"Hospital issues"

University Wishaw Hospital children’s ward and elsewhere on hospital grounds does not have a suitable changing toilet for children or adults with mobility needs.

Whilst at a recent out patient appointment with my 4 year old, who is wheelchair bound, double incontinence, multiple and complex health needs, just over 23kg and over 3ft tall, needed her pad changed as she had had a bowel movement. I had asked staff where I would be able to change her and they directed me to a baby changing facility. When entering the room the only place I could change my child was on the cold and hard surfaced floor, which would also require me to do a manual lift onto whilst on my own. I asked if there was toileting facilities or bed facilities with hoisting and I was told no. This meant I and my child would have to sit on the floor with no mat and very little space to change her pad. This meant I had to take my child out to the boot of my car, because this was a more level lift for me as I also have carpal tunnel syndrome so struggle with lifting manually anyway, to change her. This was incredibly degrading for my daughter and I hate to think that people were potentially able to see any or her private areas whilst having to do this. The staff were absolutely less than helpful and was advised that I should consider this next time before accepting an appointment at that hospital. 

As the appointment happened, I was instructed to take my child for an x-ray. Along we went to be met with a nurse and radiologist who informed me, AGAIN, there was no hoisting facility to help me and I would have to manually lift. When I asked if someone could maybe support us, I was informed staff are not allowed to help due to potentially hurting themselves due to patient weight or potentially hurting the patient. I understand staff do not want to hurt themselves, however this means they were happy for me to hurt my child and for me to get hurt manually lifting her on my own. It was subtly suggested that I might consider bringing someone else with me to the appointment next time to support. Who do they expect to do this? The other parent who is at work to keep a roof over our heads? Another carer that isn’t available due to funding issues? What is the solution here?!

During the same appointment, and many before that,  I was asked to get my child's height and weight. When I explained that my child couldn’t stand they asked me to guess her height. I have also had to manually stand holding my child whilst they weight her with me holding her then be weighed myself. Other times I have been asked to move her onto a chair and try to support her. Instead of having a scale that can weight wheelchair users in their chairs.

Furthermore, my daughter regularly attends children’s wards 19&20 for different reasons. My daughter is always provided a bed that only has metal bars, when she is a risk to herself due to unbalancing issues, I am informed there is no safety padding around beds available and I will just have to use pillows to keep her safe. Even when she sits up, falls over or when she has her seizures. When staff are made aware they ask why I haven’t brought something with me. I’m not entirely sure how many hands they think I have between remembering medication, toys for distraction, milkshakes (completely liquid diet), NG equipment and all of her changing products etc. to be expected to also bring further equipment to keep my child safe in hospital is awful.

Whilst in these wards we have also never been offered hoisting facilities and the times we have questioned for one, we were told the bay that has one was once full of a baby in a cot and the other time was told it was broken. We have never actually seen the hoisting facility.

At a routine blood appointment for my child, I was advised that the staff member doing the bloods would not give my child any kind of numbing cream because it apparently causes veins to "hide". This then resulted in my daughter being prodded multiple times with needles and resulted in her being violently sick, had a tonic seizure and required her rescue medication. My child hadn’t need it for over 4 months are that point. I have had to get the community team to provide me with relevant numbing creams and show me how to apply prior to appointments because I am not guaranteed my child will be treated with enough compassion to have this given to her.