Newton-Wellesley Hospital - Main Campus — Local services in Newton

What an absolute hell hole. ER nurses- or most of them anyway must choose the ER bc patients are so sick they might not notice that for example on my list visit my nurse only came near me when I arrived and one other time for vitals. She was not providing care to anyone or working with other nurses but standing and laughing and clearly having fun. Some would break off from her and go back to work at computers or see patients. I wouldn't know. So 6 hours into lying on stretcher and needing to use the restroom for a couple of those hours I flag her down and say I need something quick when she finishes. 50 minutes later with full view of her. - maybe 10 feet away from me she then gets a soda and string cheese and goofs a little bit does something on the computer. With bladder about to burst I tap on the glass next to me to see if someone could help me to the bathroom and when they seemed shocked that I would knock instead of wait to pee for god knows how long - remember 6 hours with no contact// and 50 since I told her I needed a minute. I did say something to the affect that she was pathetic. More that she did wrong later. One thread at a time. Someone helps me to the bathroom and back to the stretcher. At this point she knows I'm watching her. A family member of another patient.- remember I'm close enough to hear asks for water bc he hadn't had any all day. I start laughing and say it's not just me you don't take care of! She calls security to seize my cell phone bc I was typing on it saying I'd been videoing her. Kudos to the honest security member. He asks to look at my phone! Instead of every other employee at NW. They cover for their own. He actually looks for my crime. First image is me trying to explain how to bring up views. First one is of my stomach while trying to show him what was on there. Next we're views of various gold lettering on a few burgundy leather photo albums. Needless to say he didn't take my phone away! I should find out who he is an thank him. May be the only honest person I've ever met at NW.

I haven't met a doctor who wasn't wonderful. PAs are great. Everyone doing tests great. Dining staff great. Oops forgot. Even the staff who do transport all great.

So she has them move my stretcher so I can no longer see that all she does is goof around and never do anything for any patient I'm far away from everything in a dark corner! Yay for me. The nurse who takes over is wonderful. When she asked if I needed water or anything to eat I could hardly believe my ears! And she came back a couple of times to see if I needed the bathroom or water or a blanket or anything.

Back to horrible nurse. She deams me to be fine bc I knew what month it is. She walks away saying "she'll be out of here quick. There's nothing wrong with her!" Turns out I'd had a stroke with some brain damage!

Also someone else did my Covid test. She never bothered to let me know if it was positive or negative and of course she's goofing off the whole 6 hours so I can't ask her. I think I may be the only person there w a mask on. When I finally saw the doctor- also great I asked if I could take it off and he says sure

In summary you really should fear ever going to NWH ER. Some horrible nurses, some caring and lovely - though they all goof off most of the time - they are supposedly working on cases or consulting on cases. They must think we are all fools It's easy to see the difference between talking about work and laughing the entire time about fun plans etc. I see the ER Docs actually working on their computers and never goofing off. I have no idea how the MDs can handle it working so hard with the nurse party a few feet away

After staying for almost a week in addition to the ER I think every competent and hard working physician etc should get the hell out of there and go anywhere else. Somewhere where the level of care is better. I have other horrific experiences when an inpatient.

One nurse tells me all hospitals are like this....

