A&E medics at Watford General Hospital refused to deal with toothache so "excruciating" that the sufferer slammed his head against the floor until he passed out.

Instead, the man's mother Karen Hatton claims, brusque staff told her they were treating his head injury but not the dental problem.

The concerned mother called the hospital after her son was admitted on Tuesday, and was appalled at the response she received when she asked about his care and tried to give them some background.

Watford Observer: Karen Hatton has complained that the A&E did not do enough to relieve her son's painKaren Hatton has complained that the A&E did not do enough to relieve her son's pain (Image: Karen Hatton)

She said: “I explained what had been going on and wanted her to pass on the information to the nurse, she refused.”

She claims the hospital worker told her she was “going to put the phone down” and did not take note of the severe tooth pain.

Ms Hatton said her 32-year-old son had been prescribed antibiotics after visiting both his dentist and GP, but as the toothache became more painful he was told he had to wait for an appointment with a specialist dentist.

He battled the pain for two weeks, but it spread to his mouth, jaw and neck, leading his mother to fear he could have sepsis or a severe infection.

She does not feel A&E staff took his pain or her concerns seriously.

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The mum said: “I just think it’s disgusting because as far as they’re concerned he was a nuisance.”

“They brought the mental health team down because he was hitting his head in hospital too, but it’s not a mental health issue, he’s just in that much pain. I don’t understand how they don’t get that.

“For them to come down and have the attitude that it’s in your head, it’s just so insulting.”

Watford Observer: Watford General HosptialWatford General Hosptial (Image: Newsquest)

Demanding an apology and explanation, she said: “What if that was a teenage boy or girl, or heaven forbid a four-year-old? Would they have been treated the same, would they have been treated differently?”

West Hertfordshire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust has been contacted for comment.

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