"Discomfort during heel prick test"

My daughter was born in summer 2016. Community midwifes referred us to the jaundice clinic at Good Hope for further assessment.

We arrived at the clinic and were seen by a nurse who took observations on my newborn and also a weight. We were then greeted by a junior Doctor who advised us that my daughter would need a blood test, they agreed that this could be done via a prick to the heel and then the blood would be put into a vial for testing. They assured me they were competent, however I believe this was not the case.

They caused utmost distress and pain to my newborn and another Doctor came in due to the screams and offered analgesia to my daughter (this should have been given prior to the procedure). I accepted, however this was given too late. In shock I left and we were informed to return the next week. On my return the following week, I requested to see the consultant only for treatment and when I asked the nurse if this could be arranged they became abrupt, rude and distant constantly trying to find out why (every right to discuss this with the consultant only).

Eventually we were seen, concerns explained and they were more than happy to perform the requested blood test like the week before where my daughter received the analgesia, then the painless procedure was completed in seconds and this showed me that the junior doctor's method was not correct.

I was just about to leave after the appointment to go home and was stopped, requesting a weight of the baby. This was after I had dressed her, settled her after a feed and put her in the car seat. She was weighed the day before by the midwife and they refused to accept this weight.

I was also able to hear a HCA, Nurse and Doctor discussing me very loudly with disrespectful words and unprofessional manner. This has I believe affected the first two weeks following her birth. I will never go to that ward and would travel to Heartlands or the children’s hospital in the future.