"Dismissive doctors with 0 communication skills"

My child is 5 months old. 

We attended PCH twice in a three week period. 

The first time we are referred by our GP as our child was showing signs of breathing distress after struggling with a cough and a suspected lazy larynx. 

We travelled 50 minutes and spent multiple hours in the ED to be told they had pneumonia. We requested an X-ray to confirm it was 100% the case. We were denied an X-ray as they didn’t deem it necessary, antibiotics were prescribed and we were sent on our way. 

Two weeks later we returned as our child's breathing difficulties worsened and our baby was consistently coughing and sucking in at their neck and ribs. 

The first doctor we saw talked about sending us home as my child is a happy and social baby. We asked for an X-ray again and were told 'probably not'. 

When a more senior doctor came in, they agreed to do X-rays finally. This showed inflammation of our child's airways and lungs. 

We were then left waiting hours for a peads doctor. 

Once they came, they did a swab, said they’d be admitted and then organised referrals. 

A nurse came in to give our child antibiotics at 8pm. We asked what they were for and we were then informed, oh have we not been told? Our child has rhino virus and bronchitis so they need antibiotics. This was the first time we’d been told.

Our child was admitted into 1B for two nights. 

During these days we saw many doctors. 

We constantly raised concerns and we constantly felt dismissed. They continuously came in with incorrect information and we had to consistently correct them. We were told our child was fine as their stats were holding and they were happy and playful, but we saw our child consistently sucking in at their neck and ribs, wheezing and coughing. 

They said our child's larynx was fine they weren't aspirating like we thought, and they were feeding well despite not gaining much weight over an extended period of time. We requested ENT scope our child to confirm their suspicions, but we were told no due to our child having rhino and bronchitis. 

We then expressed our concerns and frustrations after being told we’d be discharged as they believe they’d diagnosed our child and they’d be fine at home. 

Another doctor came in. I felt they were extremely assertive and again our concerns went unheard in our opinions.

We were told our child could stay another night to monitor their stats but after the way we’d been dismissed, and knowing they were finished their investigation, we didn’t want to be there anymore as we felt uncomfortable and unheard. 

I felt the doctor consistently pushed their opinion of our child's diagnosis on us even though we weren’t confident in it. We were told the antibiotics they’d been having was a four week course, this was the first we’d heard of this after them giving them to our child for two days already. 

If our child experienced breathing distress for more than 10 minutes, we were to return to ED. 

We were told we’d have a follow up in two weeks to assess them and if they’ve improved. 

We had to ask multiple times to get this information. 

We are now almost a week out of hospital and my child has consistently been experiencing coughing fits in which they turn red and they last extended periods of time. Their sleeping is terrible and I spend most of my nights awake with them as they cough and cry all night. 

Recently I called PCH because they scheduled my child's follow up appointment in a month. When I told them my child was supposed to have one in two weeks, they told me they’d discuss with doctors. 

I received an email follow that stating my child's appointment will stay in a months time. 

I feel as though because my child isn’t classified as an “emergency” to them that they're not a priority. My child's consistent discomfort and difficulties isn’t important enough to investigate because they believe their diagnosis is correct and they are fine. 

I’ve lost faith in this hospital. Unless it’s an emergency, I don’t believe that they care to investigate or follow up.