"Letter sent"

Dear Sir/Madam

My child presented at the A & E Department with their sibling because they had sustained a back injury whilst jumping off the jetty at Geraldton Foreshore.

During the time that my child was supposedly being assessed by the triage nurse no physically examination took place just a few questions, their sibling informed the nurse that my child was on in severe pain, on Vyvanse, was Autistic and made the nurse fully aware that their clothes were very wet, apparently this information was completely ignored because they were directed to sit on a hard chair in the waiting area with just a few tablets given for pain relief.

Having spent numerous years on front line ambulances in London and rural UK, I am fully aware that any back injury should be taken seriously and the use of a cervical collar is imperative to prevent further complications, the patient should also be stabilized until a further assessment can take place, so why was my child directed to sit on a hard chair in wet clothing with no support to a possibly prevent further deteriation to a possible severe back injury?

Whilst being assessed my child observed a person dressed in scrubs, trying to open the door into the casualty area but was having a problem, they became irate and said loudly 'what the f****ing hell'. This in my opinion is the level of professional conduct within the A & E department.

About 30 mins later their sibling approached the receptionist and told them that my child was in severe pain and needed to lay down, they were ignored for some 10 to 12 minutes whilst the staff seemingly engaged in jovial chatter amongst themselves with some of them on their phones apparently on social media. Their sibling's request was ignored and they was told they would just have to wait like everyone else.

I arrive around 30 minutes after to find my child still in wet clothing, shivering with the cold and in a considerable amount of pain, I approached the triage nurse and politely enquired has to why my child was not being dealt with in the appropriate way for a possible severe back injury, I was told that they would get m child to x ray as soon as possible ( no x ray was taken during the 5 hour wait to see a doctor or after seeing the doctor) I was informed that there was no where my child could lay down, and they would just have to sit and wait, I also requested a blanket because my child was shivering with the cold, this did not arrive.

After waiting a considerable amount of time , I approached the receptionist and again requested a blanket, this request was meet with apparent distain and it was obvious that receptionist was in no way interested in assisting my child. After a long wait the receptionist arrived with a towel, not a blanket, which she virtually threw at my child and just walked away.

During the long wait I made several requests for a blanket for my child but this was ignored. It was only after I manage to speak to a nurse who was passing through the waiting area that they received a blanket and the offer of a dry gown; I would also like to point out that the nurse also offered to supply blankets to other children. Which I commend her for.

At no time during the wait of some 5 hours was any attempt made to enquire how my child was coping by your nursing staff and no assistance was offered, is this the procedure in place within the A & E department?

Having worked within the emergency services in the UK for a considerable amount of time I am fully aware that a certain amount of apathy creeps into the work force, but what I witnessed in the A & E department goes well beyond that, in my opinion what my child was subjected to was not short of abuse and the attitude towards other patients arriving at the A & E department was not professional or courteous, in my opinion the majority were treated as an inconvenience.

After waiting some 5 hours and observing several patients walking in and being seen by the doctors before my child (I am certain that my child's treatment was delay because I had the audacity to ask for assistance) it became apparent that an autistic child in severe pain and a back injury is not considered important by your triaged nurse, or the reception person.

My child was given an examination by a doctor who decided that it was a muscular injury and we were sent home with no x ray being taken, please note I have no complaint with regards to the doctor who carried out a complete professional examination of my child and was apologizing profusely about the treatment my child had received by your A & E staff.