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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To blame Bloody NHS rather than myself!

23 replies

Tras · 11/03/2011 23:30

Great start to the weekend.... DD fell off the bed earlier and kept crying and holding her shoulder so I took her A&E. Only home now after 4 hrs. They xrayed her shoulder and said she was fine. But on way home I just realised they did the wrong side. I now have to go back in the morn and go through it all again! ARGHH

Am I being unreasonable to be cross with them? I was trying to hold down my screaming 19 month old and distract her so just did what they said. I know that I should have realised it was the wrong side but they are the bloody professionals. I told them it was the left side when I went into the room. Again ARGHH.

OP posts:

AgentZigzag · 11/03/2011 23:34

It sounds like nobody was to blame as such.

But if I had to put the blame somewhere I'd plump for the NHS because you were obviously in a stressful situation, they should have known you were and double checked.

It's good you noticed, and at least you can go back.

Hows your DD? Is she managing to get any sleep?

Original poster

Tras · 11/03/2011 23:43

She is totally exhausted and sleeping now, hopefully she will be ok. TBH I think it is more bruised than anything as she was able to move it about. Just every now and again she clutches at it and cries. After Dr told me she was fine, I put her sleep suit on and she screamed the place down and then started to wretch! Hopefully she will 'actually' be fine tomorrow.

TBH I do feel frustrated with myself for not realising. But definitely more pissed with them due to the time of wait and the fact that my DD was up so late and so tired. It was all for nothing!!!

OP posts:

cumfy · 11/03/2011 23:49

Hope your DD is OK.

Sorry, but it isn't really clear how you know they X-rayed the wrong shoulder ... was it obvious which side they were imaging or something ?

I'm a bit surprised they didn't do both tbh.
After all why would a parent necessarily be 100% sure with a 19 month old ?

cumfy · 11/03/2011 23:51

I guess the fact there was no real bruising at 4 hours is probably a goodish sign there's probably not a significant injury.

ddubsgirl · 11/03/2011 23:53

why not ring a&e and get them to check,if they have made a mistake then you can pop back.

mmsmum · 11/03/2011 23:54

But which left? Did you tell them it was DC's left or your left, as in left your you look at DC so being right. If you were stressed you might have said the wrong one. Did you see the xray? Otherwise I agree and I'll join in by saying bloody nhs lol

coccyx · 12/03/2011 05:26

yabu. should have been on the ball..child falling off bed and then not checking correct shoulder was x rayed.......hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm

Horopu · 12/03/2011 06:03

How on earth is that helpful coccyx? Hope your daughter feels better soon OP.

WellIShouldNever · 12/03/2011 06:06

why wait to go back? I would have gone back straight away to ease your daughters pain quicker, and so you can see the same staff to inform them of what had / had not happened.
Hope she is ok now though.

LadyOfTheManor · 12/03/2011 06:19

Well they had the notes they should've checked what they were doing, especially as you have to go outside/behind the screen.

I'd give them a ring and double check, and if necessary take her back today.

YANBU to blame them, I blame the NHS (and Post Office) for everything (and I don't even use the NHS hospitals!)

Ormirian · 12/03/2011 06:32

Well, if it was a mistake, it was one you both contributed too. And you can't blame the 'bloody NHS' for the wait. Friday evening in A&E? It's always packed.

Also wonder why they only did one shoulder.

HappySeven · 12/03/2011 07:18

Were you in the room for the X-ray? I'm just wondering whether you weren't and were shown the image afterwards because these can be reversed looking like the other shoulder.

If you were then I would say they should have checked which shoulder but then as you were there you should have been able to say and really it was just a mistake on both your parts.

I hope your daughter feels better soon.

pinkheart · 12/03/2011 07:42

so, when they xrayed her, which shoulder did they shine the light on to, to line up for the xray.

they will have used a left or right marker on the film to help confirm the correct shoulder was taken.

yes the images get flipped , we know which one it is but i guess to people glanceing at it they may not know.

it is not justified to xray both shoulders. its a fair dose of radiation and to xray that area, esspess near the thyroid,is completley unreasonable. the dr's should have examined her, they will have wrote on the xray request form (which is a legal document) which shoulder they needed to be imaged. I have come across parents who under stressfull situations, tell us the wrong arm or leg, but we have to go with what the drs have wrote on the request form, and yes i have also know dr's to write the wrong arm/leg on a form.

friday and saturday night in a&e are the worst nights for us, alcohol induced situations are so much more increased at weekends its ridiculous.

YellowDinosaur · 12/03/2011 07:51

They only did one shoulder because it would have been twice the radiation to do both shoulders! And it IS possible to tell with a 19 month old - they are obviously in pain when 1 shoulder is moved and not the other.

