Pleasant but could be better
The staff dealing with the children's ENT list on Tuesday 10th March were fantastic especially the children's nurse, two student nurses and anaesthestists. However, the facilities they had to work in could be vastly improved. From the large day case waiting area we were shipped into a very small waiting area which could have been previously a staff room with lockers etc. There were about 18-20 people in the waiting room with 10 or so hungry children as it was an afternoon list. The room was so hot and stuffy. The nurse came round the waiting room with medication for the children and the consultant also came round to talk to parents and children- I would question the confidentiality in this situation. We were told we would meet with the anesthetists prior to surgery but didn't think this meeting would be a conversation on the way to theatre with my 5 year old trying to keep up! However the anesthetists was amazing and put him at ease its a shame the conditions they are having to deal with. Then in recovery as soon as he was awake he was handed to us and his bed was taken away and he came round sat on my knee which in principle was a good idea but you could tell that this wasn't the normal arrangements. When he was fully awake the student nurse offered him a biscuit and some juice and did have time for him he was chatting to him and checked his OB's. On a whole the principle of the way the list was run was good and would be effective but it needs to be organised so the parents feel that it should be done like that and not some adhoc arrangements. There needs to be a proper waiting area designed for children and better explanation about the process.