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Original poster

Any ideas?

10 replies

abbs1 · 16/09/2023 21:56

This may be outing but my DD had an accident at home and needed stitches on her lip. The childrens A&E and hospital I took her to wasn't able to do it as she's only a toddler and they didn't have the team to put her under sedation or general anaesthetic to safely do it. Long story short, they said another hospital over 2 hours away could do it but the hospital couldn't arrange transport for treatment. We had to pay and take her ourselves on the train. If we couldn't take her then they said her lip would heal on its own but not look aesthetically pleasing. (There was a big chunk hanging off where her teeth went through her lip) It couldn't be left.
We took her and after a lot of set backs she ended up needing 5 stitches nearly 48 hours after the accident happened due to far to many opinions on if she did or didn't need stitches from the local hospital and then having the medical staff and surgeon available that needed to do it at the hospital she was sent to etc.

AIBU or is it the hospitals responsibility and duty of care to arrange transport for emergency treatment if a child's injury can't be treated at one hospital and they need to be transferred to another hospital?

We were told because we decided to opt to have her lip stitched under their recommendation it was our responsibility to pay for the travel etc. The surgeon who performed the procedure at the hospital we were sent to said it definitely needed stitching. It would not have healed properly without. So it wasn't recommended it was a necessity.

OP posts:
TomatoSoupIsLikeVampiresBlood · 16/09/2023 23:00

It does sound very unfair, although I will say DH has waited several hours for ambulance transport between hospitals before now so train might have been quicker so she could have the op sooner, I would have thought they would have arranged a taxi though at least.

You may be able to claim the cost back, although that won’t help with the stress of having to go by train when you have an injured child! I hope it all heals well.

https://www.nhs.uk/nhs-services/help-with-health-costs/healthcare-travel-costs-scheme-htcs/

https://www.transportforall.org.uk/information-advice/travel-information/national/patient-transport

nhs.uk

Healthcare Travel Costs Scheme (HTCS)

If you're referred to hospital or other NHS premises for specialist NHS treatment or diagnostic tests by a doctor, dentist or another primary care health professional, you may be able to claim a refund of reasonable travel costs under the Healthcare Tr...

https://www.nhs.uk/nhs-services/help-with-health-costs/healthcare-travel-costs-scheme-htcs/

TheMountainsCall · 16/09/2023 23:03

I would expect to just get myself and my child to the hospital required, when advised that was the needed facility. It's up to me to get my child treated and sometimes that means going out of my way. The exception would be if they were on life support and needed a helicopter or transport by ambulance, or some other extreme circumstance.

SM4713 · 16/09/2023 23:09

Its not a medical emergency situation- otherwise they would have transferred her via paediatric transport services or an ambulance. Stressful and traumatic for you and her, yes, I agree, but if it had been medically unsafe for her to travel outside an ambulance, they wouldn't have sent with you.

How old is your DD? I hope it heals well with minimal scarring.

Original poster
abbs1 · 17/09/2023 07:11

TomatoSoupIsLikeVampiresBlood · 16/09/2023 23:00

It does sound very unfair, although I will say DH has waited several hours for ambulance transport between hospitals before now so train might have been quicker so she could have the op sooner, I would have thought they would have arranged a taxi though at least.

You may be able to claim the cost back, although that won’t help with the stress of having to go by train when you have an injured child! I hope it all heals well.

https://www.nhs.uk/nhs-services/help-with-health-costs/healthcare-travel-costs-scheme-htcs/

https://www.transportforall.org.uk/information-advice/travel-information/national/patient-transport

Thank you. I will take a look. We were told the hospital was waiting for her only to get there and wait more hours and then told no one could see her go home and come back the next day! So it cost double.

OP posts:
Original poster
abbs1 · 17/09/2023 07:13

TheMountainsCall · 16/09/2023 23:03

I would expect to just get myself and my child to the hospital required, when advised that was the needed facility. It's up to me to get my child treated and sometimes that means going out of my way. The exception would be if they were on life support and needed a helicopter or transport by ambulance, or some other extreme circumstance.

This is what I wasn't sure about as I know they obviously do it for critical cases but not other emergencies.

OP posts:
DustyLee123 · 17/09/2023 07:14

If the person doesn’t need observation by hospital staff, and they are mobile, it should be up to the person to get themselves there. She didn’t ‘need’ to go, it was your choice to have the treatment ( and I would have wanted that treatment too).

Original poster
abbs1 · 17/09/2023 07:16

SM4713 · 16/09/2023 23:09

Its not a medical emergency situation- otherwise they would have transferred her via paediatric transport services or an ambulance. Stressful and traumatic for you and her, yes, I agree, but if it had been medically unsafe for her to travel outside an ambulance, they wouldn't have sent with you.

How old is your DD? I hope it heals well with minimal scarring.

My DD is 18 months old. It was just very exhausting and upsetting for her being in a hospital all of Wednesday evening, back again Thursday, then sent to another hospital Thursday PM only to be told actually no one can help you today after being told a team was waiting for her to come home and do it all again Friday.
I'm hoping it heals OK as it's a nasty cut bless her.

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MidnightOnceMore · 17/09/2023 07:23

It will have been an unpleasant experience but she'll hopefully heal well now after having the treatment. I think you did the right thing.

I know it's no kind of answer but the Tories have pretty much broken the NHS and things are more chaotic than they used to be - I bet 10 years ago it would have been a shorter/smoother process. But the main thing is you navigated the system and your DD got the treatment, and she was looked after by you the whole time.

SM4713 · 17/09/2023 19:48

Silicone gel can be used (once healed) to help reduce scar formation. If she is having any follow up, ask them about it. You can buy it from larger pharmacies or online and you only need a tiny scrape of it. It does need to be used for many weeks/months though, but can be very effective on scars.

Original poster
abbs1 · 18/09/2023 13:36

SM4713 · 17/09/2023 19:48

Silicone gel can be used (once healed) to help reduce scar formation. If she is having any follow up, ask them about it. You can buy it from larger pharmacies or online and you only need a tiny scrape of it. It does need to be used for many weeks/months though, but can be very effective on scars.

Oh thankyou. We've not been given any follow up apt. Just discharged us and sent us home.

I will see if I can get some gel.

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