To think the hospital could do a bit more?

[EyeSpyaBlueFoot]

Had to bring DS1 and DS5 with me to AE because I dropped a kitchen appliance on my foot from a great height last night. It turned all sorts of colours and looked like a cartoon foot this morning.

We waited 2.5 hours and I had to change DS1s nappy. Told the receptionist in case my name was called. Came back out and checked with her it hadn't been called. After another hour I ask how much longer they think it might be to be told I'd missed my name being called and I'll have to start again in the queue. Not a word of apology from the receptionist. Two hours later we are called in to have my foot X-ray. I now have very grumpy fed up small kids. X-ray tech is using as few words as possible and simply points and says they have to stay behind the wall. I completely agree but how? I try bribing the little one with snacks but he's 1 and keeps coming to me. X-ray tech getting irritated. DS5 trying his best to pin DS1 but it's just not happening and DS5 has autism so this is no small asknof him. Eventually the tech, without giving me the choice, takes the X-rays with both kids stood behind the bed (I couldn't see them and thought DS5 had manage to pin DS1). AIBU unreasonable to think we could have expected a tiny bit more help or is that standard?

Before anyone asks DH is on a business trip in another country and no one else could come with me.

As a radiographer myself I probably would have been a bit internally about bringing two children without help to an A&e dept but I don’t believe for one second that people do this if they have a choice! So of course I would have done my utmost to help you out in this situation, if I was unable to keep them behind the screen by myself I would insist on waiting for help if it wasn’t immediately available. Having your children not behind the lead screen is NOT COOL and definitely needs reporting.

Oh you poor thing OP. This sounds AWFUL. I am an HCP in a very over stretched part of the NHS where isn’t and I don’t think you were treated fairly at all, especially where the X Ray was concerned! My 2 year old needed several hip X-rays a few years ago for a ? irritable hip. I was 6 months pregnant so obviously couldn’t go in with him so the rafiographers had to. He was pretty pissed off and it took 3 of them to sort him out but they were great.

All the very best OP. Sounds very painful

I called the fracture clinic who told me that I could bring the kids but they can't help with them so I tried to change the appointment

So they sent you home without the x-ray results and no treatment?! I feel like I've missed a post.

I would just go to the appointment tomorrow. I have been in a similar situation a few times and needs must. The foot is the priority here. If the kids kick off then that’s just the way it is. Avoiding months, years or even permanent pain / foot issues, trumps nhs workers brief and temporary irritation at young kids behaviour.

OP - did you see my post earlier about contacting the Trusts Learning Disabilities Head Nurse?

EyeSpy - I’m working from home tomorrow, no experience with SN but I can at least manage a baby. If you live in NI message me and if I can help out with lifts and a bit of childcare and application of a tonne of snacks I will.

You sound pretty bloody awesome, bet within a few months you will have plenty of support built up.

cheesemongery, when DD broke her wrist, A&E put her in a plaster cast, prescribed pain relief and referred her to the fracture clinic a couple of days later. She then (at fracture clinic) saw a consultant, and they changed her into one of those fibreglass things. I assume something similar has happened to the op?

OP, if by any chance you’re in or around the Vale of Glamorgan, I’m happy to help.

@Gildashairflick that is a shame. I understand clinics have to have their slot, but not everything can be conveniently slotted in for everyone (as in this case)

@EyeSpyaBlueFoot I'm another who would happily help if you are near to me.

Ok I really think you need to be seen cos it might cause long term lasting damage if not felt with properly.

Find a local fb site. And ask for help for someone to come to appt. Worth a shot.

thanks @SouthwarkSkaters I've only our own experiences to go on which is why I was . DS broke his wrist and it was so bad it was plastered and he was in for an op first thing the next morning under anaesthetic, plastered up to his shoulder for 6 weeks. I broke my wrist on the first day of hols in another town, sat in A&E in Portsmouth for 4 hours, had x-ray, waited for results etc and was splinted with a follow up appointment in home town 2 weeks later. My foot was the worst - mid foot and toes, but they did they xrays and clinic all in one long day and I went home in a cast boot thankfully, with another follow up 2 weeks later.

Like I said, I thought I missed a post and OP went home without anything.

I still insist the bum shuffle is the only way though. As for showering...

I very clearly got it wrong and the expectation would be to wait it out until you can find adequate child care

No, you really didn't get it wrong. Lots of parents find themselves in the situation you did where they have no choice but to take small children with them to A&E, and the radiographer should have had the sense to call someone to hold on to your children - it would have taken up far less time anyway. Please go to the fracture clinic tomorrow, if you're still in that much pain you really need to. Whereabouts do you live? It may be that one of us can help.

