"Impatient, uncaring and lack of understanding"

I attended the Urgent care Centre with my four year old son who had suffered a high temperature of 39.9 which I was unable to reduce with paracetamol/ibuprofen, loss of appetite, lethargy and aches and pains. Historically, my son has suffered with both ear and urine infections and has previously displayed the symptoms above. My son was extremely tired due to disturbed sleep and actually fell asleep in the waiting area. In my opinion he did extremely well for a four year old, providing a urine sample, allowing the nurse to take his temperature and examine his ears however, when trying to examine his throat, he became upset when the nurse placed the tongue depressor inside his mouth as due to enlarged tonsils and a sore throat it was making him retch. The nurse took him from me and attempted to hold him down with the assistance of a colleague which further exacerbated the situation. I then instructed them to allow me to speak to him to provide reassurance. At this point the nurse stood right in front of my son with their face close to his and shouted "Look, I have a baby out there that I have to see and another little girl so YOU need to sit there and open your mouth now!" This obviously upset my son and I felt their attitude was totally unacceptable. The whole experience was rushed, they did not take any time to explain what they were doing, show my son the instruments used or in fact anything that would make him feel more at ease or relieve his fear. I explained that i thought they could show a little patience to which the nurse simply replied that they were patient. I then informed them that i too work within a high pressure organisation that is both understaffed and under appreciated and found their behaviour unacceptable. I then removed my son.

I fully understand the pressures and expectations placed upon NHS staff however, the poor attitude and behaviour of the nurse in question is not acceptable under any circumstances and especially not when dealing with a very poorly child. I believe that a person who chooses to become a nurse should possess patience and compassion as some of their main qualities and should be able to show these regardless of the situation or their own personal feeling/mood.

I am extremely disappointing that i have had to write this review, having previously received a quality service from other nurses at the hospital who incidentally, have managed to carry out full examinations of my son without issue.