My baby (10 months old) had recently been discharged from Bolton Hospital with bronchiolitis. A couple of nights later, he experienced breathing difficulties and I had to call the out-of-hours GP to my home.
The GP turned up but because he did not have a paediatric oximeter, he had to organise for a blue light ambulance to take my son to A&E. When we arrived at Bolton A&E (approx midnight) the paediatric A&E was closed and as the unit was busy, we had to wait with the other ambulance patients in a drafty corridor - at that time there was one drunk man who had obviously been in a fight, and another old man with a bad nose bleed.
The waiting experience for myself with a 10 month old baby was not pleasant (especially when the drunken man kept wanting to look at the baby).
My concerns and suggestions:
- Why does the paediatric department close at night?
- Why couldn't the out-of-hours doctor carry a paediatric oximeter - thus avoiding us having to go to A&E and the cost of a journey in a blue-light ambulance?
"Avoidable trip to Bolton A&E"
About: Royal Bolton Hospital / Accident and emergency Royal Bolton Hospital Accident and emergency Bolton BL4 0JR Royal Bolton Hospital / Paediatrics Royal Bolton Hospital Paediatrics BL4 0JR
Posted by Cynical (as ),
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