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A woman claims she was told to stop crying as other patients were worse off than her when she arrived at A&E unable to walk and falling in and out of consciousness.
Nicole Scott was diagnosed with stage 4 endometriosis in 2023 following years of extreme pain and being told it “was all in her head”.
Her chronic illness has left her on the strongest dose of morphine, needing a walking stick due to mobility issues and using a catheter as it has affected her bladder.
On Friday, March 14, Nicole had a transvaginal scan at a specialist hospital in London which upset an adenomyotic cyst - a rare cyst which forms in the muscular wall of the uterus.
She started to develop severe pain over the weekend due to the irritation, but by Sunday morning it became too unbearable and she fainted at her home in St Mary’s Island.
Nicole’s friend, who was staying with her for the weekend, and her mother-in-law rushed her to Medway Maritime Hospital where she collapsed outside the A&E department.
She said: “I had never been in pain like that before. I could not stop crying, no matter what my family did to keep me calm, which had not happened to me before.
“I just remember crying in hysterics because the pain was so bad. I thought my ovaries were going to explode and I could not feel my legs.
“My friend said I was going in and out of consciousness from the pain.”
The 31-year-old nurse was admitted to the emergency department, in Windmill Road, Gillingham, when she said the charge nurse told her: “You need to stop crying. I have had patients in here who have had legs falling off who did not act like you.”
She claimed when her friend tried to tell the healthcare professional about Nicole’s medical history and endometriosis diagnosis, she was dismissed and felt they were not interested.
The pediatric complex care coordinator added: “I was in excruciating pain. I was extremely hurt by her comments as it was a distressing time for us all.
“Everybody feels pain differently. I have been told some crazy things by professionals but I was in and out of consciousness and my readings were high.
“They are indications that something is wrong and she did not have any compassion whatsoever. There is no need for what she said.
“I understand the pressures that the NHS is under as it was extremely busy, however, every other healthcare professional was incredibly understanding.”
Nicole was sent to the gynaecologist ward where she was seen by a consultant and prescribed morphine before being discharged later that day.
Interim chief nursing officer for Medway NHS Foundation Trust, Sarah Vaux, has since apologised after Nicole lodged an official complaint.
She said: “We are very sorry for the distress caused to Ms Scott and acknowledge the pain and difficulties associated with endometriosis.
“We strive to provide outstanding and compassionate care to every patient, every time and are committed to learning from feedback where we fall short.
“We have been in touch with Ms Scott so that we can act on the concerns raised, and thank her for the positive feedback she shared about other aspects of her care.’’
Following her experience, Nicole is backing the non-profit organisation Endometriosis UK’s campaign to improve education for healthcare practitioners including GPs and A&E staff.
It claims many do not recognise the symptoms despite it being one of the most common gynaecological conditions meaning there are missed opportunities to treat those suffering and stop the disease from spreading.
It wants to ensure healthcare workers are better equipped to put patients on the right pathway for treatment and support.
Nicole said: “My dread is that other young women will go through this and not be taken seriously.
“With A&E, a lot of women are often being misdiagnosed or being told there is nothing wrong with them. People are instead suffering in silence as they are fed up with being mistreated.
“Even if it is small changes, little changes can lead to bigger changes. It is for the next generation of women. They cannot be put through this the way we have.”
You can read Nicole’s endometriosis story in her own words here.
Head of communications for the charity, Faye Farthing, added: “Endometriosis UK wants every healthcare practitioner to recognise the signs and symptoms of endometriosis, including GPs, gynaecologists, A&E nurses and pharmacists.
“Not only without a diagnosis and access to care can the disease progress, but it can have a huge impact on all aspects of someone’s life including physical and mental health, education and employment.
“Governments must ensure that all healthcare practitioners receive mandatory training on menstrual health conditions including endometriosis so that endometriosis patients are listened to and taken seriously and put on the right pathway for treatment and support.”
What is endometriosis?
Endometriosis is a disease in which cells, similar to those in the lining of the uterus, grow in other parts of the body.
The tissues act as the lining, which grows inside the uterus, would. It thickens, breaks down and bleeds during a person’s period but as it is not in the right area, it cannot leave the body.
This can cause severe pain, heavy periods, fatigue and can make it difficult to get pregnant, amongst other symptoms.
Many women, like Nicole, say they are told they are “being dramatic” or the pain is in their heads when attempting to find answers and get a diagnosis.
Around one in 10 women in the UK suffer from the disease and is the second most common gynaecological condition in the country, however, the cause is unknown.
According to Endometriosis UK, it can take, on average, eight years and 10 months for a person’s first GP visit to get a diagnosis.
Because the symptoms are so similar to other conditions and as the disease can manifest in different ways, it can be difficult to spot meaning the only definitive way to know is by a laparoscopy.
