A Southend woman believes she is lucky to be alive after it took doctors 22 hours to determined she was suffering from a ruptured appendix.
Fury - April Jones F5DP52
The complaint comes just days after a leading Southend councillor attacked delays in NHS emergency treatment at Southend Hospital's A&E department.
April Jones, 35, of Lancaster Gardens, was referred to the A&E ward by her GP, who suspected a grumbling appendix. But following tests her condition was dismissed as an ovarian problem that didn't require surgery.
After 22 hours waiting in an observation ward in A&E medical staff eventually realised Miss Jones's appendix had ruptured and septicaemia set in.
Miss Jones said she then developed pneumonia and a collapsed lung. Only two weeks of specialist treatment in hospital eventually saved her life.
She said: "Had my condition been treated promptly and within acceptable time scales I would not have suffered such trauma."
Miss Jones' complaints follow an outspoken attack on the NHS system by Verina Weaver, a Southend Council cabinet member with responsibility for health and social care.
The West Shoebury Conservative councillor said she waited in agony in A&E for 24-hours before being finally transferred to a ward and called for changes to a system which she said was letting down both patients and medical staff.
A hospital spokeswoman said: "Both Mrs Weaver and Miss Jones will need to complain in writing to Chris Humbles at the trust office so that the matters can be dealt with. We cannot comment on individual cases."
Published Tuesday October 22, 2002
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereComments are closed on this article