A mum suffering from severe mental health issues who attended hospital following an overdose alleges she was "bullied" by a nurse who made a snide comment regarding the cost of calling an ambulance.
The 41-year-old, who wishes to remain anonymous, called NHS 111 after overdosing on prescription pills and cutting her thighs at midnight on Sunday.
The call handler advised she dial 999, after which she waited for two hours outside her home in the cold for an ambulance, according to Hull Live.
Upon arriving at Hull Royal Infirmary at 2.30am, the mum claims an A&E staff nurse made derisive comments to a colleague within her earshot, questioning why the victim was there.
She claimed she then said to her 'you do realise it costs £500 for an ambulance?'
The mum, who has been diagnosed with PTSD and a borderline personality disorder after losing a child, her father and her brother, said: "I had gone to A&E after quite a large overdose.
"I was told by 111 to call 999 but I didn't want to, but the operator said she didn't want me walking there alone after what I'd done.
"The staff nurse at A&E said to her colleague 'why is she here?' and then made the comment to me about how much ambulances cost.
"I asked her why she didn't ask any of the others there that night. It's just because my illness is invisible that she treated me that way.
I did get upset and swore, but I went back and apologised as I shouldn't have, in front of the other patients. And I was escorted out by security like a criminal."
The emotional mum added: "It made me feel like going and joining my baby."
She added: "I am not an aggressor, but I was very hurt. She wasn't bullying anyone else, I think this needs to be highlighted to make others aware of mental illness."
A spokeswoman for Hull University Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust said: “We would advise any patient unhappy with any aspect of their treatment to contact our Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS) by emailing hyp-tr.pals.mailbox@nhs.net or by calling 01482 623065.”
Don't miss the latest news from around Scotland and beyond - Sign up to our daily newsletter here.
