A TEENAGER with a life- threatening condition was refused entry to a Manchester nightclub because she was carrying a syringe with vital drugs.
Student Lucy Appleton spoke of her fury after door staff at Fifth Avenue left her in tears.
Lucy, 18, from Poynton, Cheshire, is prone to anaphylaxis which can cause potentially deadly fits. She has to carry Epi-Pens - injectors that can save her life in an attack.
But door staff wouldn't let her in without a doctor's note and demanded she hand over the pens.
Lucy said: "It was one of my best friend's birthdays and we were all really looking forward to it. We've been to Fifth Avenue lots of times and really enjoy it."
But in the queue her night out turned sour.
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"Before I get searched I always tell door staff about my condition and about the needles in my bag,” she said.
“It's never been a problem. They usually reassure me that they are trained how to use them if they need to.
“But for some reason the woman who was searching me said I couldn't take them in as they did not allow needles on the premises. I explained why I had them but it didn't make any difference.
“She called the manager who said I could hand them in and then pick them up at the end of the night. I tried to say that was no use. If I have an attack and my injectors are in a bag somewhere else they'll be of no use. But they wouldn't listen. I ended up walking away in tears because I was so upset.”
'Victimised'
Lucy, who studies at Aquinas College in Stockport, took a taxi home and missed out on the party.
She says the incident has left her feeling 'angry and victimised' and added: “They just showed a total lack of understanding and I am disgusted with them. I was a regular there but now I don't ever want to go again. Their behaviour was ridiculous.”
A spokesman for the Princess Street club hit back.
He said: “We search everyone's bags. She girl had no doctor's letter and couldn't explain to us what would set her condition off. We told her she could leave her bag at reception or in the cloakroom. What would have happened if someone had stole her bag and started pretending to stab people? That's happened in other clubs in the past. She admitted that she had lost her bag before which didn't help.”
If she could have proved to us she had this condition there would not have been a problem.”
What do you think? Have your say.
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Showing comments 1 to 17 and replies | View All
helen (02/05/2008 at 08:31)
The answer is, keep a doctors letter in your purse.
From Oldham (02/05/2008 at 08:50)
Get a pouch, wear it around your neck and put the pen in, then unless they are subjecting you to body searches the doormen won't be any wiser. Plus it's probably safer for her in an emergency if she has a tenancy to loose her bag.
whoownsthebankofengland? (02/05/2008 at 10:00)
Dave (02/05/2008 at 10:08)
Does a doctor's note stop stabbings? What a weak excuse from them!
steven (02/05/2008 at 11:50)
Thats what the bouncers are there for, to keep the scallys out.
Exactly thats why she wanted to keep the bag with her and not in the cloakroom where the staff loose your coat.
steven (02/05/2008 at 11:59)
Exactly thats why she wanted to keep the bag with her and not in the cloakroom where the staff loose your coat.
Bigkecks (02/05/2008 at 12:27)
Get a doctors note, It cant be the first time it has happened...
Simon Lobas (02/05/2008 at 12:27)
Pippa, Manchester (02/05/2008 at 12:39)
Sarcastion Nastyface (02/05/2008 at 13:41)
IT'S NOT "TO LOOSE".
DON'T PEOPLE GO TO SCHOOL THESE DAYS?
AS YOU WERE.
suge, mancs (02/05/2008 at 13:44)
Keith McRae's Ginger Nuts, Stockport (02/05/2008 at 14:36)
Cookiecat, South Manchester (02/05/2008 at 21:34)
As a teenager who must carry life-saving medication at all times i find it abhorrent that a nightclub could deny entry to a teenager whose only crime is to carry life saving medication. A doctor's note would not prevent somebody else from "pretending to stab people". Epinephrine is a prescription-only medication and as such cannot be obtained without a prescription. It is very unlikely that somebody who did not require this medication would be carrying it around with them as there are no recreational uses for the drug.
In my opinion the club has acted immorally and has discriminated against a teenager for taking responsibility for her health. If a diabetic was to try to enter the club with an insulin injector would they face the same discrimination? This club's policy regarding medications such as Epipens needs reviewing urgently to ensure this situation does not occur again.
Well done Lucy for standing up for yourself against this discrimination. I hope you find a better club who will not cause problems such as this.
LookingForLogic, Stockport (02/05/2008 at 23:24)
betterthedeviluknow, Stockport (03/05/2008 at 11:28)
We all moan at door staff when they dont look after us and moan when they are looking out for us.
This bird is well overreacting. get over it. if your condition is so bad, surely you arent supposed to dring either?? which i assume you were out in 5th ave to do?? aplologies if you are not a drinker.
just stay in if youre so bothered about having to leave your medication with a member of staff.
Napoleon, Manchester (03/05/2008 at 20:08)
ian McLean (06/05/2008 at 10:46)
Why should she have to pay a lot for a doctor's letter when I doubt they ask the same of other people carrying medication - nd medication less urgently needed.
She could carry a pen round her neck but then a second one should be in her bag.
She should take them to court under disability legislation.