"shocking A&E experience"

Anything else?

My daughter gave birth on Friday, and was visited by the midwife at home on Sunday morning. As she was concerned by a vein in her leg she sent her to A&E that morning. My daughter spent 7hours, yep you read that right, 7 hours waiting for a blood test result, with her 2 day old baby, and was only offered a bed when she became so distressed after sitting in a hard chair for 2 hours, that she broke down in tears. She is breast feeding, and was not offered any food, yes there are vending machines there, but that is not a particularly healthy choice, crisps or chocolate, for a new mum. She was repeatedly told, "someone will see you in 10 mins", but I think 7 hours is a bit much. I realise there are emergencys, and others more seriously ill, but the fear of a blood clot in her leg, combined with the stress of just giving birth and feeding a 2 day old baby surely should be taken into consideration. I cannot believe in this day and age, better care of her could not have been offered, if they were overwhelmed at the time, could they not have said go home and ring us for the results? as it was, the doctor finally came and said come back tomorrow for a scan! They offered her no pain relief, her leg was very sore, no advice about what pain relief she could use at home, not even a surgical stocking to help in the meantime. So she was sent home at the end of a very long day, knowing nothing, terrified about blood clots, and too exhausted to even face food when she arrived home. Is this the sort of care A&E deem suitable for a recently birthed mother? I sincerely hope not. I cannot advise anyone in a similar situation, but I would suggest any new mums visiting A&E, take everything you might need for a whold day with you, and insist on comfortable seating, or a bed. Oh and apparently there is nowhere to feed a baby in privacy????? I cannot believe this, it would be laughable if it were not so horrible, I can't imagine anything worse for a new mum. After giving birth, rest, good food, and a stress free environment should be the basic provision I would have thought, but not in A&E apparently, I think it is disgusting, I'm sure no-one would recommend the L&D after an experience like this.