"We were looked after at every step"

one Monday at the beginning of march, my family and I had enjoyed our walk in Fineshade Woods and were in the Cafe ready for a drink. My husband had sat down with our two children, I was at the cafe counter. Suddenly I heard this thud and crying and turned to see that my son had fallen, and in the next second a lot of blood and my husband asking for tissues!

he had tried to get down from his chair but his legs missed the floor and his head hit the edge of the coffee table, leaving rather a large hole in his forehead!

So after deciding it needed looking at we ended up in muddy shoes and boots at the A&E department.

Right from the initial stop at reception we were looked after at every step. The Staff Nurse on Reception came out to check my son over and took us immediately to the children's part of the waiting room. Here there were enough toys and a wonderful mural to keep both children occupied. Shortly after a nurse came to take my son's temperature and blood oxygen levels.

In Triage the Staff Nurse there was equally lovely and gave my children a hospital ted!

From here we were shown into another child friendly cubicle and it wasn't long before a doctor came along and took us to the suture room to assess my son's injury. Again the Doctor and the nurses were fabulous and put on a brilliant underwater light projector to occupy Harry. We were kept informed every step of the way and after an RAF Nurse said that glueing and suturing the wound wasn't working, the delightful Dr Ali Tomkin's came in.

Her 'bedside manner' was second-to-none. She was very down to earth, friendly and did her utmost to explain what would need to be done to my son in order to stitch him up!

Eventually we were taken through to a resuscitation room where my son was to be sedated. Again Dr Tomkins took her time to answer my questions and queries and was very supportive. The nurse with us was wonderful and equally supportive. A Maxillofacial surgeon was called to sew up my son's forehead. She was wonderful and explained what she was doing and how the wound would heal and whether my son would have a scar.

In the end a total of eight people attended to my son to help patch him up and attend to his needs, as well as the emotional needs of our family.

I cannot thank these people enough. I have tried to remember all the names but with little success, so if any of you read this and recognise yourself - then THANK YOU SO MUCH.

As a family we were grateful and impressed with the level of care we all received and how we were informed at every stage. In such a busy department I am in awe of everyone who works there and this little story is my way of expressing our gratitude to those who work in the A&E department at Peterborough District Hospital.