"Felt dismissed"

I took my child to ED as they had been experiencing non-stop migraine style pain with daily vomiting episodes for 3.5 weeks. The GP had arranged an MRI scan for the following week, but I was becoming increasingly concerned by my child's high level of pain, weight loss from daily vomiting, inability to attend school or do anything but lay in a darkened room. I felt they were deteriorating.

Upon presentation, my child was triaged as a level 3. We didn't wait long to be seen. The ED doctor escorted us to a bed, and asked about the reason for presentation. A nurse took my child's vital signs and left. Unfortunately this is where our care took a nose dive. Upon explaining my child's recent history, they stated coldly that they don't know why I was here. I again reiterated my concerns, to which they responded again, they don't understand why I was here. My GP has a plan and they will not be bringing the MRI forward. I stated my child's pain score was 8/10 and they weren’t responding to any analgesia. To my horror, the nurse then said my child wasn't in any pain, as they don’t have tachycardia. They had a throbbing migraine style pain and was lying down with their eyes closed. I explained it would be negligent for me as a parent to not seek help when my child was deteriorating. I was asked to step away so that they could speak with my child in private. My child later told me that they were asked about home life, if their parent’s fighting, what is really happening...

The doctor left and returned shortly. At this point I was asked about my child’s mental health history. I was taken aside by this doctor and told their gut instinct is that this is all mental health related. I disagreed. To my astonishment, I recall they then said well maybe my child has dating troubles... they’re a child! I couldn't believe what I was hearing.

At this point I had to leave to attend something, so my spouse took over my place in ED. The ED doctor unbelievably said to my spouse that I was very anxious. My child was given a dose of paracetamol and maxalon (which they were already taking at home) and discharged home with the lacklustre comment to please return if we have any concerns.

My child ended up undergoing urgent surgery in Perth. They had a collapsed middle ear, mastoid bone disease drilled out, cholesteatoma removed, ear canal reconstruction with a fascia graft and more. They were very poorly.

I want all parents to know to trust their instincts. I know my child best. I will not let a seemingly dismissive and uncaring clinician make me doubt myself.

I am a health professional myself and was truly disgusted with this doctor's bedside manner. If it hadn't been for my persistence, my child could have had permanent hearing loss as well as the real risk of the infection spreading to the brain.

At the time of writing this, my child was day 10 post operative, recovering slowly at home. They hadn’t had a migraine or vomiting episode since the day of their surgery. I feel if this clinician had had any desire to help my child, perhaps we could have prevented further weeks of suffering. I recall they didn't do any physical examination themselves. It seemed to me their mind was made up upon seeing us that this was all mental health related. Quite simply ... I believe not good enough!