Sorry Gracie :(

Here is poor, brave Gracie Pie in the children's A&E at Newcastle General Hospital. We started the afternoon at soft play centre in Heltwhistle, but when I was playing with Grace on the way to the lunch table, I swung her by her arms and her elbow popped. I really should have known better, as she had a pulled elbow as a 4 month old baby, but I didn't think as was too busy messing around.

She yelped and her arm was limp, so I took her to the local hospital but they were reluctant to treat it as the nurses didn't know the procedure well enough, so we drove 40 miles to the RVI hospital in Newcastle, where a nurse in the Minor Injuries Unit clicked the elbow back into place. Grace was still in a lot of pain, despite a heavy dose of calpol, and it didn't seem right at all, so the nurse recommended we try the children's A&A at the general. We had quite a wait at the general, but eventually saw a Doctor who manipulated the arm again, and when it still wasn't right, sent Grace for xrays. The xrays didn't pick anything up though. He said to give it 48 hours and if it is still bad to come back to a clinic at the hospital (though we couldn't get an appointmenr til Wednesday).

We eventually got home just after 9pm, after a drive thru stop at Macdonalds (we'd missed lunch and tea with all the waiting).

So I've learned a few things today:
1. Don't ever swing a young child by the arms - it's just not worth the risk.
2. The NHS is amazing and well worth preserving. Think of how many people saw Grace today and how much that would have cost in a private scheme.
3. The staff we saw today were also amazing, every single one. Every one was busy, but took the trouble to explain everything clearly, to let us know what was going on, how long things would take and to apologise for any delays. They were polite, professional and friendly. They were extremely caring and Grace was totally at ease with them all. Of particular note is the lady from the RVI who was going on to a shift at the General later and actually made a point of coming to find Grace in the A&E to see how she was. Brilliant.
4. Good friends are a treasure. Mine took care of Ophelia when I went to the first hospital, and one took her home with them so that I could concentrate on looking after Grace. Thank you so much, Olivia!


Bit of an essay today, but it's been a marathon.