My little boy was treated at home by paramedics for croup and transferred in to a&e in the middle of the night. We were triaged shortly after arrival and sent to the waiting room. My little one had perked up from the steroids the paramedics had given him and his breathing had improved tenfold so he was happy playing with toys and books.
A few hours passed and a few other children came and went through the waiting room and the nurses spent the rest of the night sat at the nurses station. My little one was getting restless, he’d had all the snacks I could offer him and he really just needed to sleep, it was about 4am now. By 5.30 he was hysterical he was so hot, tired and hungry. I was pacing the corridor when eventually a nurse asked if I’d like to lay down somewhere with him (YES!). I was starting to flag myself, I was on my own and hadn’t so much as been offered a cup of water since arriving.
My little boy managed to nap on and off and eventually a doctor came see him at 7. They didn’t really seem interested, it seemed clear it was the end of their shift and they just wanted to discharge my little boy and go home. I was given a leaflet about croup and told I could go. The nurses asked me to wait outside to clean the room, so I was alone, carrying a clammy, poorly child who was absolutely ravenous around the hospital trying to find somewhere to get him something to eat.
It was honestly the worst care I’ve ever received in hospital. I was so disheartened with how little care and attention we received from nursing staff during the whole night we were they. My little one hadn’t been checked over since we were triaged at the beginning of the night, by the time we got home his temp had gone back through the roof.
They didn't seem to be understaffed or stressed, but they didn’t bother to look at him. They didn’t ask if there was anything they could do to help, a mum on her own in the night with a restless poorly child. A cup of tea, a piece of toast for the little one, anything would’ve helped us.
I feel that basic level of nursing care shouldn’t have to be taught; if we can’t get that bit right then the system is broken.
"Non existent care"
About: Royal Cornwall Hospital (Treliske) / Emergency Department Royal Cornwall Hospital (Treliske) Emergency Department Truro TR1 3LJ
Posted by Letdownjuly20 (as ),
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