"Frightening"

My son had a bad fall and was admitted by ambulance in extreme pain to A&E. Staff were not kind but I’d excuse this if the care was adequate.

After 4 X-rays and 20 tortuous hours he was discharged with two cocodomol and told he’d get an appt for the fracture clinic .We practically had to carry him out .My daughter in law asked if his care could be transferred to our local hospital and was curtly told NO.

After a few days we’d heard nothing so I paid privately for a second opinion.His elbow is almost shattered and will need an urgent operation .His care has been transferred to our local hospital and has already had urgent CT scan in preparation for the operation .

Yesterday (ten days) days after his admittance to Southend a&e he got a phone call asking if he’d like a virtual follow up in a weeks time .Not sure how you examine someone over the phone for a broken arm.

None of us knew whether to laugh or cry at this point .This is a very potted version of the full story but I’d love to know if the chief executive would accept this for their own family .Just appalling.