"Care on the ward"

My 4 week old son and I have spent 3 nights so far on ward 20 and the care from the medical staff has been brilliant and I can’t fault the care my son has received. The staff have also been very supportive towards me and helping me care for my son. 

However I am extremely frustrated at the hospitals policy of not providing meals for parents on this ward (unless your breast feeding). 

I am on my own in this ward, in a side room at far end of the ward. My husband is at home caring for our other 2 children who are under the age of 5 and is also attempting to work from home. It therefore isn’t easy for him to drop food off at the hospital for me. 

At lunch time today I advised staff that I was going down to the cafe to buy myself lunch. Luckily I have a pram with me. I told staff that I would be taking my son down stairs with me as I wasn’t happy about leaving him in a room on his own far away from the nurses desk. The nurse said she had no staff to look after him so that was fine. I was also told that the doctor would be coming to see me soon on his rounds. 

Unfortunately when I got to the cafe it was extremely busy and a long wait for my food. I ended up leaving empty handed to ensure I wouldn’t miss the ward rounds. I am four weeks post natal with a sick baby and I think it’s dreadful that this is considered a good standard of care. 

After the ward round I will then have to decide whether I leave my baby on his own to get myself food, trail back down stairs with him or choose not to have anything to eat. I appreciate that services have been cut due to covid and budgets have also been cut but I feel this is an awful way to treat people.