"Lack of professional care for sick child"

Recently I presented to Wonthaggi ED with my school-aged child. They had had a high fever for 36 hours. They had also developed a large swollen lymph node on their neck. I felt the doctors were quick to get my child out of there with antibiotics and no explanation. My request for a blood test was denied.

The following day after my child continued to decline and have additional symptoms we went back to emergency. I requested a blood test again to which I recall the doctor replied that it won’t change the treatment. I insisted anyway. Once again we were sent home with very little care or investigation into what was making my child so ill. At no point did the hospital call to advise of the blood test results which showed their inflammation levels were extremely high.

My child went on to be diagnosed with a very serious illness know as PIMS-TS. They were in another hospital for over a week, incredibly unwell. I am extremely disappointed at the lack of investigation into my child’s symptoms, or at least referral to a paediatrician hospital. We have this brand new hospital but I feel that is useless unless we have seemingly well trained, well informed, caring doctors. In my opinion, giving a sick child a script for antibiotics is not treating them.