"I am so thankful for the care my daughter received"

We were recently sent to the Acorn Centre at Antrim Area hospital by our GP as a result of high temperatures in my 6 month old baby. We arrived for an appointment at 1pm and were greeted by a wonderful student nurse whose name has unfortunately left me. She took our details and provided such wonderful care and attention to my child. She is an amazing young lady who is just going to make the best nurse - thank you for being so kind, and for the hug when I needed it most! I must also note at this stage the wonderful doctor who took bloods and inserted my child’s cannula. He had the most caring way and I am thankful for his thorough investigation of my child’s condition. As well as the doctor, nurse Judith was just the calm in the chaos for me and my other two children who had to accompany me at this stage. Thank you for the distractions when you clearly knew I needed it. The acorn centre is such a wonderful facility and I am so thankful for the care they provided my child. 

We were admitted directly from the acorn centre into the paediatric ward A2 and our experience on the whole was mostly positive. I have to mention the two lovely student nurses Aimee and Donna who just were so kind, so reassuring and so helpful. When we arrived the ward was extremely busy and the nurses attempted to work at my child’s cannula to ensure it was secure. Obviously my child became extremely distressed and they ended up having to remove it. There were then another few attempts made by a doctor in the treatment room to reinsert but these were unsuccessful. I totally understand the doctor is extremely busy but they took no time to even attempt to explain what was going on or why they were having difficultly with insertion. I was thankful to nurse Eimear for providing the gentle reassurance that I felt was so needed at that time. 

The ward was extremely busy and extremely noisy. I do wonder why so many side rooms and another whole bay sat empty and 6 children were put into the one ward. I know there is probably a completely valid reason for this but I would be interested to understand the logic. In the ward there were babies from a few months old, right up to 7/8 year olds. I found the ward experience quite overwhelming. The noise was constant and there was simply no time for my child to rest.

I understand that the ward is filled with sick children but I do question why there is not more thought put into placement when there is more space available. I have a profoundly disabled child at home who rarely sleeps so my husband and I take it night about to stay awake. The fact that I was getting no sleep in the hospital and he was getting no sleep at home presented us with a multitude of challenges. I just think the bed space could be better managed, but I am sure someone might be able to provide me with an explanation for that and I do understand.

Thankfully after a chat with nurse Rebecca I was able to take my child home during the day so I could sleep a few hours whilst her grandparents cared for her. I did appreciate this. Upon returning however and shortly before I was putting my child to bed I asked for her antibiotic, only to be told she had already received it at a time she wasn’t even on the ward. I do wonder the value of this new digital system, she had not received her antibiotic and was then given it at this stage, only because I asked. 

I have to mention nurse Aimee who provided us with the overnight care on 2 occasions. She is just amazing and I am so thankful for her gentle reassurance, attention and care. You made such a worrying time a lot easier. Thank you for everything. As well as Aimee, Amanda stood out for us also. Both ladies could not have been kinder or more attentive. 

I do understand that all our hospitals and healthcare workers  are under extreme pressure and I am so thankful for the care my daughter received but I just think there are very small things that could be changed to make experiences such as these so much better.