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"Inadequate A&E am left in shock"

About: St Mary's Hospital (HQ) (London)

Where do I start. Ambulance brings my 22 month old who is burning up with a temp of 104f to this A&E, which I do not usually use, and leaves us in a waiting area with no explanation of what is to happen next. No one spoke to us. I look around and there are other very sick children sleeping on benches around the waiting area. One panicky dad whose son has a fish bone stuck in his throat had to observe his boy being left to cry whilst vomiting in a bin, when he complained a nurse just snapped at him. Thankfully, one kind mother explained to me that I had to register my child next door. I meet three receptionists who were annoyed I interrupted them to ask if I daughter had been registered in. I return to the filthy children's A&E again, no one speaks to us and our daughter is screaming as there is nowhere to sit to comfort her. Finally after sometime an assessment nurse calls and gets agitated with my daughters frustration rather than using soothing techniques. I'm asked to repeat everything the ambulance service had recorded (surely this is wasting treatment time?). After a talk with one another one of the nurses (who I must say was the only one with some manners) I got offered a bed for my toddler to rest in while we wait. We then saw no one for 4 hours. Well a nurse came twice to take her temperature. No doctor up dates. My little girl is in a terrible state, unwell, cant sleep and crying with frustration. Cant forget the moment when we got told off by a nurse as my son spilt a drink in our crowded cubicle. I was so disgusted with the overall service I decided to walk out, which was a huge decision to make but was clearly the right decision. Thankfully, she was seen the next day in a calm environment where she got the treatment she needed. Just wish I made that decision earlier as my toddler didn't get to bed until 5.30 that morning. I will never ever bring my daughter here again. Rude staff, dirty environment, no toilet roll, old out dated facilities. Give me Northwick park next time please.

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