It is their responsibility to check so in that sense if they have xrayed the wrong side then it is entirely their fault. It may not be possible for you to tell during the xray that they were doing the wrong side though.

YABU to complain about the 4 hour wait though as this is the target to see and discharge / admit all patients and to keep to this on a Friday night which is one of the busiest times of the week is certainly not unreasonable. Understand this added to the upset though as sealing with a tired and sore child is not fun.

Anyway if you are still worried this am then by all means go back, or even call the department with your concerns as they can then double check that the correct side was xrayed without having to go back in again

Original poster

Tras · 12/03/2011 08:00

No Coccyx that wasn't really helpful. Kiddies have accidents. I don't see why she couldn't have been on the bed she is 19 months after all. I was there in the room but she just took a tumble. She is an adventurous little thing, always climbing and hard to watch 24/7.I phoned when I got home and got them to check the xray, they confirmed that it was the wrong side. They definitely did the right instead of the left.

I didn't take her back because she was already asleep and I didn't want to disturb her more. She is teething as well which made the whole experience worse.

Yes, I was in the room at the time and was holding her down as she screamed. The whole thing happened so quickly. I did tell them 'her' left as I entered the room but as soon as they laid her down, they just got me to hold her right arm down by her side.

As I was leaving I put on her sleep suit and she screamed the place down, then started wretching. Knew that something was still wrong and as I thought about it on the way home, the visual image 'came to me' of where they shone the light etc.

She was up crying during the night with it. Not really sure what they can do for a shoulder though. Any advice Pinkheart?

In the cold light of day I am just as cross with myself for not realising at the time but was trying to sing songs and distract her! Ah well, back to A&E at 10am!

OP posts:

pinkheart · 12/03/2011 08:24

im not sure what they would do for a shoulder, it depends on what the injury is really. it may be something at the top of arm or in the shoulder. i would suspect the likely hood is top of arm. i have seen children that have broken an arm and carry on like it for a few days before the parents take them to a&e. I specialise in obs and gynae ultrasound , so not done radiography for a couple of years now.
calpol and take her back this morning? it may still be busy, football and skateboarding injuries on a saturday at my place of work!

bumble34 · 12/03/2011 08:40

really frustrating for you. lets hope that this mornings xray shows no damage to her shoulder.

i would try to follow it up this morning and find out where the mistake was made i.e did the doctor write the wrong shoulder on the form or did x-ray
get it wrong.

Apart from maybe missing an injury overnight and your little one being in pain uncessarily. You've also had the inconvenience of having to go back to a&e. Also as someone else posted they don't routinely x-ray both shoulders as the increased dose of radiation yet now your daughter will have to have a second dose due to someone making a mistake (don't panic it won't cause her any harm but is the principle)

If you follow it up it may mean they look at their practices to make sure it doesn't happen to someone else

Hope she is ok

PepsiPopcorn · 12/03/2011 11:32

I would phone the X-ray department to ask them to check for you.

ednurse · 12/03/2011 11:36

You can't be certain tbh. A child that size we don't specifically xray just one side...both shoulders would typically be in the xray. Where I work anyway, I can't vouch for other a+e departments. I would phone A+E and ask to be put through to paediatrics. They will be able to double check for you.

ednurse · 12/03/2011 11:38

yes they would ask you to hold the other side otherwise your arm will be on the xray.....

Original poster

Tras · 12/03/2011 11:49

Just back from A&E. They xrayed the 'left' side and she has fractured her clavical bone in her shoulder. They just gave her a sling, which I know she wont wear! However not much else they can do! They were very nice and couldn't apologise enough. Bed guards on both sides from now on!!! Thanks for all your comments, appreciate both points of views... Just not the bitchy ones!

OP posts:

ladysybil · 12/03/2011 11:55

tras, only read your first and last posts.
Mistakes happen. they shouldnt, but they do. is sad fact of life

My experience with fractures at that age is that they heal incredibly quickly, but you really need to make a concerted effort to keep her as immobile as possible, and her arm in the sling so that the healing works properly and in alignment. it wont be easy, but needs must.

springbokdoc · 12/03/2011 12:27

Sorry to hear about what happened. Don't worry kids seem to do these things all the time.

FWIW, the fact that they xr the wrong side will be investigated properly as it is extra radiation (but don't worry tiny in the scheme of things) and there are strict guidelines about what to do. The mistake lies entirely with them - you don't have any responsibility!!

wrt the clavicle fracture, kids always get given slings rather optimistically with the expectation that they'll probaby take them off a million times. But they heal remarkably well, especially at this age and soon you won't even know that it happened :)

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