"My daughter's CT scan"

I arrived with my disabled daughter for a CT scan in the mobile scanner unit today. 

We were met by a very lovely lady called Beryl on reception in the Main Entrance who fell over-herself to be kind, helpful and so considerate. She helped with our blue badge parking permit and then gave us directions to the X-ray department.

We were met at the X-ray department by a wonderful lady receptionist who stopped what she was doing and took us down to the top of the entrance we needed to be heading to and showed us exactly where to go. She took her time and told my daughter, who has RA, to take her time and repeatedly asked if my daughter was OK did, she need help, etc. 

It was an amazing experience, just like Beryl on reception (they were both busy but took the time to help us), and we both chatted the last part of the journey to the mobile CT scanner about it. 

Arriving at the CT scanner we were asked my daughters name, and then told to climb the rickety stairs where the handrail is loose. I had to go up with her and support her while they both watched and stood in the way, blocking the entrance! 

The two staff working on the mobile CT scanner were both moaning as the Hospitals Wi-Fi was not working and they would not be able to use their phones; Sorry, but I thought that they were both supposed to be working? 

My daughter was taken into the small scanner room; she was very stressed already but told me in tears when she came out that she had had a panic attack during the scan. When she had left the nurse made a comment to me which I hadn't understood until I had found out about her panic attack. They appeared to think it quite funny and laughed when they told me that my daughter had a story to tell.  When I asked whether it would be a good one or a bad one I was told it was good.

What I found out had happened was that once the contrast dye had been injected, my daughter had a panic attack because her throat felt tight and hot, similar to how her previous anaphylactic reaction had felt. She had already told the nurse that she had suffered anaphylactic reactions before so they were well aware of this.  When she said that this was what she felt, they said that yes it does that and that she would be fine, before leaving the room before giving her the chance to calm down and continue the scan. 

The whole appointment was a complete and utter letdown. The other person asked my daughter about medical conditions. She listed her allergies and even spelled them out, but they could not understand what she was spelling and gave up writing down her allergies. My daughter asked about the metal in her bra and joggers and was told to just pull her bra up and that they would get a gown for her to put on instead of her joggers. When both staff disappeared from the room she assumed that they had gone to get her the gown but instead they were actually starting the scan with no warning.

My daughter asked about the metal and they told her on at least three occasions that they would get a gown, but then when she clarified at the end of the scan they said that the metal was ok. If it is ok for her to wear metal, then why does the appointment letter say that you will be made to change into a gown? Not only that but the nurse did not sanitise their hands and pulled down my daughters mask without her consent when she was speaking. They then left her mask around her chin and she tried to pull it back up as the scan began again. In the current climate with Covid, you would think hospital staff of all people would be a bit more careful with respect to hygiene?

There was no talking through what to expect of the scan and the machine, despite them knowing that she had not had a CT scan before (they asked her on multiple occasions if she had had one before to which she answered no). My daughter was just left to get on with it.

How can this be? Why are they allowed to behave in such a manner?  I am fuming and disgusted by this behaviour.  They did not appear interested in the patient, there was no help or consideration for accessibility. They did not give her a gown despite saying repeatedly that they would and the scanner started without warning; She was not talked through what was going to take place and was left shaken and upset. 

They should tell these staff that if they don't want to treat patients with respect that they shouldn't be in this job. Let's hope the scan is OK because if its not I will want to know why my daughter had 4.5 years of radiation for nothing.

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