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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think drunk teen shouldn't be in paeds A&E?

397 replies

Us3r21422 · 05/02/2023 10:35

NC for this in case picked up by the likes the of Daily Fail etc.

Took DD to paeds A&E last night due to concerns about dehydration after 5 days of gastro bug and decreasing tolerance for fluids and no wet nappy for 12 hours. Luckily she is OK and we were allowed home after some anti sickness meant she could tolerate water, but the place was full of really sick babies and toddlers. Dr said 4 cases of D&V/dehydration, plus a query sepsis child, croup etc.

I heard someone approach the nurses station and say they were bringing a drunk 15 year old and his parents round from adult A&E, no particular reason given, so assume this was purely based on his age. He did say dad was struggling to manage said drunk teen.

At this point I knew we were going home, so no real skin in the game, but I thought to myself that if the teen was that drunk, was paeds A&E really the place to bring him when he would have received presumably the same medical care in adult A&E?

As I say, no big deal to me as we were leaving, but I'm not sure I'd have been happy with a drunk/loud/aggressive/silly teen in the cubicle next to us. More so for the other parents and children who were really very very poorly and had clearly been there a long time, were very tired, waiting for a bed on the ward etc.

So - aibu to think drunk teen probably should have stayed in adult A&E and that it's not really desirable for a 15 year old who's had a few too many to be in the same (very small) department as lots of really unwell younger children?

OP posts:
Princesspollyyy · 05/02/2023 17:50

ancientgran · 05/02/2023 17:24

I might have misunderstood but I thought the OPs issue was the drunkenness not the age.

No, the OP was commenting on the fact that because he was 15, he should have been dealt with in adults, not paeds.

The OP didn't realise 15 is still a child.

Prescottdanni123 · 05/02/2023 17:59

@mondaytosunday

The issue with removing teens from under the paeds umbrella is if they need to stay overnight, adult wards aren't the right place for under 18s. In an ideal world, teens would have their own departments/wards.

ancientgran · 05/02/2023 18:01

Princesspollyyy · 05/02/2023 17:50

No, the OP was commenting on the fact that because he was 15, he should have been dealt with in adults, not paeds.

The OP didn't realise 15 is still a child.

Show quote history

I would be interested in what the OP thought. I think it can be interpreted either way.

janefondofu · 05/02/2023 18:09

Us3r21422 · 05/02/2023 10:35

NC for this in case picked up by the likes the of Daily Fail etc.

Took DD to paeds A&E last night due to concerns about dehydration after 5 days of gastro bug and decreasing tolerance for fluids and no wet nappy for 12 hours. Luckily she is OK and we were allowed home after some anti sickness meant she could tolerate water, but the place was full of really sick babies and toddlers. Dr said 4 cases of D&V/dehydration, plus a query sepsis child, croup etc.

I heard someone approach the nurses station and say they were bringing a drunk 15 year old and his parents round from adult A&E, no particular reason given, so assume this was purely based on his age. He did say dad was struggling to manage said drunk teen.

At this point I knew we were going home, so no real skin in the game, but I thought to myself that if the teen was that drunk, was paeds A&E really the place to bring him when he would have received presumably the same medical care in adult A&E?

As I say, no big deal to me as we were leaving, but I'm not sure I'd have been happy with a drunk/loud/aggressive/silly teen in the cubicle next to us. More so for the other parents and children who were really very very poorly and had clearly been there a long time, were very tired, waiting for a bed on the ward etc.

So - aibu to think drunk teen probably should have stayed in adult A&E and that it's not really desirable for a 15 year old who's had a few too many to be in the same (very small) department as lots of really unwell younger children?

This is literally none of your fucking business bro

Rollin · 05/02/2023 19:38

@Us3r21422 if you take a kid
to A&E and it’s not an accident and emergency then that will be pointed out to you.
clearly your kid was fine as it got sent home.

Rollin · 05/02/2023 19:39

‘The OP didn't realise 15 is still a child.’

