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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To perhaps complain about this phlebotomist?

70 replies

DawnOfTheDeementedDead · 26/10/2011 20:13

DS3 is 21months old, and had to have some blood tests taken today. I had to make an appointment to go to the hospital to see the specialist childrens phlebotomist as he's so young.

We got there, she looked at DS's arm and then said she wouldn't freeze the area as his veins looked quite delicate. He needed six vials taking altogether. Obviously he screamed when the needle was put in his arm, but i held him still and he didn't wriggle. She managed to get four vials filled and then the blood stopped coming out, so she said she'd try his other arm.

I asked if she would numb his arm this time and she said no, it was just a little jab. She stuck the needle in and really rooted about, DS was screaming all this time. I held him as still as i possibly could, but he was incredibly upset. She managed to get another vial out and the needle started slipping out, she thrust it back in, but again it came out and DS started bleeding quite a lot - blood was dripping off the underside of his elbow.

I asked her to stop, and she muttered under her reath 'Oh for Gods sake' and pulled the needle out. She then said she needed the full six vials and so she'd have to jab him again. I asked again for her to numb the area and she said she could as it'd mean spraying the stuff on broken skin and that would hurt more.

So because DS desperately needed these bloods doing i agreed. Again he obviously screamed. As we left she said 'Oh he'll probably bruise, but thats what he gets for wriggling'

WTF did she expect? He's nowt more than a baby and she's jabbing him with poxy needles! I found her whole attitude and manner really nasty - really not suited to working with children at all.

Would i be unreasonable to put in a complaint about her?

OP posts:
sunnydelight · 26/10/2011 21:25

Complain - that's disgusting. Muttering under her breath was outrageous too. DS1 (now 18) is horribly needle phobic because I let an incompetent arse take blood when he was little and didn't have the guts to say stop and insist on an experienced doctor.

GsyGacheFiend · 26/10/2011 21:26

How horrible, you should definately complain, photos would be a good idea. Maybe include a copy of this thread with your letter so they can see how many people are behind you.

FrankNCock · 26/10/2011 21:28

Another vote for 'complain'. Sounds horrific.

MrBloomsNursery · 26/10/2011 21:31

Woah. Complain!! No doubt about it!! THAT is what emla cream was invented for. Your poor poor baby. SIX vials of blood? Please write a letter or phone up the hospital department and lodge a complaint. That is totally unacceptable.

Hope your little one is okay now - give him plenty of cuddles and I think he deserves a massive treat for being so brave.

duvetdayplease · 26/10/2011 21:33

Hi, really sorry this happened, sounds rather traumatic. I hope the blood tests are not too serious and all comes back well btw.

I know my son was sometimes very hard to get blood from, so it was often rather grim. But agree with what others have said - when it started going wrong a more senior doc would take over, there was a play nurse to distract and most importantly a generally professional and compassionate attitude.

I think you should complain. Sorry again, its hard enough holding them down when its going well.

ShroudOfHamsters · 26/10/2011 21:37

MASSIVE complaint. She actually said 'Oh for God's sake?'

She'd have had an empty room and a lot of explaining to do I'm afraid because I'd have got up, left the room and insisted on having a doctor come in to take the remaining bloods.

She deserves a thorough dressing down. Utterly unprofessional, sadly unskilled, unjustifably sure of herself.

Nowtspecial · 26/10/2011 22:32

Complain, unacceptable way to behave, my dd1, now 4, has had to have blood taken many times since she was born and that is just not acceptable. Hope he is alright, and that you are too.

AnonyMaw · 26/10/2011 22:37

YANBU. My DC have both had blood taken at a similar age, seems we were lucky and got really competent nurses, both DC barely noticed it. One time there were 2 staff members, one doing the blood taking and another focussed on distracting DD and keeping her happy. I don't think we've ever seen a phlebotomist, just clinic nurses.

I suppose if you complain there's a good chance the phleb will take it on board, and improve things for subsequent patients.

sprinkles77 · 26/10/2011 22:49

Definitely complain. If she cannot learn from this she might as well change jobs. There's no excuse for that. Though IME doctors are the last person you want to take blood. Phlebotomists do nothing else all day. My veins are rubbish. I go to the warfarin clinic for all blood tests. Though it might be different with children.

tkband3 · 26/10/2011 22:56

Complain, most definitely. My 3 DDs have to have annual blood tests. We make an appt at our children's outpatients, where they have EMLA cream applied to their inner elbows. They play in the waiting area for a while then we head over to the blood unit, where they see the specialist paed phlebotomist as soon as they are free - children get priority. She is the most lovely lady, who now recognises my girls and treats them with kindness and respect. Her expertise and her lovely gentle manner combined with the anaesthetic effect of the EMLA cream mean that it doesn't hurt at all and they are not freaked out about it.

Can't believe that a specialist paed phlebotomist would treat a baby in such an awful way. Hope DS, and you, are ok.

