Royal Manchester Children's Hospital

We attended ward 76 for 8.30am as instructed with my 2 year old, we were told to starve him and nothing to eat after midnight and he could have some water first thing on waking at 6am. We attended the ward and the nurses were nice and we waited and waited. My son started off playing and happy then became more and more hungry and restless. I kept asking the nurses what was the hold up we were told the drs needed to come and write up his sedation. We waited more and then my son started to cry and was begging for some food and drink. It was so distressing and cruel. I begged the nurses to bleep the facial surgery team as it was now over 2 hours on the ward. Still being told the dr will be as quick as possible. I am totally understanding that they are busy but surely someone on the team could be freed up to come and do a consent and sedation prescription? It was a pre planned procedure and my son was the only one on the list. 2 hours 45 minutes later the sedation was written up and the nurse came to give it. My son by then was so starving hungry and upset we had to wrestle him to take the vile tasting medication. I was in tears - I honestly can’t believe he went through that - it was so unnecessary and inconsiderate of the surgical teams processes that this is deemed acceptable levels of care! my son was crying and so so upset - disgusted that my son was put through this. As if a worried parent with a child who needs a procedure isn’t stressful and anxiety inducing enough the process was so utterly flawed - please fix this - totally unacceptable and you must do better for the children! I will also be writing to the consultant as don’t want this to happen to any other families! Very very poor!

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I have very mixed feeling about RMCH. As a parent of a child who has to have regular visits to the hospital I think the care, understand and compassion in the outpatients department has always been outstanding. It isn't as clean as it could be, especially with Covid-19. Chairs/toilets not being cleaned between users. But it isn't dirty and the massive room is pleasant enough to wait. However, the two wards that I have been unlucky enough to have to spend time on with a family member were a different story. Firstly the cleanliness was something to be desired. On being admitted to the ward and given a bed I had to ask a nurse to get a cleaner to clean the blood that was under and to one side of the bed. Child in hospital for 4 weeks, I had to ask after a week if they were planning on changing the bedding. Room clean once in that week - told that they had a issue with cleaning staff. Had to chase nursing staff for medication as they never came at the times it should have been given. I even had to get the ward sister involved as there were so many issues and just lack of care from some of the staff. On a separate occasion this time on the day ward. My son had has two small procedures done. After being in the recovery room we were moved to a ward where there wasn't a bed available so I had to sit with my son who was in pain and sleepy (aged 9) on my knee. Was told we couldn't leave until medication hadn't been sorted at the pharmacy. There was a delay and it could be up to 5 hours. I asked the nurses could I take my son home and get my husband to return later for his medication and she told me I couldn't leave and if I tried she would call security and then social services. I explained my son was tired, in pain and wanted to go home. She said if he's in pain then she will have to call a doctor to come up and look at him. I explained again he had just had two operations, he was in pain. Pain relief had been given at operation time but he was still sore. She just huffed and said well I either need to call a doctor to see him or you wait for meds, which will it be? Unfortunately, for her I am not that naïve to believe that I couldn't discharged my own child and that I did. Hubby went back later for meds. This nurse thought she was above others which is not something you want in a children's hospital. I've since refused to let me child be an inpatient there and he has been in Wythenshawe Hospital a few times with caring, nice staff who treat you and your child with respect. A total different experience. Shame as the old RMCH (Pendlebury) was lovely and clean and the nurses/doctors were there because they cared about the kids.

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