"Paediatric A&E ... Impressed"

Having only recently moved into the area from London we didn't really know what to expect from the Princess Alexandra Hospital. My little one has suffered from croup since he was a baby and so we are familiar with the A&E unit at Chase Farm Hospital near our old house. On visits to Chase Farm, over a period of nearly four years, we have had to sit with our baby/1/2/3 year old in the early hours of the morning for hours on end. This would be an ordeal even before you add little one's struggles to breathe. What a contrast to Princess Alexandra where we were directed straight through to the Children's A&E with toys, books, a film, even an interactive game thingy and staff who know how to work with children. My little boy was even given a teddy bear who proved invaluable as a distraction and for making a game of taking his medication. The doctors and nurses were warm, kind, professional and thorough. I felt confident that they knew what they were doing and they explained clearly what I should do when we got home later too. It was, by far and away, the best experience I have had of an A&E department in terms of needing to visit with a young child. I was really impressed and would not hesitate in taking my son back to the Princess Alexandra should it be necessary in the future. Thank you to all involved.