We visited Children's A&E on a Saturday evening in early June. My daughter had dislocated her knee (subluxation) and her knee was very swollen and needed support and ice. We normally don't go to A& E when her knee pops out because we know that A &E is just not equipped to give her what she needs. However, her knee was very swollen and she couldn't move it at all. We waited in the penned area of the children's A&E and saw so many sick children arrive (some by ambulance) and sent to wait with us. No-one came to assess any of these children in the waiting area - the other parents urged one baby's parents not to wait but to get someone to help them straight away. Yes, it was a busy night - lots and lots of sick babies. However, there only seemed to be 1 or 2 nurses in this department and the usual non-seeing junior (?) doctors on computers behind a desk. I asked for ice (the ice pack we had brought with us had melted after several hours) - there were no ice packs, I asked for a pillow to support under my daughter's knee - they couldn't find a pillow... Eventually after 6 hours my daughter saw the on call orthopaedic person - he was great but he couldn't do anything for her as the tests she needed meant she would have to be referred - the Hillingdon orthopaedic merry go round. Luckily he helped us by writing to our doctor and putting her on a list to see his boss. A knee specialist. It was the first time that I had ever thought how close this Hospital was to crisis point. Not enough staff, equipment, specialists available 'out of hours' and the sheer volume of patients. Very worrying.
"Children's A&E"
About: Hillingdon Hospital Hillingdon Hospital Uxbridge UB8 3NN
Posted via nhs.uk
Do you have a similar story to tell?
Tell your story & make a difference ››
Responses
See more responses from Hillingdon Hospital