"A & E experience with our special needs grandson"

We recently attended the A&E dept with our 5 year old grandson after he'd sustained a facial injury as he was coming out of school.

He has cerebral palsy and autism - I have no doubt that this should be fully obvious from his medical notes. Because he struggles with strange places, noises and people our daughter asked us to meet to them there as he is prone to outbursts resulting in him running away (then falling because of his mobility problems) He can also appear unresponsive to requests so it's often easier for her to have someone else on hand to help.

I accompanied my g/son and daughter to see the triage nurse soon after we arrived, the nurse appeared to think that he was being naughty because he wouldn't let them take the plaster off and his practice of touching items in the room (part of his autistic behavour) seemed to annoy them further even though my daughter took the plaster off herself and I sat with him on my lap so they could examine the injury and apply another plaster. We were asked to go back into a play area/waiting room for children which I was actually really impressed with - the wall activities, books, games etc were a great distraction for the children waiting to be seen and both doors were securely locked for their safety.

I do wonder though that once we were shut away in there we were forgotten about - this seemed to be the general feeling of the other parents and grandparents in the room.

After another 2 1/2 hours I went to reception to ask how much longer we might have to wait. The staff member seemed unconcerned about the length of our waiting time - I wasn't rude when I asked and when I explained that he had special needs they just shrugged their shoulders! They did say he would be seen next but didn't know how long that would be.

Eventually, he was seen by a pediatric nurse - this time my husband went into the treatment room with my daughter and g/son who by now was feeling very sore, tired, hungry and fed up ( it was 9.20pm!) . The nurse seemed abrupt, unsympathetic and when our g/son refused to let them look at the injury snapped at my daughter "well if he doesn't show me now you'll just have to come back again tomorrow!" Not the kind of caring attitude they were expecting. Eventually they did manage to change the plaster yet again stating that they thought it would be okay but to come back tomorrow if they were

worried (about what if it was deemed to be okay!!).

As they were leaving the room the nurse was heard to say out loud "oh my oh my."

This was just the last straw of un -professional behavour witnessed that night.

Busy and overstretched the staff may be yet a huddle of several staff were seen by us all in that department, that night chatting and laughing together for more than a few minutes! So different to how it used to be a few years ago I'm sorry to say.