Case Study

Example 1

The mother of a nine year old girl asked Action for Sick Children to help prepare them for an operation for grommets in her daughter's ears. We sent her leaflets on going into hospital, needles and pain, plus simple information on the operation itself. She wrote back saying "The hospital was unable to supply me with any written information, so thanks to you and your support this was a very positive experience for my daughter:"

Example 2

A mother of a sixteen year old boy was told by a hospital that it was a legal requirement for anyone over sixteen to stay in an adult ward. As her son had been to hospital frequently, while awaiting a kidney transplant, he felt happier in a children's ward and did not want to change to an adult environment.

Action for Sick Children reassured the mother that the hospital was not legally entitled to enforce such a move, and advised her that hospitals should take the needs of the individual child into account over such decisions. With this support, she was able to liaise with the hospital on an equal footing and ensure that her son stayed where he felt happy