"Rudeness of nurse at children’s emergency care"

I took my toddler to the emergency children’s facility and was completely patronised and disrespected by a member of the nursing team.

My daughter had disgested 1/3 toothpaste tube and had been sick twice. I had called 111 who told me to go to Croydon hospital. I have never been before and after today’s experience will at all costs avoid going again. Firstly, as visitor car park 1 was full, I had to park in car park 2, right at the back of the hospital. I had to walk 15mins to get to A and E. When I got there I qued up only to be told that I needed to go to the children’s area- why is this not clearly displayed before people start queuing? Once I got to the children’s area and qued up again, the initial receptionist and healthcare worker were polite and efficient. Several hours had now passed since my daughter ate the toothpaste and she had since eaten, drunk water and was full of energy. The healthcare worker indicated that all things considered and that she had eaten children’s, rather than adult toothpaste that the trip to A and E was probably unnecessary. I then waited to be seen by a nurse and I expressed my desire to leave at this point as my daughter was getting restless, hungry and tired; she certainly wasn’t ill. I had put 2 hours on my car at a cost of £8 and explained I would need to walk back for 30mins to top up. The nurse said she would get a toxicology report on the 0-2 milk teeth toothpaste. I waited until I had been there for two hrs and then expressed my desire to execute my own judgement and take my daughter home. I was then told that another nurse had called the toothpaste company to ascertain how much fluoride was in the product but she couldn’t get an answer; funnily enough I was easily able to access this information myself by googling it?! It was clear the levels were naturally very low. I then said I was going to exercise my judgement as a parent and take my daughter home- she had eaten, drunk lots of water and milk (a recommendation from the internet not the hospital), gone to the toilet several times and was full of energy in a waiting room full of sick children. Another nurse interjected patronising me telling me that fluoride poisoning was really serious. I replied I was aware of that yet on balance she ingested 1/3 tube of children’s toothpaste over 5 hrs ago; had not been sick in 4 hrs, plus there were 7 children waiting to be seen in front and no indication on time whatsoever. I asked what a doctor would do at this point to actually receive no answer, apart from check her over, which had been done twice- temperature, blood pressure. I walked away and heard the same nurse say “Pick and choose when to look after your daughter.” I was tempted to go back and say something but on reflection decided to maintain my dignity and walk away. My daughter as predicted is fighting fit. Nursing staff are quick to display how they won’t tolerate rudeness but yet feel free to disrespect at will and pass personal judgement.