I’m sure when OPs kid is a teen she’ll be perfectly happy for them to be thrown in with adults…

Lcb123 · 05/02/2023 19:44

I don’t really know why you’re worrying - didn’t have any effect on you and your child’s treatment

Original poster
Us3r21422 · 05/02/2023 20:08

Rollin · 05/02/2023 19:38

@Us3r21422 if you take a kid
to A&E and it’s not an accident and emergency then that will be pointed out to you.
clearly your kid was fine as it got sent home.

I was pretty much done with this thread, having received some helpful replies which helped me to see why this person should absolutely have been in paeds A&E. I've already admitted I was wrong upthread and thanked the posters for their contributions.

At the risk of feeding, my child was given antisickness medication, hydration and monitored for several hours before it was determined she was now well enough to return home as she had stopped vomiting and could tolerate fluids. Also her blood sugars had returned to normal, meaning she was no longer at risk of falling unconscious - and potentially dying. Multiple posters have agreed it was the correct thing to do, that it was an emergency and funnily enough, the NHS agrees with me - you can read that for yourself on their dehydration Web page.

I'm not going to rise to your use of the word it, you've already made yourself look pretty stupid tbh. Yes, so did I, but I've admitted that. I doubt you'll do the same. I hope you don't have children or even animals!

OP posts:
Original poster
Us3r21422 · 05/02/2023 20:11

ancientgran · 05/02/2023 18:01

I would be interested in what the OP thought. I think it can be interpreted either way.

Show quote history

You are correct ancientgran.

OP posts:
Oggermoller · 05/02/2023 20:20

redskydelight · 05/02/2023 11:29

The NHS doesn't seem to know what to do with older teens. A 15 year old is very definitely a child so should be in the children's department, but it's not great when your 16 and 17 year olds are deemed old enough to go in the adult's department either.

My daughter was admitted to an adult ENT ward when she was 17. She had her jaw reset due to dental underbite, it was hard leaving her her there the evening after and not being allowed in until afternoon visiting the next day!

OliveToboogie · 05/02/2023 20:34

My daughter had to go to hospital. On her 13th birthday. She was taken to adult AE. This is Scotland.

Princesspollyyy · 05/02/2023 21:03

@Us3r21422

😂😂 Absolute rubbish!! Omg I've heard it all now on here. If the concern was just the fact the teenager was intoxicated and not his age, why mention his age? How was it relevant?

When your baby is a teenager you'll have a completely different point of view, as many have told you on here.

Princesspollyyy · 05/02/2023 21:07

Actually did you see this teenager? How did you know he was aggressive, or loud?

My 15 almost 16 year old went to a birthday party recently, and had a few drinks, all his friends did which actually is what a lot of teenagers that age do. He slipped in the bathroom and cut his head open, and I had to collect him and take him to a&e.

Whilst he was quite drunk, he was not aggressive or loud, quite the opposite. He sat in the waiting room and went to sleep.

I bet now, you will add on to what you are claiming you heard the nursing staff say, and say that they said he was aggressive etc... the ultimate drip feed. I think we all know this conversation did not happen, only in your head.

Original poster
Us3r21422 · 05/02/2023 21:10

Princesspollyyy · 05/02/2023 21:03

@Us3r21422

😂😂 Absolute rubbish!! Omg I've heard it all now on here. If the concern was just the fact the teenager was intoxicated and not his age, why mention his age? How was it relevant?

When your baby is a teenager you'll have a completely different point of view, as many have told you on here.

I'm not sure I really understand what your issue is? I dunt particularly want anyone drunk around sick children, whether they're 15 or 50. Maybe I shouldn't have mentioned his age but no doubt I'd have been called out for that too! Are you actually 15, is that why you're so offended? Or is that you have a 15 year old and you've deemed this a personal attack?

OP posts:
Original poster
Us3r21422 · 05/02/2023 21:11

Princesspollyyy · 05/02/2023 21:07

Actually did you see this teenager? How did you know he was aggressive, or loud?

