"Mixed feeling on care received"

My 2 year old daughter was transferred from our local hospital - University Hospital Crosshouse after presenting there on a late Friday afternoon with abdominal pain. Crosshouse started investigations and ruled out appendicitis, she thereafter had an x-ray on the Friday night, which was showing a "mass" of some sort in her abdomen. 

The Consultant was concerned and requested blood tests that evening and an ultrasound scan for early on the Saturday morning. This was showing fluid or some sort and we were transferred to Royal Hospital for Children in Glasgow. 

As soon as my daughter was admitted to 2c, she was reviewed by the Surgeons who were exceptionally nice and we really felt that we were being looked after. We were advised on the Saturday afternoon that no scans etc would be carried out until the Monday and on the ward round on the Sunday morning my daughter was allowed home on "pass" as she was generally well and all blood tests clear. 

We advised to report back to the ward for 8am on the Monday morning, albeit we were about 20 minutes late due to traffic. 

My daughter was sent for an ultrasound scan around 10am and we were advised she was to fast as we were aware an MRI was going to be a possibility. It was at this point we felt very alone and let down. On returning from the scan, my daughter was in isolation due to being screened after transferred from another hospital, which we knew from the Saturday. I asked several times if her results were available to allow her out the room. As you can imagine, trying to occupy a hungry, bored toddler in a small room is very hard and also heartbreaking when she's asking for juice and food and I have to say no.

I asked at 9am, 1pm and then again around 2.30pm as no one was coming back to us. The Nurse looking after my daughter was on her lunch at 2.30pm when I asked and I was told it would need to wait until her return. When I got upset with the auxillary nurse who was lovely and was trying to explain things to us it was because they were justifying that no one had came back to me because our Nurse has another 20 patients to look after, and that they were only just getting lunch now at 2.30pm. I replied that I felt this was very unfair putting that on me when all I was asking for was an update on the results. We also felt the Nursing staff showed no empathy to our situation. It was all very matter of fact. 

Nursing staff were struggling to get hold of the Surgeons and eventually we heard at 3.50pm our daughter was allowed to eat again, which meant no MRI scan today, if at all. Nursing staff tried a few times for a medic to speak to us and explain what was happening or going to happen next. At 6.40pm, someone from the Surgical team came to let us know our daughter would require an operation and that this would likely be on the Thursday, therefore, we were allowed home again and we agreed to return on Wednesday evening at 6.30pm. 

We return to 2C and asked to wait in the playroom. Staff apologies at 7.30pm for the delay and this was due to not being able to locate my daughter's notes and that she would also be moved to another ward. 

Around 8.15 a Dr came into the playroom, where we still were and asked for some history and background, other children and parents entered the room and the Dr continued to have these conversations. The Dr then asked me to put my daughter over my knee, whist I was sitting on a child's chair, to examine her. It was at this point we asked if there was somewhere private to go. Where was the dignity and respect for my daughter? 

By 8.30pm we were just getting moved to ward 1 and had started to settle at 9pm. Staff in this ward were lovely, and couldn't do enough to help us and I will be forever grateful for this. 

My daughter received her surgery the following morning and the Surgeon came and spoke with my Husband and I following surgery. I'm sorry but I cannot remember the Surgeon's name but I would be grateful if our sincere thanks could be passed to them. 

The theatre staff were also fantastic with my daughter. My daughter was discharged the following morning and is recovering extremely well. 

Overall, the care given to us was good, with the exception of the points noted above. I appreciated being able to come home again, but going back and forward to Glasgow with the added stress and worry made for a very difficult week and I feel that Nursing staff in 2C could have shown more empathy and help to us.