The full text of the article follow: definitely good positives from
the health authority. All hail to him for entertaining the kids as
well as mending them.
I simply cannot see that it is at all likely that a kid would have been
ignored for 2 hours in this way. Once again I suspect the press have
chosen their words .. er .. carefully.
But who was it I wonder? Anyone we know? Suggests he was a newbie
rider.
Article:
I waited with my sick baby for two hours as doctor rode unicycle on the
ward
By Paul Stokes
(Filed: 26/10/2005)
A mother spent two hours waiting with her sick baby on a hospital
children's ward while the doctor they were due to see was passing 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 up and down 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 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."
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Naomi
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