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Care Opinion

My son's paediatric appointment

Posted By Robinhood95

"My son's paediatric appointment"

About: Omagh Primary Care Complex

(as a parent/guardian),

Today was my 4 year old son first appointment with the dietician paediatric clinic in omagh hospital and primary care complex,

My son has been on the waiting list for 2 years to be seen for his eating or lack there of, he is turning 5 in December but to look at him you wouldn’t think he is, he is underweight and shorter than other children his age, we have struggled with his eating from the age of 1, and we are in desperate need of some help.

But today, at his appointment when asked one of the COVID question, I answered yes to have you been in contact with a positive case in the last 10days, 

I am double vaccinated and was at day 8 with A negative lateral flow test on day 2 and 8 taken as advised by the government, 

I was asked to leave, but they said they’d weigh and take my sons height as we were there, but at that point I got visibly upset and frustrated, I passed the short list of the items my son eats to the staff member, unsure on who this was as they did not identify themself at the start of the appointment,  and flustered by the situation I tried to ask if this list should be with them or someone else. Due to my emotions they then said no they will not take my son's height or weight and again asked me to leave, offering a phone appointment, but at that moment I was too upset to speak, and said to just reschedule the appointment, because I feel my son needs and deserves a face to face appointment, and not to try and articulate our issues over the phone,

After so long waiting for my son to be seen and then told it's going to be longer was just too much for a mother in need of help to bear, feeling like a child’s needs are less important than covid regulations, a child that is quite clearly in need of medical help. He’s just a child, I don’t understand why every other medical thing is pushed aside like they’re not a health risk.

I have done everything in my power to stay safe, getting the Vaccine, testing when I am advertised to, wearing a mask, social distancing and sanitising, I’d also like to mention while using the self-check in, in the hospital , out of the 3 members of the public and a member of staff who was using this screen before me, I was the only one to sanitize my hands after use, again advised at the start of using this method of checking in,

To be asked to leave my child’s appointment, after everything  I have mentioned I feel was unfair. 

And I ask the health board to re-look at the rules for parent who are double vaccinated attending their children's appointments, and don’t say one thing when the government says another.

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Responses

Response from Siobhan McCaffrey, Team Leader- SWAH Dietetics, South West Acute Hospital SWAH, WHSCT 2 years ago
We have made a change
Siobhan McCaffrey
Team Leader- SWAH Dietetics, South West Acute Hospital SWAH,
WHSCT

Submitted on 10/09/2021 at 16:45
Published on Care Opinion on 11/09/2021 at 17:54

Hi Robinhood95

Thank you for sharing your experience with us.

First of all, I want to apologise and acknowledge the length of time your son has been waiting for his appointment, from our records he was initially triaged as a routine referral and more recently this was changed to urgent when additional information was received from your GP at the end of June, currently the routine waiting time for our service is 100 weeks and 30 for urgent referrals.

This is totally unacceptable but beyond our control as the demand on our service exceeds our capacity, we have recently received some temporary funding to address our waiting list backlog but recruiting a suitable qualified Dietitian with relevant paediatric experience is a challenge but we are working hard to try to address the backlog.

Getting turned away from your son’s appointment must have been very upsetting for you but all HSC staff must work to the Department of Health guidelines and this is what happened in your situation. I believe a telephone assessment was offered on the day and that a senior manager spoke with you to further explain the situation on the day but it is understandable that you were too upset to avail of this and you obviously feel a face to face assessment would be more appropriate for your son.

We have taken your feedback on board and have updated the appointment letter we send out to patients attending for face to face appointments so that is it clearer when they should not attend health care facilities and we are prioritising a face to face appointment for your son asap, if however you feel your son needs more urgent medical attention, then you should contact his GP/HV.

I commend you on your personal efforts to help deal with and prevent the spread of COVID. I hope when you receive your appointment that you get the support you need.

Regards

Siobhan McCaffrey

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Response from Vi Gray, Professional Nursing Support , PCOP, Western Health & Social Care Trust 2 years ago
Vi Gray
Professional Nursing Support , PCOP,
Western Health & Social Care Trust

encourage people to share their experiences of health and social care, what matters to you, what you particularly liked or disliked so that we can share with the relevant department, and staff .

Submitted on 14/09/2021 at 17:16
Published on Care Opinion at 17:16

picture of Vi Gray

Hello Robinhood95

I shared your experience with The Trust's Senior Infection Control Nurse who has now provided an update. She apologised first of all for the delay in responding.

Unfortunately the advice from the Public Health Agency Northern Ireland and available on their website states that: Even if you’re fully vaccinated, if you have been identified as a close contact, you are advised not to visit hospitals or care homes for 10 days and to minimise contact with those known to be at higher risk if they contract COVID-19, such as the Clinically Extremely Vulnerable Group (CEV) for 10 days. I appreciate that it is difficult to understand that sometimes there are different messages for the community and health and social care settings but the Trust applies the guidance required as per the Public Health Agency and as also indicated in the Chief Medical Officer letter. I understand that it is an extremely difficult time for parents and families as we all work through providing services which is constrained by the measures that are required to be in place to ensure everyone’s safety.The Trust continues to promote and provide hand hygiene facilities for both staff and visitors.

.

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Response from Vi Gray, Professional Nursing Support , PCOP, Western Health & Social Care Trust 2 years ago
Vi Gray
Professional Nursing Support , PCOP,
Western Health & Social Care Trust

encourage people to share their experiences of health and social care, what matters to you, what you particularly liked or disliked so that we can share with the relevant department, and staff .

Submitted on 07/12/2021 at 13:17
Published on Care Opinion at 13:17

picture of Vi Gray

Hello Hello Robinhood95

I would like to take the opportunity to provide you with an update following recent correspondence from the Team Leader who responded to your story initially.

.She asked me to let you know that

"waiting list initiatives are in progress to address waiting times"

Best Wishes

Vi Gray

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