"Rbhsc a+e"

I took my son to the RBHSC A+E with a GP referral letter with suspected orbital cellulitis.

The service was fantastic. We were triaged quickly and seen by direct access. We were given antibiotics and advice by a lovely, informed consultant. 

Both the triage nurse and consultant were very good with my son, gave opportunity for me to ask questions and explained everything thoroughly. 

The only negative I had with the experience was the triage nurse making derogatory comments about the GPs decisions. 

For example, the GP had prescribed amoxicillin the previous day for an ear infection. When he asked me what had been prescribed and I told him, he said 'they wouldn't think of trying something else' and laughed in a patronising tone.

When I told him that the GP had also seen my son that morning, he said, 'and they didn't give chloramphenicol drops? That would get rid of this' and again laughed. 

He may have meant it all jovially, but I do think that all healthcare staff should respect each other and support each other. Making underhand comments to patients is unproductive and honestly just made the triage nurse look bad. 

If he had an issue with the GP decisions then this should be fed back professionally to the GP not by side comments to the patient or their parents.