The good, the bad and the ugly...I had a colonoscopy done here at the beginning of April. Staff and Dr. Were great, no problems. Later that month I had an ultrasound done here and was misdiagnosed with a blocked fallopian tube (hydrosalpinx). There's supposed to be a Dr. Who reviews the images after the ultrasound technician. So who made the incorrect diagnosis? O ne or both? Scary to think I had scheduled an appointment for surgery after this diagnosis. Well, after meeting with an endocrinologist post the diagnosis, I received an antibiotic at my request and a follow up ultrasound in Brookline. It was determined that I was pregnant and didn't have a blocked fallopian tube after all. What if I had proceeded to surgery and had the tube removed unnecessarily? Scary to think this could have happened. Now on to my ER visit. On Thursday May 22nd, I twisted my foot outside and heard a pop. Had to get an ambulance I was in so much pain. I knew it wasn't a sprain because I've had many before and can typically still walk on it. Not to mention hearing the pop. I relayed this to the ambulance, crying like a baby. When I arrived to the ER I knew I had made a mistake by the expression of the ambulance drivers. The place was packed. There were patients lined up on the wall. I hadn't stopped crying I was literally in so much pain. I was placed in the waiting room, in a wheelchair alone. A triage nurse came over and applied ice as I sobbed for two hours. I had an X-ray and was put back in the waiting room with no nurse offering anything for pain or to help despite my obvious pain. I asked to go to Brigham and the X-ray tech said It would take even longer due to the weather. I was returned to the waiting room until all the other patients were seen...and there were many. I had asked for a lidocaine patch or a shot as a nurse came to pickup another patient. Of course she said she would let someone know, and nothing came of that. Eventually I saw two Dr.s and was very unhappy with the discussion and diagnosis of just a sprain. I had a complicated situation due to personal reasons so i couldn't take certain pain meds, they acted as if I was requesting a slew of opioids. Love the stereotypes. Then one Dr. Tells me they can't be sure without a CT scan but that it would take 4-5 hours. I could wait or go home with a brace and crutch but that would likely be the outcome regardless to the result of the scan. 4-5 hours for a CT Scan? Was this to deter me? Told by one Dr. Ortho would not look at it for one week due to swelling. Told by another Dr. Someone from Ortho was coming down to talk to me. Never happened What BS. And I was given 1000 mg of Tylenol after waiting over 3 hours and told to apply ice and follow up with Ortho. No prescription for this dose of Tylenol and no other option. Had they asked what happened, assuming they didn't read the ambulance notes, the fact that I heard a pop should have led them to look into a torn ligament. There was a nurse who came at the end to take my vitals, she asked if I wanted her to tell them I was still in pain and see if they would do something else. I didn't bother as I already knew the outcome. They didn't care. They had more important patients to worry about and get out the door. I was given a brace and crutches by a very nice lady who instructed me on how to use them and then they discharged me....

My horrifically traumatizing experience at Newton-Wellesley Hospital Emergency Room on October 3rd was deeply disappointing and distressing, and I feel compelled to share it so that others may be aware of the issues I encountered. I am currently 7.5 months pregnant with my first child and sought medical attention due to asthmatic symptoms and difficulty breathing.

Upon my arrival, I was met by a nurse named Amanda at the check-in desk. I explained to her that I was not only struggling to breathe but also deeply concerned about the well-being of my unborn child as I hadn't felt any movement from the baby since earlier that day. Amanda was dismissive of my concerns and instructed me to simply sit down after checking my oxygen and tell me I was "Fine". This was disheartening, as I observed other expectant women being promptly directed to the Pregnancy Unit. The nurse next to her asked if I could just go straight up to the Pregnancy Unit, and Amanda said no, that I have to wait downstairs and someone will come down after I’ve waited my turn.

Despite my persisting discomfort and continuous coughing, I approached Amanda once again for assistance. To my dismay, she reiterated that I should sit down with an evil look in her eyes. It was only after I reached out to my obstetrician's office, which informed me that it was not normal to go for more than 4 hours without feeling fetal movement, that Amanda finally contacted the Pregnancy Unit to escalate my case. This delay was concerning, as it meant that crucial time was wasted during which I had no certainty about my baby's well-being.

Even after the Pregnancy Unit was notified, Amanda insisted that I wait in line with other patients, despite the fact that my situation was undoubtedly urgent. This disregard for the urgency of my condition was both unsettling and frustrating.

As I anxiously waited for assistance, still in the midst of an asthma attack and deeply concerned for my unborn child, a triage nurse named Jillian entered the scene. Amanda whispered my situation to her, and I was appalled to witness Jillian rolling her eyes in a dismissive manner towards my concerned mother. This behavior was completely unprofessional and only added to my distress.

Eventually, I was directed to have my baby checked, only to be informed that I had to return downstairs and endure further waiting to address my asthma symptoms. This further delay, while pregnant and in distress, was inexcusable.

During this time, my mother inquired about Jillian's name, a simple curiosity that led to a disproportionate response. Jillian summoned security, portraying us as a threat and troublemakers. This unwarranted escalation, especially given my fragile condition, was deeply humiliating and traumatizing.

To make matters worse, I was told to cease recording the situation on my phone when I began to do so out of fear and anxiety. This restriction on documenting my own experiences only added to my sense of helplessness and lack of control.

In total, I had to wait 3.5 hours before receiving treatment for my asthma. This entire ordeal was not only harrowing but also unacceptable, especially considering my pregnant condition. I hope that by sharing my experience, necessary improvements can be made to ensure that others do not encounter such distressing situations at Newton-Wellesley Hospital...