"My parent and continence"

I noticed my elderly parent had very cloudy and thick urine in their catheter bag. This is a new catheter they have had since discharge from BCH, it was about a week old. The district nurse came and agreed it didn't look right, they then emptied some into a specimen bottle and suggested we go to ED. I took my parent in and was told I was not allowed to come into ED with them. I explained I was their carer and their advocate, but after the triage nurse took a history from me and took the sample I was told I couldn't come in at all. My parent also wanted me to stay with them. I requested the Dr call prior to doing anything so I can help.

About an hour later I was called by the Dr who said they didn't want to do bloods or a urine test because my parent had no fever, and they couldn't get a urine test because the catheter was in. They told me to come and collect my parent to take them without any treatment. I came back to the hospital to get my parent and was really worried because I knew something was really wrong. I was especially concerned because my parent recently had issues with their kidneys.

Upon getting to ED and having this conversation with the Dr, my parent actually collapsed in ED. The Dr said they will now keep them and run some tests. I felt really upset and worried. I then called the Dr to check on my parent a few hours later and was told they had done an ECG and was waiting on bloods, and the Dr stated they finished at in about an hour. I asked who was taking over after them and I recall they simply said the other clinician’s name. I then asked to speak to my parent on the phone who said that they had not eaten anything for lunch at all, and had not eaten for hours.

Around a couple hours later, I received another call from the Dr saying I could now come collect my parent because it looked like a vasovagal and their bloods were good. I was surprised because I thought the Dr had finished for the day but they said that they stayed on.

My parent ended up on oral antibiotics and was feeling a lot better. I am not someone who comes into ED for no reason, but I know my parent and know when something is wrong. This whole situation made me feel shocked and uneasy.

I would like BCH to reconsider their policies around carers coming into ED in special circumstances. My parent is quite elderly and needs reassurance in these sorts of situations. The Dr did bother to ring me and I appreciate that, however I do think they should consider doing tests to check things like urine when carers or patients express concern. I don't even know if they checked the urine sample I provided to the triage nurse.

I also want to mention the security guard because when I left in tears he was so kind and supportive.