DP was asked if DS had a SOCIAL WORKER because he hasn't had MMR

[drosophila]

I posted this on another thread but I think it deserves it's own thread. DS was very poorly last night with breathing difficulties and was in A&E. During Triage the nurse very aggressively demanded to know why he hadn't had the MMR. DP explained that DS:

1. Is is severely allergic to egg
2. has had full blown measles (confirmed) at age two.

Nurse then announces that he could get measles again to which DP said 'well if that is the case then he could get measles after a jab'. She then proceeded to ask DP if DS had a social worker. Make of that what you will but in all the times I have been to A&E (lots) I have never been asked that question.

Your thoughts please. DP is black so there may be an element of racial stereotyping going on.

I'd write a letter of complaint personally .. and having had real measles will give your child a true immunity which the vaccination doesn't necessarily

am surprised you see any racial stereotyping here .. don't understand that comment at all

She sounds very unprofessional.

I would submit a written complaint regarding her attitude.

I would also complain. Outrageous.

We had to take DD to A&E for an incident where she turned blue from the waist down. She had severe reflux as a baby and this particular day, she had bumped her head, although not warranitng a visit to the hospital. When we got there, they tried to tell me that the bump to her head had damaged her skull (WTF??) and then asked did I have a social worker.

The 'damage' was basically the shape of DD's head and I was fuming at the SS comment, but I think in some cases where they think harm has/will come to the child they just ask it. Routine apparently...

Well on the racial sterotyping certain asumptions can be made because of your colour e.g you are black parent so more likely to be in need of a social worker cos we all know what black people are like. My sister works for CRE and apparently the NHS are a real concern to them.

oh and the blueness, and the bump thing were'nt related (just in case anyone got the wrong end of the stick there)

Are you sure he was asked about having a social worker because of the mmr? Perhaps she was asking routine background info and timed it badly.

Well we had been in the exact same A&E 9 days earlier with DD and were not asked that question. If routine I would expect to be asked for both kids.

Hmmmm

Message withdrawn

Message withdrawn

Agree that the timing and attitude may have been unprofessional but I have to say that some nhs trusts will have that as a standard question on a paediatric addmission /assessment form. The paed medical assessment unit I worked on did have that as a standard question on the form.

(these forms aren't always filled in completely though)

(to clarify I was refering to the question 'do you have a social worker')

can I just add in her defence, that as a nurse on a medical ward I had to ask every patient as part of the admission process as to whether they had a social worker. Dont know if this helps.

Although am currently working in acute admissions and we never ask in triage but maybe its different for children I dont know

always get asked if my kids have a SW or under any other professional.

we were asked about having a social worker (when the nurse was filling in some sort of admission form) when we went to the allergy clinic at hospital.

Message withdrawn

Isn't being asked if a child has a health visitor more appropriate? Social Worker intimates 'problem family'.

I really do think (as others have said) that in some hospitals it is a standard question - I was a bit taken aback when we were asked but then I saw her circle a N on the 'does the child have a social worker Y/N' question on the form!!

The timing of the question to dros does sound odd though especially as she hadn't been asked on previous occasions there.

SW has nothing do with being a problem family

well not always anyway

I'm not suggesting they are a problem family but if I was asked that at a & e I would feel that they were labelling me just that. That's all.