To make a complaint about hospital experience with DD?

104 replies

Ginspirational · 08/06/2024 18:02

2 year old DD was admitted to hospital Friday. We arrived in A&E at 12, and were finally put into a bed around 6pm. No offers of drinks/food etc came at any point during the afternoon or evening, so DH went and bought some bits from the shop. I could kind of less this pass as we came at a bit of a funny time, and we were given toast in the morning.

However.. I stayed the night with DD who woke in the middle of the night really confused and upset, so I took her out of the bay into the play room area, separate from the beds to try and calm her down - she was really going loopy at this point. A student nurse asked if I would take her and stand on the balcony outside because I was waking other patients, she didn’t even let me get my shoes on and DD was just in a baby grow.. I walked out and then straight back in because it was too cold to take her out there. They then tried to take her off me to calm her down; which absolutely wouldn’t have worked.. but nobody was listening.

AIBU to make a complaint or should I just move on and be grateful? I know NHS are over worked / under staffed but I felt like such a hindrance.

OP posts:

Bushmillsbabe · 08/06/2024 18:14

Was the standard of medical care good? That would be my main priority, and if any issues with this, then yes I wuod complain. But no I wouldn't complain about food. Not sure what she came in with, they may have wanted her nil by mouth in case needed surgery?

GalileoHumpkins · 08/06/2024 18:13

What exactly would you be complaining about?

PickledMumion · 08/06/2024 18:09

YABU about the food. No one gets food provided whilst they're waiting in A&E, that's why there are vending machines/shops available (that your husband used).

It sounds like they were understaffed over night maybe. But when you took your child out of their bay, though, and started wandering the corridors, waking up more and more people, what was your plan? It seems kind of sensible to suggest you could step outside, although it would not have been ideal to schlep all the way back down the corridor, disturbing everyone again, in order to collect coats.

Children do cry in hospital, though. It sounds like the student nurse was very inexperienced. FWIW when mine was in hospital aged 18 months, I had to climb into the cot with her and watch hours of peppa!

I hope your daughter is feeling better today. If you're staying another night, I would ask the nurses in advance what you should do if she becomes very upset again. If you're home, then I would just move on.

Vgbeat · 08/06/2024 18:09

No I don't think you should complain. Its not a hotel so they don't tend to provide meals unless you are admitted but usually if you ask they can usually rustle up a bit of toast, biscuit or water. There is usually vending machines and a shop at the hospital. I get them not necessarily wanting ro wake up the whole ward who are then going to think its playtime. I hope your little one is OK

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