Channel 5 viewers were furious last night watching a patient on documentary series A&E After Dark refuse treatment because of his massive phobia of needles.
During last night’s (Monday, June 15) episode, a 39-year-old man named Ricky was brought in with a serious head injury.
He was covered in blood as he lay on a bed at Hull Royal Infirmary while medical staff examined his wounds, sustained after putting his head through a window.
What happened in last night’s episode?
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While they checked him over, he made his fear of needles clear.
“You’re not stitching me are you?” he asked the nurses, who assured him they would not be using any needles without asking him first.
After a CT scan, he refused to let the doctors take a blood sample, which they needed to check his blood count.
“You’re not putting nowt in my veins mate,” he insisted. “I’m sorry, you are not putting nowt in my veins. I don’t care what you say. You’re not putting no needle near me.”
Ricky threatened to walk away and shortly after, he followed up on his promise by storming out, trying to flee the hospital while his angry partner demanded he stay.
Spend your time on someone who appreciates your efforts.
A member of staff also caught up with him and told him to remain in hospital, but he was having none of it.
Viewers later learned that Ricky discharged himself the following day. His wounds healed without medical staff having to use any needles.
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A number of those watching at home were fuming as the scenes played out.
How did viewers react?
One said on Twitter: “Can’t bear people like this [bleep] on A&E After Dark. Stop wasting everyone’s time and get the treatment you need. They could be dealing with people who are desperately ill instead of following you up and down the corridor. INFURIATING.”
They added in a separate tweet: “It must be so hard when people behave like that. I don’t know how they have the patience!”
Another said: “It’s pathetic attention seeking. He had no intention of leaving. I’d have told him to get lost but then again I’m not in the medical profession.”
It’s pathetic attention seeking. He had no intention of leaving. I’d have told him to get lost but then again I’m not in the medical profession.
— jacksprat137 (@JulieQu41475884) June 15, 2020
With you. Just let him go and spend your time on someone who appreciates your efforts. I don’t know how they put up with it.
— Joanne dudding (@joanne_dudding) June 15, 2020
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A third agreed, suggesting: “Just let him go and spend your time on someone who appreciates your efforts. I don’t know how they put up with it.”
Someone else tweeted, along with a string of fuming emojis: “I guess we just have an NHS full of caring people. People like him make me so angry.”
It must be so hard when people behave like that. I don’t know how they have the patience!
— Hannah (@hanwillll) June 15, 2020
I guess we just have an NHS full of caring people people like him make me so angry 😡😡😡
— MALLY .D. BAINES (@manumally) June 15, 2020
– A&E After Dark continues Monday (June 22) at 9pm on Channel 5
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