"Duty of care"

I would like to address an issue regarding the care of my grandson at RACH Assessment Unit;

My daughter and I attended Children’s A&E dept with my 2 year old grandson at 2030 where we were seen promptly. The doctor examined him, he had a high temperature and was given ibuprofen as my daughter had given him calpol earlier that evening. We were asked to return at 2200 to adults A&E. We arrived at the A&E dept at 2145 for our 2200 appointment and we were seen by the doctor approx 2240, my grandson was examined again and was still pyrexic, the doctor attempted to give him calpol but he vomited all over himself.

We were then told he was to be admitted overnight for observations due to him spiking temperatures, but we had to wait to hear back from the paediatrician, so again we were put back in the waiting room where he fell asleep. About half hour later the doctor came through with a letter and explained we had to go back through to RACH, where we would be seen in the assessment unit before being moved to the ward.

We had to take him back outside to move buildings in wet pyjamas and he woke up.

On arrival at the assessment unit at midnight, we stripped off his wet PJ’s and he perked up a bit and played with the toys, the doctor came to examine him and at this point his temp was 39.4, again they said he would be in overnight and my daughter was asked to collect a urine sample from him as they believed it could be a bacterial infection.

They were given an assessment bed with only a sheet, my daughter asked for a blanket as the baby was naked but was told, that this was the assessment unit and no blankets were available, he would get one through on the ward.

I stayed with my daughter and grandson until 0100, I went home thinking they were to stay the night.

I woke at 0500 for work that morning and discovered a text from my daughter informing me that they were being discharged at 0300, with staff saying he would be better off in his own bed, they no longer required a urine sample even though no cause had been determined for his pyrexia.

She was also told when he was examined for the final time that his throat and ears were red and inflamed and they could hear a heart murmur (I find it strange that none of this was picked up on earlier examinations).

She was given no discharge letter, but was advised to go to the GP on Monday morning. Given the lateness of the hour and that my daughter was stressed under the circumstances, I find it unacceptable that there was no discharge information given to her at the time.

When discharge was brought up to my daughter she informed staff that she had no way of getting home and given the time, she was not about to phone people in the middle of the night to give her a lift.

A member of staff asked her “If we arrange a taxi would you be happy to go home” My daughter agreed to this but not once did someone ask if she had money, or if there was anyone at home that could pay, she thought if the hospital arranged it then the hospital would pay. So at the end of her journey the driver asked for payment she had to give him what she had and he kindly let her off with the rest of the fare.

There was also no car seat and with a sick, tired child in her arms she struggled to use the seat belt.

I find this very unsafe and unacceptable. What was the point of accepting a child into the system, then backtracking 2 hours later?

I have worked in General Surgery for the last 8 years and have never seen anyone discharged at 0300 let alone in wet clothes with no blanket or suitable clothing provided.

Where was the duty of care?