DogsBeastFiend · 26/10/2011 22:58

Yes complain to PALS. I damn would if it were me, I HATE blood tests. goodness knows how a little mite would feel about them.

Poor soul, I hope he's feeling much better now.

Aimster · 26/10/2011 23:13

I had a similar experience to your son - a nurse rootling around for a vein (with the needle under my skin) and leaving bruises down both arms.

I had to have a follow up blood test three days later. I was given the same nurse but refused to let her take blood - was sent to a doctor instead. When she saw the bruises she said I should complain, as that's usually the only way that medical people get feedback. If management don't know that the patient was unhappy, they can't take any action.

Suggest you take photos of your sons arm when the bruises come out and send this off when you complain.

Hope he is feeling better now.

SirHumphreyAppleby · 26/10/2011 23:19

This has actually happened to me as an adult and made me really nervous of having blood taken for years. I never thought to complain at the time, but reading about it happening to someone else, especially a child, is horrible. Definitely complain. Hope your little boy is ok x

runningwilde · 26/10/2011 23:23

Please don't you feel bad - you did nothing wrong

But please please please put in a very sternly worded complaint against this bloody horrible woman. Please! And come back and tell us what happens

Kisses to your boy x

ReindeerBollocks · 26/10/2011 23:23

Please do complain, she can't be allowed to act like that towards other children.

I once screamed at a doctor, who was trying to place a long line in my very needle phobic son. He had to be restrained and he was still fighting, crying and screaming - she turned round and said, well it wouldn't hurt if you didn't wriggle so much, and stop screaming you silly boy. My shouting at her was a mild response given I was ready to do some very unsavoury things to her face.... (not really but I was extremely angry).

I complained to the ward manager, and the main hospital manager. I also threatened to take it to the ombudsman if she wasnt dealt with correctly. Our children need to be dealt with correctly especially when undergoing such difficult procedures.

Hardgoing · 26/10/2011 23:26

I agree with everyone that this phlebotemist is awful. When my eldest has her blood taken, I was told to put Emla cream on both inner arms, so that they could try both if necessary without it hurting. She prides herself on not being scared of needles (unlike her mummy).

tabulahrasa · 26/10/2011 23:30

My cat gets EMLA cream before they take her blood - too right I'd want it for a toddler.

ReindeerBollocks · 26/10/2011 23:31

Some children are allergic to Emla/ametop cream :(

AnnieTheWalrus · 26/10/2011 23:46

That is shit! We had similar with DD. She needed a blood test through A&E and they sent her to phlebotomy. We got there and asked for numb cream or spray. We were told that if she needed that we should have gone to the childrens ward, and it would be ok as another nurse would hold her!
They stuck her with the needle, regardless of the fact that she was terrified and we had requested the spray, whilst the second nurse held her in a tight embrace, another thing that I wasnt happy with!
There was a distinct lack of any kind of compassion or empathy!

Northernlurker · 26/10/2011 23:49

Sometimes it can be tough to get blood, especially from dcs - which is why somebody doing it should know exactly what she or he is doing, should manage trauma for the patient and get help when needed. Complain about your experience and do it tomorrow. If nothing else she needs to reflect on her practice because she is coming across as a total cow!

theoldtrout01876 · 27/10/2011 01:10

Ok I draw blood from people of all ages,her attitude sucked and Id complain about that BUT that cream does actually make it harder to find veins in children, getting 6 vials from anyone,let alone a toddler, can be tough sometimes . In my 25 years of doing this I find that its the holding the child down that freaks them out and scares them,not the pain of having blood drawn ,its shock not pain ( if its done right). The place I used to work wouldnt allow the mothers in the room,we had a board with jacket thing on and the child would be put in that. Mothers are generally 10 time worse than the child and 10 times more trouble. The place Im in now the mother gets 1 chance to hold the child still enough then we get another tech in to do it.Plus 2 sticks and your out,if you dont get blood on the second try the mother or patient gets a choice of another tech trying now or coming back another day. It needs doing and isnt pleasant for anyone but I am ,at least, very professional ( oh yeah and a damn fine shot with a needle )

StinkyWeimaraner · 27/10/2011 06:09

As a needle-phobe I would only let a phlebotomist take my blood as they are the best but not on god's green earth would I let anyone take 6 vials in one go or I'd be flat on my back. Sorry your little mite got the bad apple and I hope he won't remember it.

In my job I have never seen a phleb make someone's blood drip down their elbow. A doctor, yes, phleb - definitely not.

hauntedstateofmind · 27/10/2011 06:16

Another one saying YANBU. What an arrogant, rude woman.

I don't know enough to comment on the creams/spray but her comments were totally out of order.

DaisyDaresYOU · 27/10/2011 06:25

Thats a good way to make someone have needle phobia.Stupid woman.I'm needle phobic because of a bad needle experience

notevenamOoOooOoooosie · 27/10/2011 06:29

EMLA should have been given w directions to put it on at home! It takes a good half hour to work.

YANBU and I am not surprised you want to complain - put the details in as you wrote them here.