My 15 almost 16 year old went to a birthday party recently, and had a few drinks, all his friends did which actually is what a lot of teenagers that age do. He slipped in the bathroom and cut his head open, and I had to collect him and take him to a&e.

Whilst he was quite drunk, he was not aggressive or loud, quite the opposite. He sat in the waiting room and went to sleep.

I bet now, you will add on to what you are claiming you heard the nursing staff say, and say that they said he was aggressive etc... the ultimate drip feed. I think we all know this conversation did not happen, only in your head.

I knew it 🤣

OP posts:
Toddlerteaplease · 05/02/2023 21:16

Unfortunately they have to come to paediatrics as they are under 16. I completely agree it's not appropriate. It's been worse when you get teenagers involved in gangs etc admitting after being stabbed. Especially when police are sitting at the end of the bay. But adults. Won't take them. Occasionally 15 years old will go to the major trauma ward. But very rarely.

RockingMyFiftiesNot · 05/02/2023 21:19

There was no separate paeds A & E when mine were little so on the rare occasion we were there (just outside a big city) they saw all sorts of stuff I'd rather they hadn't. You deal with it. One day, you might be the parent of that 15 year old (and those saying it wouldn't happen to them have no idea about teenagers). And you would definitely rather your 15 year old wasn't in the adult A&E, believe me

Zola1 · 05/02/2023 21:19

A 15 year old is still a child, regardless of their reason for being there. Presumably they weren't going to be getting in the same cubicle as your child.
Our children's a&e closes around 11pm, and children are transferred to adult a&e. My child (12 at the time) had a leg injury, she was in a back slab and on morphine waiting for some results before decision to put her on the ward. It was Saturday night and we got moved to adult a&e. She was terrified, we saw fighting, heard people screaming, saw someone attack a police officer, and a woman walking round covered in fresh, bleeding self harm injuries. I definitely do not begrudge this 15 year old child a bed in a place for children.

RightBackNow · 05/02/2023 21:21

You have a baby you say?

😁

Time flies and your lovely baby will be an annoying yet vulnerable drunk teenager before too long. You'll change your mind. Enjoy the lovely happy baby cuddles for now.

Highdaysandholidays1 · 05/02/2023 21:22

The last time I saw police on the wards it was to escort a dad of a tiny toddler off to custody and to hand over to social services due to the toddler having a black eye that was deemed suspicious, my dd heard the parents discussing what to say.

It is not just because of teens that police go onto paed wards, or security or social services. Not at all.

Toddlerteaplease · 05/02/2023 21:25

@Highdaysandholidays1 unfortunately that it's correct most of the time it's for no accidental injuries. Fortunately they don't usually turn up in uniform.

AutumnColours5887447 · 05/02/2023 21:36

So what exactly do you think is ok to have around young children? It’s a hospital ward, children, babies 👶 and teens are throwing up, crying, screaming and moaning all day. It is what it is. Makes zero odds what is the cause of vomiting. Intoxication would be one of the least stressful things my daughter has witnessed on her many paeds stays.

ancientgran · 05/02/2023 21:37

Us3r21422 · 05/02/2023 20:11

You are correct ancientgran.

Show quote history

Thank you. I couldn't understand why everyone was focused on you not thinking a 15 year old should be there when it seemed clear to me that it was the drunkenness that was the issue.

ancientgran · 05/02/2023 21:40

Princesspollyyy · 05/02/2023 21:03

@Us3r21422

😂😂 Absolute rubbish!! Omg I've heard it all now on here. If the concern was just the fact the teenager was intoxicated and not his age, why mention his age? How was it relevant?

When your baby is a teenager you'll have a completely different point of view, as many have told you on here.

I thought she mentioned the drunkenness as you don't expect drunks on a paeds ward. Being 15 on a paeds ward OK, being drunk on a paeds ward not so good.

ancientgran · 05/02/2023 21:43

From the first post but I thought to myself that if the teen was that drunk, was paeds A&E really the place to bring him Absolutely clear from the start the she wasn't bothered about his age but about him being drunk.