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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

to complain about our experience at the hospital today?

56 replies

debka · 16/06/2011 13:48

DD2, 4mo, had to have blood taken. First they kept us waiting for almost an hour for one reason or another, so she was tired and grumpy. Then when they finally found her notes the dr tried to take blood from her elbow. I wanted to bf her through the procedure but she was screaming so hard, before he even touched her with the needle there was no point. She was crying because he held her arm so tight. An hour later, she still had a red mark where he was restraining her.

He then called a more senior dr who tried her hand, failed, and eventually got the blood from her foot. DD2 was red faced, very distressed and screaming by the end of all this.

Now perhaps I wouldn't mind so much but she had blood taken by a paediatric phlebotomist last month at Guys and St Thomas, and it was simple, quick, calm and she barely cried.

AIBU to not expect my child to have to go through this, and to expect someone with more experience to take my daughter's blood? Or is this sadly par for the course?

And do you think I should complain?

OP posts:

nannyl · 16/06/2011 19:52

debka....

agree with your last post.

Yes it horrible, and it cant be nice to watch your baby in distress, but Drs were just trying their best to do their job. Glad baby has calmed down now, and yes its such a shame that it wasnt as smooth as last time.

Enjoy your cuddles. Im sure baby has forgotten all about it by now.

crispyseaweed · 16/06/2011 20:00

Why wasnt your baby given "Magic Cream" on the site where the blood was to be taken from? I would have asked for it as the blood thing wasnt in an emergency , was it? Had it been then fair enough.......
Am surprised no one has mentioned the magic cream on here.......
Why shouldnt you complain....if you were not happy about the way your child was dealt with,,, then why not?

If no one ever complains then things in this country never improve.
Sorry your baby had a horrible time today... I hope she is ok.
I know only too well what its like to see you little one suffer....you just wish it was you going through it and not them.

HidinginaHardHat · 16/06/2011 20:02

No need to complain it's well known how hard it is to retrieve blood from a child and having had to pin a child with suspected meningitis to a bed whilst two doctors went at their arms (one at each) to get a cannula in I would say you had it pretty easy.

HidinginaHardHat · 16/06/2011 20:03

Oh and I wouldn't complain about the Paediatric staff at Guys personally as I have a couple of friends who work there :)

Original poster

debka · 16/06/2011 20:07

It wasn't at Guys hiding, I have nothing but good to say of the staff there.

OP posts:

HidinginaHardHat · 16/06/2011 20:08

Whoops that'll teach me for misreading the post :)!

midori1999 · 16/06/2011 20:13

My son had to have blood taken quite often as a baby. Thoroughly unpleasant to see, but I suspect in a lot of cases (certainly in his) a lot of the tears are fury at being held still/restricted as opposed to the blood being taken. Waiting times don't help either, but as said, can't be helped.

peanutbutterkid · 16/06/2011 20:14

Baby DS had blood drawn and it was pretty quick, so I know what you mean about how it can go smoothly.
I think a brief calm descriptive letter of how the blood-drawing procedure was more distressing than you think it need be would be reasonable (do describe how much better it was at other hospital). Can't complain about the wait, they don't like it any better than you do.

Original poster

debka · 16/06/2011 20:19

I wouldn't mind waiting either, but it was because they'd lost the letter from Guys requesting the blood. And it was them who called me with the appointment, so I knew they had had it. Yes, I know these things happen but it was just one thing after another.

OP posts:

thegruffalosma · 16/06/2011 20:21

Were you seen on time at Guys though because that will have made a big difference. If babs was already fed up before she was seen she's certainly not going to take kindly to being held still and jabbed. I'm sure Guys have unavoidable delays sometimes too.
I do sympathise though. An hour waiting with a cranky baby is equal to at least 3 adult hours in my book.

YellowDinosaur · 16/06/2011 20:25

To the poster who asked why the baby wasn't given 'magic cream' (emla) it is routine not to do this for tiny babies.

This is because they are most distressed by being help tightly in order to do the blood test and not by the needle. And the cream does nothing to alleviate this.

OP sorry you had such a distressing time but I agree with the other advice on this thread. Fingers crossed that if there is a next time it will be easier for you and for your dd

crispyseaweed · 16/06/2011 20:26

Hiding? Are you kidding? You wouldnt complain cos you have friend who work there? For goodness sake, I dont believe what you said...

HidinginaHardHat · 16/06/2011 20:30

Yes. I personally wouldn't complain about this anyway because blood tests on children are a complete nightmare. But no, i wouldn't make a complaint because i have friends who work there. This is true. But I would talk to them about it and go with their judgment on the matter as they are Doctors. Life is too short to complain about every little thing you feel agrieved about.

Northernlurker · 16/06/2011 20:32

It's just like this sometimes. I've seen adults go through two or three people before the next one along just gets it and I believe babies and children are much harder. It's all very odd Very difficult for you though.

thegruffalosma · 16/06/2011 20:34

I wish they hadn't given dd magic cream when she had her bloods done. The dressing they put over it was very sticky and took skin off with it when they took it off so dd ws screaming before she'd even seen the needle.

