. I go there a lot so they they know me.

Pharmacist: Hello Rachel! How are you today? You don't look too well.

Rachel: I told her about my stomach and what happened at A&E.

Pharmacist: Your stomach hurts? On your side? You feel a little bit warm. You might be getting a fever. Now, let's have a look at this prescription. Well, I can tell you this medication won't work well with the pills you are already on.

Rachel: She looked worried. She told me I was supported to take the form to the receptionist. I started to get upset. My stomach was still hurting. I didn't know what to do. What's wrong with me?

Announcer: This is the end of Episode 2. Rachel's story is a combination of experiences that real people with a learning disability have had in hospital. Rachel's experiences in this episode are based on Anne G's story. To read Anne G's story and to find out more about Treat me well, our campaign for better hospital care, please visit www.mencap.org.uk/treatmewell. 

Sign up to campaign emails on the website to get the next episode.

Thank you.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This is Episode 1 of Rachel's story, part of our Treat me well campaign at Mencap.

Sign up to get more episodes and hear about our campaign, Treat me well, at http://mencap.org.uk/treatmewell.

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Transcript

Announcer: You are now listening to Episode 1 of Rachel’s story, part of Mencap’s Treat Me Well campaign. Too many people with a learning disability face obstacles when they go to hospital. We want to change this.

Every episode of Rachel’s story is based on real experiences of people with a learning disability who have been to hospital.

Rachel: Do you remember the last time you had a stomach ache? It’s usually nothing serious, right. I didn’t think it was weird one Sunday when my stomach started to hurt a little bit. I couldn’t eat my lunch, even though it was my favourite – cheese on toast. But then the bottom of my stomach started really hurting. That’s when I knew I should probably tell someone. 

My name is Rachel and I live on my own. I have a support worker and my parents visit once a week. But my support worker wasn’t going to come until Tuesday. And I could feel the pain getting worse. I went to A&E because I wasn’t sure where else to go. It was loud. A lot was going on. Sometimes when there is too much noise, I get upset. So, after I checked in, I tried to ask the person at reception if there was a quiet place to wait.

Receptionist: I’m sorry but we don’t have any other places to sit apart from the waiting room. If you really need a quiet place, I’m afraid you’ll have to go outside. Next!

Rachel: I looked outside. It was raining hard. I took the form and went to a corner of the room. Filling out the forms was difficult. There were lots of long words. I have a learning disability and I didn’t have a person to ask for help. The receptionist seemed too busy and I didn’t want to bother him again. So I did my best. I waited until the doctor called me in. The doctor seemed really busy. I tried to explain that my stomach was really badly hurting. They asked me some questions I didn’t understand.

Doctor: Do you have any existing gastrointestinal conditions? Could you be pregnant? It could be a number of things causing your abdominal issues. What I’m going to do is do some basic physical tests, we’ll get you a blood test, and I’ll give you a prescription for a painkiller.

Rachel: When the doctor lifted up my shirt, I jumped really badly. I didn’t understand what they were trying to do. Everything was happening fast.

Doctor: Oh! Don’t worry! I’m just checking your abdominal area. Sorry about that!

Rachel: I was trying not to panic. But I could feel myself getting more and more anxious.

Announcer: This is the end of Episode 1. Rachel's story is combination of experiences that real people with a learning disability have had in hospital. Rachel’s experiences in this episode are based on Anne G’s story.

To read Anne G’s story and to find out more about Treat me well, our campaign for better hospital care, please visit www.mencap.org.uk/TreatMeWell. Sign up to campaign emails on the website to get the next episode. Thank you.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.