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Little things making the experience very difficult

Posted By Katee95

"Little things making the experience very difficult"

About: Craigavon Area Hospital / Blossom Ward (Paediatrics)

(as a staff member posting for a patient/service user),

Our child has been in and out of blossom over 6 times this year due to a rare terminal illness. We can't thank the staff enough for their continued support and care- particularly Roisin and Doctor Thompson (who always provides a good laugh). There are just little things that would make this ongoing situation a lot better. Firstly, it is only a small thing, but it can be very daunting seeing the variety of colours of uniform- you don't know whether it is a physio, a dietician etc. It would make things a lot easier if there was a small laminated chart somewhere in the room to show the different colours of uniform and the corresponding job- for families like us who need to be aware of the different roles. Due to PPE at the moment (which is very much necessary), you can't see the name tag or role! Another small thing, is that there is no hanging space whatsoever, unideal when you are staying for long periods of time. 

The major problem I would say is the parking situation- which is atrocious. We generally have to stay in the hospital for days/weeks at a time... and we are expected to pay a parking fee! This is totally unfair as other hospitals in NI have a service which enables parents who are in with a terminally ill child to have free parking. Not only this, but you are expected to pay in cash which exacerbates the situation. Due to our digitally active world nowadays, everything is done through a contactless payment with our phone or card- rarely anyone has cash. As we generally leave the hospital at night time, there is no one at a service desk to open it for us if we don't have change at hand. Instead, we end up having to walk all the way into the building to take money from the ATM in A+E. We then have to buy something small in the shop to break down the money into smaller coins. This would be only an annoyance if you were a visitor, however, after a long day with an ill child, this should be the last thing we should have to worry about. There should be something implemented for free parking as a parent or at least a contactless service!!!
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Responses

Response from Bernie McGibbon, Head of Service, Children and Young People's Directorate, Southern Health and Social Care Trust 3 years ago
We are preparing to make a change
Bernie McGibbon
Head of Service, Children and Young People's Directorate,
Southern Health and Social Care Trust

Submitted on 29/12/2021 at 12:02
Published on Care Opinion at 12:02

Dear Katee95, thank you for taking time to give us your views on how we can improve your experience and that of others in a similar position.

In relation to the uniforms, these generally have the job title embroidered into the tunic and staff are expected to display their names on name badges. I will refresh the importance with staff to have their name badges displayed when on duty and remind staff to introduce themselves with their title which may help especially when PPE covers their badges. I will also raise with infection control to see if there is any other way of displaying name badges when staff are wearing PPE.

The Advanced Practitioners are getting new tunics so their title will be embroidered on as well which may help service users.

However I think you have raised a very good point which I will take on board to look at and see how to display the tunic colour coding on the wards and short stay units.

Unfortunately we will not be providing hangers in the children's facilities as we have to ensure a ligature free and safe environment for young people of all ages and dispositions who may need to use our services.

The issues you have raised with parking and your great suggestion of a contactless paying facility will be escalated to senior management responsible for estate and parking facilities.

Thank you for your lovely comments about the staff and in particular Roisin and Dr Thompson: they will be very pleased to read these.

Thank you for the suggestions you have made which we will consider.

With all best wishes

Bernie

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Response from PA for Assistant Director of Functional Support Service, Executive Directorate of Nursing Midwifery, AHP’s and Functional Support Services, Southern Health and Social Care Trust 3 years ago
We are preparing to make a change
Southern Health and Social Care Trust

Submitted on 13/01/2022 at 13:57
Published on Care Opinion at 13:57

Dear Katee95, thank you for taking the time to highlight your concerns. I apologise that you had to pay for parking as it’s clear you had extenuating circumstances and you shouldn’t have been expected to pay a parking fee. An exemption voucher for car park payment could have been issued from the Blossom ward which could have been redeemed at switchboard.

There is a contactless pay option in operation whereby you could pay contactless at switchboard. However we accept that there may have been insufficient signage displayed to advise of this at some of the pay stations. This is being addressed. The Trust is also in the process of exploring contactless options installed in the pay stations.

I have spoken to Stephanie McCarragher (Ward Manager) who has also stated that the parents should have been made aware of the vouchers and from here on in there will be signs in the rooms to advise parents of this.

Best wishes

Response from Stephanie McCarragher, Head of Service for Community Paediatrics, Children and Young People's Directorate, Southern Health and Social Care Trust 3 years ago
We have made a change
Stephanie McCarragher
Head of Service for Community Paediatrics, Children and Young People's Directorate,
Southern Health and Social Care Trust

Submitted on 22/02/2022 at 09:56
Published on Care Opinion at 11:56

picture of Stephanie McCarragher

Hello Katee95,

I wanted to let you know that we have designed a poster which I have attached below, it is now displayed in all our patient rooms showing the different uniforms you may come across on Blossom, this feedback has been really useful and I do think it will help patients and families throughout their journey in Blossom.

It has also been shared with our colleagues in Daisy Children's Ward (Daisy Hill Hospital), they have it on display throughout their ward and feel it will really benefit families during their hospital admission.

Your feedback has initiated a change that will help children and families across both paediatric wards; thank you.

Kind regards

Stephanie


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