Lady1nTheRadiator · 16/06/2011 20:38

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

microserf · 16/06/2011 20:38

I don't really see anything to complain about, but I really do sympathise. the waits are hard with a little one - i had 6 hours with a toddler just to be seen in st thomases. by the time the doc gets there, they are ratty and exhausted.

I had ds as a newborn have blood taken out of his hand at St Thomas (Evelina ward!), and it didn't go into the needle. they pulled out the needle to check and it flowed out of his hand everywhere - all over the nurse (who needed reassuring he didn't have hepatitis or hiv), me, his clothes, everywhere.

i have no idea how they managed to bollocks it up so badly. i didn't complain though, although he got lots of extra cuddles that night.

Lady1nTheRadiator · 16/06/2011 20:38

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

thefirstMrsDeVere · 16/06/2011 20:43

I am so sorry you had such an upsetting time. Its absolutly heartbreaking when these things happen.

I truly do sympathise and understand why you feel the way you do.

Can I gently suggest that you try and move on from it without complaining or even thinking too much about it?

I dont know if this is going to be a regular thing for your DD ( I hope not). If its not, then you can forget it. If it is you will need to be able to forget about it even more. If you dont you are likely to get very very stressed in the build up to her next test and this can become a viscious cycle of stress and difficult blood tests IYSWIM. You will have good blood tests and bad ones. It helps if she is well hydrated before. Sometimes its better to do it quickly and hang on firmly than faff about whilst baby wiggles.

I wish there was a better way to go about it though.

I speak from experience and with kindness. Honest.

ReindeerBollocks · 16/06/2011 20:46

I'm really sorry to say this but, from what you've described OP, it sounds like a normal children's hospital.

Phlebotomists are hard to come by as they normally deal with people who are having difficulty getting blood (and by difficulty I mean a few nurses and Drs have had a go already). It is entirely normal to restraint a child when taking blood too.

Glad your DD has had lots of cuddles, and I'm sure she has forgotten now, even if you haven't :)

LorettaMasonPotts · 16/06/2011 20:46

My DD had to have lots of blood taken when she was a toddler and one doctor was brilliant. He used a 'special' needle (premature baby sized) and made a big fuss of DD, chatting to her and making her feel special. We will always be indebted to him for his care and consideration - although DD remembers nothing about him!

Sadly, it can be difficult to get blood from a little one, some days DD had puncture marks in hands, arms, feet - but they have to get the blood out somehow. You and the doctors are doing the best for your baby - she needs those tests.

I'm sorry this was traumatic for you and your baby. You will remember this, but luckily she won't.

ReindeerBollocks · 16/06/2011 20:49

Actually TFMDV post made me think - if you know blood tests will be regular and they continue to be traumatic then please speak to your specialist nurse (if you have one) and book a phlebotomist or consultant before hand. If it is a regular occurrence never let student doctors practice on your child.

That way they are less likely to develop needle phobia. Which makes the process ten times worse.

thegruffalosma · 16/06/2011 21:00

Don't feel too bad lady1nTheRadiator. The nurse put dd's on and she didn't trim it either. When dd had to go back the following week (hospital mislabelled the sample and refused to tell us that was why she needed the tests repeated so I was worried sick thinking something was wrong) I was told to pick the cream/dressings up from the chemist and put it on before I left for the hospital to save hanging around and the chemist gave me the wrong dressings (porous) so the cream didn't work! The hospital then told me that cling film was the best thing to use (not sure why they don't use it!) but thankfully she didn't need any more tests after that.

realhousewifeofdevoncounty · 16/06/2011 21:13

Sorry, I don't think you should complain either. Yes it is horrible to see your dc upset, but she won't remember this of be affected by it in the long term. It sounds like they were doing their best. Unfortunately they would have to hold a baby's limb tight to stop it moving around? Yes it was a bit poor you had to wait, but again not really their fault - just one of those things. With NHS appointments sometimes I have gone striaght in, other times had to wait an hour. Unforeseen things happen and mess things up sometimes. Hope your dd recovered quickly.

My dd is 5 mo. I hate it when she has jabs - she screams blue murder and it is like her little heart is breaking at the time, but within 5 minutes she is smiling again like nothing has happened. I try my hardest not to let her sense my anxiety and project it onto her, as I don't want her growing up with fear surrounding these minor medical procedures as they are a vital part of maintaining and monitoring health.

Hope she is all better now.

thefirstMrsDeVere · 16/06/2011 21:26

Good idea reindeer

TBH phelbotimists didnt come anywhere near my DD. A nurse always did hers.

They did used to turn up at the room and insist they were there to take her bloods and I would have a hell of a job convincing them that there were not!

Once me and DD did let them in just to see the puzzlement on their faces when presented with a portacath (dont blame me - DD's idea )

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