Randomly a few years after breaking my foot/toes I had to have my big toenail removed - a total avulsion I think they called it. My toe never quite recovered and as a result my nail started growing curling in on itself. I had to pay for that as the NHS doesn't pay for chiropodists - that didn't work either, I now have a nail growing diagonally out of my toe - Mmm!

OP have you completely cancelled your appointment? If not, then keep it and take the kids if necessary.

The receptionist won’t know how bad your foot is. They don’t have access to your notes. If possible please do go. Take loads of snacks and distractions. It’s not easy, I’ve been there. I had screws put in my ankle at the start of the summer holidays and had to take my three age at the time 9,5 and 11 months. It was fucking hard but I had to x

Hm dontcha know op you should have just left your precious kids a baby and an autistic child with paedo Anderson-stranger next door? And that multiple fractures in the foot as fine just take a paracetamol and put a sticky plaster on it? Jeeze woman get a grip!

In all seriousness get it seen to asap op. Ask taxi driver to carry pushchair down if you need to and 100% make a complaint to pals.

The NHS is failing badly. We should strive to make a better NHS by sorting out the failings not by treating people like shit and telling them they should feel priveledged at the shitty treatment because the NHS cant do anything wrong in some peoples eyes.

Its an awful position to be in but it is a situation you have gotten yourself into and its your responsibility to deal with it, not the NHS's.

It was an accident but what would have happened if you had been admitted to hospital, who would have looked after your children then? What the hell is your DH going off around the world when you have no support network, not a single person, not even a GP.

You have to take responsibility for your own life choices rather than expecting to take so many risks and then expecting other people to deal with the consequences.

walking

Well that's just plain out and out nasty

@Walkingdeadfangirl because it was an accident that no one could've predicted and her husband is away working. He's not exactly on a lads holiday is he?
People need to work. Accidents happen. Not everyone has a support network even if they haven't just moved in.

namechange2pointoh I wasn't trying to be nasty, but we have to address reality. If "ifs" and "buts" were candy and nuts, we'd all have a merry Christmas. Tough love.

ShadowCatt building a support network is a 100% necessity. All it takes is getting the phone number of a baby sitter on day 1. We know accidents happen, that's why we get insurance.

Its not about tough love its about real life happens outside of the prim little box everyone thinks it should be in.

Op has recently moved to a new area. Possibly due to her husbands work and he has also been sent abroad for work and couldnt get back in time for the 2 appointments even if he wanted to. Op couldnt predict the accident happening. You could critisise everyone for not planning.

What about single mothers in hostels with no family or friends and support?

What if a family on holiday have an accident on the way home and both parents are injured? Should we critisise them for not having support all over the country?

Bad stuff happens occassionally that makes life difficult. Presumably op will have the 5 year old in school in september and possibly baby groups to make contacts with eventually. That doesnt happen overnight.

And i hate this pius nonsense on here from people pretending they would let complete strangers babysit for hours.

You have had a rubbish experience and I feel very sorry for you. It sounds hard and lonely.

It might be worth checking if your husbands company provides health insurance for you? You could be able to go to a private hospital - it will cut down on your waiting times and be a bit easier to manage the children at the very least.

Op I’m
So sorry you are going through all this shit. Can’t one of us help you? Where are you in the U.K.? I’m
South West.
Can’t believe the grief you are getting from some posters /

@EyeSpyABlueFoot I am so sorry you have had to go through this on your own, maybe if you can say where abouts you are in the country maybe some of us could help you, to get you through the next few days, appointments, shopping, help with the kids till you DH is back & hopefully make you some friends in the process.

Could you have gone in and just asked them if they could get you seen promptly and explain the situation? It'd be up to the health cares and nurses behind the scene but most nurses I know would put you through and just help you get in and out as quickly as possible.
What if the gp referral comes in and they give you an appointment for Thursday?
They can fax the referral and a doctor could see it and ask you to come in ASAP.
On the other hand what if it takes too long and it causes more problems trying to fix it?
When is dh home?

OP I think you have been treated appallingly by the trust and I would certainly be ringing PALS and tweeting the trust about your experience including the unnecessary radiation exposure to your children.

I'm also disgusted that your DH company know you have multiple fractures in your foot and won't send your husband home and I would certainly be tweeting the director about that too!