16 year old in hospital, adult mixed ward.

[Teenangels]

My daughter and I are currently sitting on a chair in the waiting area, to be taken up to a ward, she is 16 only just and been diagnosed with an appendicitis, she has been given morphine, so is sleepy and

I have been told that she will be going up to an adult mixed ward to wait for surgery and that I am not allowed to go up with her.

I am actually furious that my 16 year old will be surrounded by adult men, she is a child how is this allowed to happen.

In my eyes she is still a child, she can't get married (without my permission) but can be treated as a child.

AIBU and over reacting or AINBU to feel she is being totally let down.

I’m sorry you’re in this situation and it’s such bad timing but paediatrics really does cover under 16’s. It’s always been this way. On the one hand you don’t want your “baby” (she’s not) on an adult word but in contrast families with small children don’t want young adults on those wards. There is a chronic shortage of beds and between a 16 year old and 5 year old the bed on a ward with sleeping space etc clearly doesn’t go to her. Hence she is where she is.

It sounds like you had to leave op. Is it evening visiting hours now?
Go in again and tell them your staying. They can't forcibly remove you.
I was allowed to stay with dd, I slept on the chair all night with a blanket from my car although they did offer me one as well

Absolutely this. I'm sorry to be blunt but OP sounds like a nightmare relative and so do some posters.

I mean you are in the NHS I would personally feel embarrassed to start kicking up a fuss and start demanding who is in the bays on the ward. FGS

I would be the same as you, to be honest I wouldn't really want to leave my poorly 16 year old boy in that situation, especially if they had never been in hospital before and are very shy.

i am sorry but adolescent wards were got rid of some time ago.
she doesnt have a learning disability does she?

Seems another 70s staple is being revived. Hurrah !

I see the wonkers have arrived. Does some sort of wonker alert go out on SM?

If the OP stays put, she does all girls a service. We should amplify our voices on this.

@fannyfartlet

OP isn't being unreasonable for wanting to stay with her terrified teenage daughter. She isn't demanding to be transferred to paediatrics. She just wants to stay with her. Which is understand given the fact that she is underage, vulnerable and drugged up. The staff shortages and stress levels of nurses just provides another reason for OP to stay. If the ward is running on minimal staff, can they honestly guarantee that they can safeguard and advocate for a vulnerable teenager. If OP stays, she can do this as well as taking care of her DD's personal needs such as fetching drinks/hygeine/comfort etc.

go to pals if you want op

I had this earlier this year, 16 year old son with appendicitis, on an adult ward. I was at least allowed to visit him; probably because I repeatedly questioned the decision and the doctor agreed with me. He was eventually moved to a pediatric ward, funnily enough, as that had the most available space.

What on earth are their reasons for not allowing you to stay? She can’t be questioned in a police station without an appropriate adult present!!
Contact PALS, take names of anyone saying you can’t stay. Absolutely appalling treatment of a child.

She's not asking for that though is she? She is just bashing the care her daughter is yet to receive. It's highly likely that she would be allowed to stay with her after speaking with the ward.

This is a safeguarding issue OP and you need to tell hospital staff this (if you haven't already). Your daughter is 16 and therefore still a child (despite what some posters have stated). She should be on a children's ward, and requires an adult to remain in hospital with her for the duration of her stay. Hope she feels better very soon.

@fannyfartlet She tried asking the nurses on the ward and they said no. She hasn't bashed the care that she is going to receive either. She has only complained about the fact that they won't let her stay.

Since when was 16 and adult?

YANBU but let her have the procedure asap. No delay! A bust appendix can cause severe and possibly letal complications. Once she's in theater you can pull all the strings to make sure she's put in a safe ward and that you can sit with her. But right now she's got to have the operation urgently!

@Stillprocessing sometimes when you are in hospital

Oh look.

You could report NHS England under their own guidance.

There is an app, guidance and it says to call 101. I shit you not.

@fannyfartlet you must be reading a different thread to me because I've not seen the op criticise the treatment her Dd is receiving. But the lack of safeguarding for her.

She's not demanding she be moved to a paediatric ward but simply needing to remain with her frightened, unwell and in pain daughter!

So upholding standards and advocating for vulnerable children is kicking up a fuss is it? I’m glad you weren’t my parent.

no excuse for sh%t healthcare in a first world country

OP, I'd be tempted to post which hospital it is and a bunch of MNrs will phone 101 to report a safeguarding concern.

This is the exact kind of situation Saville loved. Have we not learned?

"Oh, and healthcare staff are currently very stressed so if you become that parent, it may well impact on your daughter's care so I'd wind your neck in." Yeah, you threaten those uppity patients. This thread has done nothing for my perception of a lot of healthcare professionals tbh.

No they really can’t simply be overridden. If a young person refuses treatment, which may lead to their death or a severe permanent injury, their decision can be overruled by the Court of Protection. The parents cannot automatically override a competent child’s or a child with capacity’s decision to refuse treatment - the situation has to be pretty exceptional (although can occasionally be used where it is agreed it is in the child’s best interest) - a 14 year old child detained under sections 5(2) of MHA refusing enteral feeding and already in life threatening condition, for example. The detention is under MHA but treatment cannot be. That can be, with parental consent if the child is too unwell to truly understand the implications of withholding treatment. The decision would not be the parents alone, but they could consent in face of child’s refusal.

For 16-18 year olds who usually have capacity for most decisions, it is a minefield.

I know I’m late to this party, but my 17 year old nephew was treated for acute illness on a paeds ward. In what world is a 16 year old an ‘adult’?