"Ward 17 paedatrics and breast feeding support"

Anything else?

I am writing to pass on my sincere thanks to all staff on ward 17 following my recent experience there with my son, Thomas who was diagnosed with group b strep meningitis when he was only 2 days old. We ended up staying on the ward for 3 weeks during the course of his anti-biotics.  Over this period, everyone we came into contact with from the consultants, nurses, health care assistants and domestic staff, were so friendly, supportive and professional. I must have seen every consultant on the ward over my 3 week stay, every one I came into contact with was so professional and gave us all the time to ask questions and check our understanding.  We felt so reassured by them being so on the ball. Not to mention, all the junior doctors who administered blood tests after blood test too. I would particularly like to mention the brilliant nurses who took care of not just Tom but myself as an anxious mum too.  Obviously it was a very difficult and worrying time during the duration of our stay, the night times were quite tough and I had a few melt downs during the small hours! I don't really recall too much about the early days other than they were probably the worst of my life but I do remember the support and kindness received by the night shifts.  They were always consistently professional and supportive throughout my entire stay.  They not only looked after Tom in the day but also made sure I was doing ok too and if I was not, they would get me help or whatever I needed.   All the health care team looked after me really well too, keeping my strength up as a breast feeding mum! Finally, I received fantastic support from the breast feeding counsellors, they really helped me and Tom get back on track feeding and her support, advice and guidance was invaluable to me. I do not have a bad word to say about one minute of my time spent at Leighton, thank you all so much.