"Provided my hangry daughter with her every whim post op ..."

The ENT secretary was incredibly helpful in the process of my daughters recent ENT operation. She assisted with my young daughter being added to the cancellation list which resulted in my daughter having her operation in a timely matter.

All members of the multidisciplinary team were excellent throughout the whole process, especially the auxiliary nursing staff and play assistants being able to provide my hangry daughter with her every whim post-op, from extra ice cream to tomato sauce to make her eat! 

The anaesthetic team pre-op managed to calm my daughter by allowing her to walk through instead of on a trolley and with a noise box toy which was genius as her venflon insertion was thwarted with her wriggling! They were quick to change tack and utilise a mask and blowing balloon games which we had earlier discussed as plan B and allowed me to hold her to keep her calmer whilst she drifted under anesthetic more peacefully.

My daughters recovery staff nurse Steffanie was very knowledgeable and had such a lovely understanding manner with another patient who was resistant to medications. 

What mattered to us was a timely discharge to get our daughter home ASAP, back into her routine and into her own bed, which Steffanie managed. Being discharged just 8 mins after our minimal time was incredibly helpful and lessened all of our stress immensely. 

The consultant and anesthetist both visited and were available to advise on very large tonsils etc which helped my husband confirm we had made the right decision for her surgery.

The lion king movie and toys in the pre-op area gave my daughter a great distraction as it was a long wait from 7.30am till being taken to theatre at 11am. 

I noticed there seemed dubiety with regard to fasting fluid instructions with parents doing different things.  

The signs posted around the pre-op area clearly advise you can take an ice lolly until an hour before but as no-one knew which order their child was being called in it was difficult to guess when to stop?! 

I also wondered whether staggered admissions perhaps by age or planned operation, would have eased this but I appreciate as pre-op assessment is done the morning of this could be a challenge and different medical conditions have their own requirements ....

We had an excellent experience pre/peri/post op and the recovery is a bumpy road. Our daughter has experienced night terrors, immense pain which we attended the Gp for and required antibiotics, however all of which we were fully aware of as risks by doing research before the operation and having family members who had experienced the same. Days 3-7 have been incredibly challenging for the whole family but as each day passes, it is a game of delayed gratification! 

I can’t thank everyone enough and I really hope 2020 to be a smoother health year for my daughter with the less visits to see medical professionals the better! No offence meant 😂!!!!