On so many levels...
TWO-HOUR WAIT AS DOC RODE BIKE
71 words
26 October 2005
Liverpool Echo
4
English
(c) The Liverpool Daily Post & Echo Ltd, 2005.
A HOSPITAL has apologised to the mother of a baby boy who waited two
hours for treatment while a doctor rode around on a unicycle.
Paula Dadswell saw the medic pedalling the bike around a ward when she
took son James to hospital with suspected gastroenteritis.
South Tyneside District Hospital said it was part of an initative to
make hospital wards less intimidating
UNICYCLE DOC ANGERS MUM
159 words
26 October 2005
The Evening Chronicle, Newcastle
8
English
(c) 2005 The Newcastle Chronicle & Journal Ltd
A mother was forced to wait for hours to have her sick baby treated,
while a hospital doctor practised his unicycling.
As reported in later editions of yesterday's Chronicle, Paula Dadswell
took six-month-old James to South Tyneside District Hospital, South
Shields, after he fell ill at home.
During a frustrating two-hour wait she watched the young doctor racing
up and down the corridors of Ward 12 on the unicycle in front of
admiring nurses.
Then to her amazement, she says the doctor put down the unicycle,
picked up his notes and walked over to assess her baby's condition.
Miss Dadswell, 33, of Jarrow, said: "We took one look at the doctor and
said 'You must be joking'. His face went bright red."
She has now received a letter from the hospital assuring her that in
future all unicycling on the children's ward would be confined to
"special occasions."
UNICYCLING DOCTOR FAILS TO COMFORT
183 words
26 October 2005
The Times
36
English
(c) 2005 Times Newspapers Limited. All rights reserved
A hospital's aim to create a sense of comforting fun in its children's
ward backfired when a mother waited two hours to receive hospital
treatment for her baby as a doctor rode back and forth on a unicycle.
Paula Dadswell, 33, whose six-month-old son, James, had an ear
infection, watched in disbelief as the young physician raced up and
down corridors at South Tyneside District Hospital.
When his display came to an end, the doctor attended to the baby.
Asked why he had left them waiting for so long, the doctor said that he
had only just bought the unicycle and needed to practise.
South Tyneside NHS Foundation Trust sent a letter of apology to Miss
Dadswell, a postal worker from Jarrow, stating that the unicycle had
been removed. The letter says: "Being in hospital is stressful for
anyone, particularly children, and we regularly provide diversions that
are not directly related to medical care. Many parents have commented
favourably on this approach and indeed about the unicycle."
(c) Times Newspapers Ltd, 2005
I WAITED WITH SICK BABY FOR TWO HOURS AS DOCTOR RODE UNICYCLE ON WARD
By Paul Stokes
597 words
26 October 2005
The Daily Telegraph
005
English
(c) 2005 Telegraph Group Limited, London
A MOTHER spent two hours waiting with her sick baby on a hospital
children's ward while the doctor they were due to see rode up and down
in front of them on a unicycle.
After Paula Dadswell complained, she received a letter from hospital
managers assuring her that in future all unicycling on the ward would
be restricted to "special occasions''.
Miss Dadswell, 33, had taken her six-month-old son James to South
Tyneside District Hospital, South Shields, after he fell ill.
As they waited to be seen, she watched the young doctor practising his
one-wheel feats along the corridors of Ward 12 as nurses looked on.
He eventually put down the unicycle, picked up his notes and walked
over to assess James's condition. Miss Dadswell said she told him: "You
must be joking.''
"His face went bright red. We had been asking for someone to see James
for two hours and we had even told the doctor that he probably
shouldn't be cycling around in case he hurt someone,'' she said.
Miss Dadswell lodged a formal complaint about his behaviour with the
main reception desk of the hospital and received a letter of apology
later that week.
The trust wrote: "All staff have been informed that such activities are
to be confined to specific events, eg parties, fund-raising activities
etc.
"As a children's ward, we strive to combine professionalism with an air
of informality and fun aimed at putting children at ease. I accept on
this occasion that we did not succeed in achieving this compromise.''
Miss Dadswell, a Post Office worker, had contacted NHS Direct when
James was having difficulty digesting his food, and it was suggested
that she take him to hospital.
As they were waiting to be seen they were treated to the impromptu
circus act by the man about to take on the case.
Miss Dadswell said: "We asked the doctor what he thought he was playing
at, and he said he had not had the unicycle very long and was trying to
learn how to ride it.
"It was as if that was more important to him than his job. There were
no other children for the doctor to be entertaining; he was simply
messing around with the nurses.''
James's father, Alan Dukes, said his son was later diagnosed with an
ear infection by the family GP.
Dave Shilton, the hospital's executive director of nursing and clinical
governance, said: "We have already apologised to the family.
"On the children's ward there is a balance to strike between being
professional and light-hearted. We probably misjudged the situation.
"I am not aware that the child's care was delayed because of this. We
needed this period of time for the condition to settle so we could
assess it and we apologise if this wasn't explained properly.''
South Tyneside Health Care Trust said last night that it regularly
provided "diversions'' not related to medical care in an attempt to
make hospital visits less stressful.
"We have involved musicians, artists and others in trying to create a
friendly and warm atmosphere,'' said a spokesman. "The staff of our
children's unit make every effort to provide a welcoming and happy
environment.
"Many parents have commented favourably on this approach and indeed
about the unicycle.
"The child in question was not neglected and his care was not
compromised in any way.''
--
JJuggle
Raphael Lasar
Matawan, NJ
I could be happy the rest of my life with a cinnamon girl.
(Do-do-do-dooo)
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