"The ward almost feels like a home from home"

Our Son was referred to Hascombe Childrens Ward at the Royal Surrey County Hospital . We had been to GP's several times over the preceding months with varied and inconsistent symptoms, and blood tests had been booked for the following week.

However  my son had a temperature of 39. 4 degrees. The GP called Hascombe ward, who were happy to take a look at our son in the assessment unit. The Assessment unit was busy but we didn't really have long to wait after a thorough medical history was taken and 2 Consultants had examined our Son very thoroughly, wee were al still at a loss as to what the problem was.

Blood tests showed very clearly there was infection somewhere. Very rapidly CT scans, X-rays, and ultrasounds were booked. ENT examined my son too. Over the weekend all the tests were carried out and the ultra-sonographer I know without doubt came in on his day off.

No stone was left unturned in the efforts to get to the bottom of my sons condition. Ultimately my son had unusual mastoiditis resulting in an abscess near his brain. Surgery to inseryt grommets and try to drain the abscess via the mastoid bone followed speedily on the Sunday morning. We stayed in hospital for 13 days having intravenous antibiotics. Our paediatricians worked collaboratively with ENT, St Georges, Neurology dept, paediatric infectious diseases, community nurses and radiology.

The ward and all the staff that we came into contact with were kind and compassionate, no question was treated as unimportant or 'silly', we were kept well-informed at all times, and every measure was taken to make us feel comfortable and reassured.

My son is now on his 5th week of antibiotics and his abscess is responding to treatment. Although we are no longer on the ward, we are welcomed to visit, or call in, and speak to Doctors if we need to as the situation is ongoing.

The ward almost feels like a home from home. We have experienced the NHS at it's very best, we cannot fault the dedication and professionalism that we have encountered. We cannot praise enough the staff that had any dealings with us at all, from porters and pharmacist, receptionists, nurses, support staff to Consultants. All were amazing.