"My child's diabetes appointment"

I was very disappointed when I came to Geraldton to attend the Diabetic Clinic for Perth Children's Hospital. My child has recently been diagnosed with type 1 which was a huge shock to our family.

We moved from PCH to Geraldton for our clinics as this was the closest. When we got there I was unsure where to go. I went into the wrong building to start but there was a lovely receptionist there who showed me where to go.

My child and I went in and it started very rushed and I found there was a lot of Healthcare workers moving around in, I felt, a bit of a panic. Then I started to feel anxious so I gave my child my phone to play so they wouldn't feel overwhelmed as well.

We went it and I felt like we were in and out very quickly. When we left the educators office I walked out to 3 or 4 patients on the chairs in the very small waiting room.  Then next the doctor in then out. While in there I burst into tears, after this I just felt worse. I spoke a little to the doctor but didn't feel as if I was given time to be heard, and as I walked out of the doctor office another walked in. It felt like there were a lot of other patients, parents and healthcare workers, and was extremely overwhelming for myself and my child.

I had no idea where to go or what to do so I just stood there until I was spoken to. From there I went in and spoke to the dietician who was lovely but in this process, people were coming in and out. I felt I had no privacy and that the Health staff that were there were rushing patients through with very little personal connection. in my opinion, there was no care that day.

I went home extremely upset and I was so disappointed in the way my child's appointment happened.  I am feeling extremely anxious to go to the next clinic as I am struggling with the diabetes journey that my family are on, I am feeling overwhelmed and I need more help with how to manage this condition. With all the COVID - 19 things happening at present I really hope it is better, but I worry that things will not improve.

I believe that these education days need to be more personal and that staff take care to understand each and every family that they see. I left feeling extremely overwhelmed and anxious and I had desperately wanted to leave feeling educated and supported. I am speaking up because I do not want this to happen to another family and have them feel the way that my child and I did this day.