"My Child's Factured Tibia"

My child recently suffered a fractured tibia in their final game of basketball for the season. Upon arrival at the Emergency department we were seen within, what I feel was, a reasonable time and my child was given pain relief. 

X-Rays and an MRI scan confirmed they had suffered a tri plane fracture to their tibia and a small fracture to their fibular. They were given plenty of pain relief (Gas, Green Whistle, Tremadin) as they were in a lot of pain. We were told Surgery would be required and that this would occur within 48 hours and need to allow for swelling to subside. We were then sent home after a back slab cast was applied and told to give them panadol and nuerofen throughout the night if they needed pain relief. This baffled me somewhat as their pain in hospital was being managed by a lot stronger medication. We went home only for the pain relief to wear off and my child to be in excruciating pain again. I phoned the hospital and they said to bring my child back in as perhaps the back slab cast had been set too tight. They cut it off and reset and we were sent home again and told to wait for the surgeon to call. 

1 1/2 hours after arriving home they were again in a lot of pain. I phoned the hospital and was told they had no record of my child being there and I was put on hold (I believe actually the phone was placed down & I could hear what seemed to be an entire confidential conversation about another patient). They returned and gave me the health direct number to phone! I advised I knew what the issue was - my child had a broken leg.

We took them back to the hospital and asked that they be admitted and given pain relief whilst we wait for the surgeon. I feel the nurse that saw us on our 3rd presentation could not believe we had been sent home with no pain relief given they had a broken leg. When we finally saw the surgeon they advised that the second cast had been set incorrectly and, I understand, should have had my child's foot at a 90 degree angle. Once admitted and under the management of the staff on the ward and the surgeon I feel it was very well managed, but our experience in the Emergency Department certainly was one I hope no one else has to experience.