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Management should set clearer guidelines

Posted By Airdrie patient

"Management should set clearer guidelines"

About: Royal Hospital for Children (Glasgow) / Cardiology (heart problems) Ward 1E

(as a service user),

Having a sick child in hospital during the COVID19 outbreak is very difficult! It’s hard not being able to self isolate and constantly worrying about the risk of exposure in the hospital setting, so a already stressful situation is a thousand times worse! Last week the parents room closed so we were unable to heat up food and have been advised to avoid using the shops in the adult hospital, as a result the hospital have been providing us with a warm meals! We have been in a ward for over 2 weeks now and the catering staff have been wonderful providing everything that both myself and husband needed. Our daughter has several cardiac issues and we have spent a significant time in hospital, so family time especially having dinner together is important for us! We have been provided with a meal for both of us at dinner time has not been an issue.

We got moved to another ward today, where I was abruptly told that only one parent can have a meal! It made me feel like I was scrounging for free food and asking for more than I should have! Our daughter has two parents who sit with her throughout the day and I feel that we should not be penalised or discriminated against for this. I feel management should set clear guidelines for distribution of food during this time as I ended up feeling awful today.

On a positive note, the care our daughter has received in PICU is world class.

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Responses

Response from Coral McGowan, Patient Services Manager, Women & Children's Services, NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde 4 years ago
We have made a change
Coral McGowan
Patient Services Manager, Women & Children's Services,
NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde

Submitted on 30/03/2020 at 17:24
Published on Care Opinion on 31/03/2020 at 10:45

picture of Coral McGowan

Dear Airdrie Patient

Thank you for getting in touch with us and letting us know about your experience at a recent mealtime, I am so sorry you were upset by what happened, and this is understandable given that both you and your husband had both been offered meals on your previous ward.

I'm also sorry about the manner in which you were informed. I acknowledge that it must be very worrying being the parent of a child in hospital right now, and this can't have helped. Your concern has been shared with the relevant department lead.

We have only recently started providing parents meals, in response to the changes we have made to both parent's rooms and our request to parents to try not to go to public areas. The provision we put in place was to ensure our resident parent received a meal, this is because we recognised they couldn't go elsewhere.

However, of course there are occasions when it is right for us to make an exception, and we should have listened to your request more sympathetically.

I also want to acknowledge your kind comments in respect of our PICU and let you know I've shared your feedback with the team.

Should you have any further queries during your daughter's stay in hospital I would ask you to contact your ward Senior Charge Nurse or alternatively, you can contact me: coral.brady@ggc.scot.nhs.uk and either of us would be pleased to assist.

Kind regards

Coral

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