"9 month old baby - multiple visits"

My baby was ill and had been for several days. We phoned 111 and got an out of hours appointment at the hospital.

When we arrived it was not clearly signposted as to where we should be going ( this was at 2am). I drove to where it had been previously and was told that I was in the wrong area and that I should go to the main car park at the front of the hospital as the out of hours was in the main building just past the shops. I got back to my car loaded my baby in and headed to the main reception, this was locked due to the time. I headed for the night entrance and buzzed (women and children) to be told I was at the wrong part (which I knew but at this point I was late for my appointment and just wanted into the building so I could walk to where I needed to be). They would not let me and and told me to head back to the mental health area (which i had already been to). I was starting to get very angry as I was being sent walking around the outside of the hospital in the pitch black with a very ill baby and nobody would let me into the hospital. I eventually found another night entrance just past A&E and walked all the way back to the main entrance for the out of hours. 

I was then seen by a lovely health assistant who understood my frustration and took my baby's obs. We were then sent to a practitioner. They asked for a history of what was wrong. I informed them of my baby's history and ongoing concerns and investigations ongoing with the GP with their plan of action. The staff member proceeded to laugh in my face and smirk when I told them. They told me that it was impossible for my child to have the condition that my GP had suspected. This was not just the opinion of my GP but also of a paediatric consultant... I was told my baby just had a virus, which was fine I get that babies get these things. I could not believe the way that they dismissed my concerns and laughed in my face, I was astonished at the lack of compassion and attitude of this member of staff. My baby ended up being admitted from the GP as he was dehydrated and tested positive for RSV.

When on the paediatric ward the nurses were amazing, they got my baby comfy straight away and could hear the coughs and pain that he was in. We were admitted at about 6pm. The nurses seen us almost instantly and did obs, prescribed any medication that my baby needed. We then had to wait for a consultant. This was a long wait, we then were not seen before shift change at 9pm and then delayed further due to the handover at 9pm until 930. When we were eventually seen by the new staff member on shift, they did not know my child's name or why we were there. The GP that admitted us could not hear my baby's heart due to the crackling in his chest.. this doctor did not even listen to his chest, looked at my baby, smiled, said he looked fine and that we were good to go home. I was again shocked by the lack of care given by these doctors or even any knowledge of our case and then dismissed.

The nurses on the ward were incredible and really are not given the recognition that they deserve. Thank you nurses.