"Our experience of the paediatric department at Queens Hospital, Romford"

Regretfully, I am writing to about the poor standards I have seen happening at Queens Hospital, Romford.

In my experience, the paediatrics emergency seems to be run by one nurse, and the doctors we saw do not show up for long. I saw children left unattended, even if they are getting dehydrated or are in respiratory distress. And junior doctors who clinically assess the patients beyond their competence level.

As parents, when we wanted see the Paediatric senior doctor or the consultant, they got annoyed and started showing attitude. When we complained at the counter, the doctors and nurses at the Paeds emergency did not like it and started ignoring us more.

The consultants rarely came to see us. We had to argue and fight to be seen by the doctors. I was told off by the counter staff, Paediatric Registrar, Paediatric consultant and the nurse, who said that they are short of doctors and that we should complain to the Department of Health regarding this shortage and cuts.

The Paediatric doctor and the nurse on call did not seem to be caring for the patients, and often ignored them. When we complained to PALS about this, the nurses and doctors started avenging and ignoring us even more.

I would appreciate if you look into it because I am quite sure that you would not like your children to be treated the way we were treated in this hospital.