"Unwell Child and Poor Care Received"

My child had been unwell with high temps ranging anywhere from 38.5 - 39.6 for 5 days and then their breathing changed from normal breaths to rapid short breaths and they had not been eating since becoming unwell.  Took our child to Geraldton Regional Hospital to get them checked as I was concerned about their breathing.  Seen a doctor there who checked my child over and told me that they have an ear infection in their left ear and that is what is most likely causing the high temperatures but didn't explain why the change in breathing.  Script was given for antibiotics and was sent on our way. I left there feeling as though I was just another number in the system needing care and felt that my concerns with their breathing were not heard.

As parents we continued to monitor my child at home as their high temps and breathing became worse each day and 2 days later they had deteriorated so much that they became very lethargic and were extremely pale.  Back up to the hospital and explained that we had only been there 2 days before and were sent home and that my child has deteriorated and they need to be seen to as their breathing was now even more rapid than before (56 beats per minute) and was still having high temps which were still ranging from 38.5 - 39.6.  Got through triage quite quickly and allocated to a bed in the ED.

Doctor came to see us and didn't bother to introduce themselves and their name badge wasn't visible to us ( I have since found out the name of the doctor).  Doctor asked me a couple of questions on what had been going on, the nurse briefing them on initial obs that she had done.  Chest xray was done to rule out Pneumonia which came back clear, doctor wanted bloods done, nurses asked doctor if wanting numbing gel put on now and doctor responded with "no as it is too hard for me to find veins with the gel on".

I was shocked at this response as my child has always had the gel on when having bloods taken and it has never been an issue before.  The doctor simply said no just wrap them and hold them firmly whilst I do the blood test. The doctor took 2 goes at getting blood from my child's arm and I had to politely and sternly tell them after the first go that they only get one more go and that is it, I felt the doctor gave a very annoyed look.  I was disgusted in this behaviour and comments from the doctor and I felt I could see the nurses were shocked also.

Within 30 minutes my child's arms had bruised quite badly from the blood tests as the doctor was quite rough and in my opinion causing more paid to my child that what needed to be as they were moving the needle around a bit when it was in my child's arm.  The blood tests came back clear also and the doctor told me it was viral and that viral does not warrant to be admitted as it not an infection.  My child's temperature got to 39.6 whilst we were there and their breathing was still at 56 beats per minute.  Their temperature did come down after a while but it took almost 3hrs for it to start coming down after we had taken all of my child's clothes off and the hospital temperature was also freezing.  We were discharged from the hospital with the what I believe was the most poor explanation of "its viral and as its viral it does not warrant being admitted to hospital and only infections warrant an admission".

In my opinion, the doctor had no compassion or bedside manner at all and the way they handled child was disgusting and I would not wish any other child to have them as a doctor in the ED.  My partner and I have also had this doctor when we have presented to ED and we have found them rude and arrogant at those times also.

On a positive note the nurses who cared for our child during the stay were absolutely fantastic and could not fault them.  In my opinion my child should have been seen by a Paed doctor and not just the ED doctor.  I was not aware that I could have asked for a second opinion but I wish I had of been as I would have pushed for it as I believe given how unwell my child was with the high temps, breathing etc that they should have been admitted for monitoring overnight.

I feel like the health system has failed us once again but to be honest we are getting used to this type of service as this is not the first time we feel like our concerns for our child's health have been dismissed and just sent home with no answers.  I would like to know what the process is to put in a form complaint about this doctor as I feel their duty of care towards my child was not me.

Staff attitude

Treatment

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Doctor