Blooming HV - Fuming again

[AliH]

Am I just unlucky? Am I too fussy? What I am is fuming again with my HV, and want to rant! Sorry.

I have forgiven my HV (well, sort of) for dragging me and Dd out at 4.30pm on a wet, cold, dark miserable December afternoon for her 3 yr check, and then not even having the decency to have put it in her diary and going home (or shopping) early.

So, on to the Hib booster. In we went, Dd all ready, but not really understanding that it might hurt. MIGHT, what a joke. My lovely HV talked to dd with her back turned, and not even over her shoulder. I sat her on my knee, getting us ready, and with no warning at all, lovely HV stuck the needle into dd's leg. Of course, I had no grip, and dd was watching and pulled the needle straight out, screaming hysterically. The needle was bent right over, and both legs were scratched deeply.

Dd is now traumatised, and will probably never let anyone near her again with a needle, so probably will never have either her Hib or pre-school boosters. Anyone any suggestions?

(Sorry to rant).

I sympathise and think you were unlucky.With my dd the hv didn't warn her but was so quick it was all over before she knew anything about it(in the arm }.
In 1 hour I am taking ds aged 10wks for his first lot . At least he hasn't got the hand co-ordination to pull it out but I am still dreading it.

Can you complain? Well out of order.

I'm really sorry. And horrified. And since my own dd1 hasn't had her Hib booster yet and I'm incredibly underimpressed with the practice nurse at my surgery (one's great, but the other looked vaguely at me when I asked could someone else hold dd2 while she was jabbed, in case I shook and wept) really quite scared too.

I am SO sorry again.

AliH- can't you complain to practice manager or GP - hope dd feeling little better

Serious complaint AliH to practice manager. HV should always make sure you are ready and explain as she goes along. DD might not understand at the moment what she is talking about but at least she will know something is going to happen.

Agree. Complain strongly. This upset your dd and was badly done.
Motherinferior - my advice is to breastfeed your dd while she gets jabs - if you are lucky she won't notice, if she does, she will calm much quicker with a good suck and some nice sweet milk. I use chocolate to get ds through jabs. With his single measles jab, he didn't even look down when I popped a chocolate button in his mouth at exactly the strategic moment!

I echo everyone else. complain.
nurse who did ds hib was lovely - distracted him, asked him lots of questions about how he was etc
I think some of them must get blase because they do so many but that is NOT acceptable.

I am very surprised that she is getting a jab in her leg.. my practice sister always does jabs in the bum. I just lay dd down across my knee and the nurse just pulls down her nappy and shorts/trousers then pops the needle into the top fleshiest part of the bum. Dd does not even react!! Dd is only 13mths. But the nurse did do an older child and gave her the jab in her bum cause the little girl made a comment about that was the lady that just poked her in the bum BUT - no crying - came out with a sticker and looked fine - no trauma there.

I would make a complaint that is appalling.

Agree with everyone, complain. Sorry your poor chick had to suffer this insensitive woman.

definately complain! What a horrific story, stupid people everywhere!!!i hope your little girl feels o.k now and this memory fades!

I would definately complain. Your dd has had a terrible experience and the HV needs to realise this. How appallingly ill-mannered to not even look at your dd when she was talking to her, and as for not telling you she was about to do the jab or ask were you ready. Unforgiveable. I hope your dd can get over this but I think some sort of talking about it to her ie: how the lady was wrong to do it like that, and she should have explained what she was going to do and that although it does hurt a bit it is over quick if she doesn't look etc.
Our Hv isn't too bad but she doesn't even have any kids, so what experience she has I don't know.
A lot of health 'professionals' seem to live in text-book land.

Absolutely complain, at least that might stop her from doing that to any more poor children.
Just brought my two for their hib boosters. The practice nurse was wonderful, did lots of distracting and made sure that I had a good grip on them before doing the shot. She did dd (11 mo.) in her leg and ds (2.5 yrs) in his arm.

Complain, make as much noise as possible about it, I'm sure that your little one did and now the immediate pain for her has subsided it's up to you to make sure that you return this unjust and cruel behaviour by creating a bit of pain for said hv.

I'm cross on your behalf, I wouldn't tollerate that happening to my little ones and neither should anyone else.

Thanks for all of your advice, I have calmed down now, but you have convinced me to complain. Luckily, our practise nurse is fantastic, and I will be asking for her to do any future jabs - if I can get dd in through the door that is.

The scratches on her legs still haven't healed, and the incident happened 17 days ago! That is how deep they were. I just hope they do not scar.

thanks again.

Sobernow, sorry to hear you had a similar experience. Did the serum get into dd?

I failed to mention in my original post that the whole thing was a waste of time because she failed to get any of the stuff in. Her closing comment was that she could 'mix' the hib with the pre-school injection next time. Oh right, does that mean she will be coming at dd with a half pint syringe?? Does anyone know whether mixing them is ok medically?