GENDER
female
AGE
19
NAME
Hollie
“Throughout my childhood I was in and out of the children’s hospital”
BACKGROUND
I got my burn when I was about 3 years old when my clothes caught fire from the fire place. I don’t remember much about it, but throughout my childhood I was in and out of the children’s hospital. I probably had some surgery nearly every year. I got to know the team in the children’s hospital really well. I knew all the nurses, the physios, and the psychologist.
When I was about 16, they mentioned to me that I could move to the adult hospital now. They did not say I had to go right then, but that I could move when I wanted. I did not move straight away and really the thing that made me think about moving was that my psychologist was leaving too. I thought rather than at 17-18 start with a new psychologist in the children’s for a year and then have to move and start with another in the adult’s it made sense to move straight to the adult’s. Also, I needed some surgery to my chest that might mean several operations, so it made sense to start that in the adult hospital too. I had a chat to my parents and we felt it was the right thing to do. It felt good that I had some control over the decision rather than just being told, right you have to move now!
I was terrified about moving though! I was so nervous. I knew everyone at the children’s hospital as I had been going there for about 14 or 15 years. So, first the children’s team told me all about the adult team and who everyone was. Then they arranged a visit for me to see the adult burns unit. I had a walk around and got to see where the ward was, was the hospital was like, where the phyios were, where the operating theatre was, that sort of thing. I met the team as well …. and they seemed nice.
I had surgery pretty soon afterwards. The thing I was most scared about was sleeping on my own, as in the children’s hospital, if you were an inpatient your parents were allowed to stay. Also the adult hospital was much further away from my house. It was ok in the end though as they let my mum stay with me when I was put to sleep and she was there again when I woke up. Also they were able to stay in another room in the hospital on the floor down below.
Another good thing about the adult service is that I feel like they listen to me more. In the children’s hospital the doctors and nurses used to always talk to my parents. In the adult hospital they talk to me. It felt strange at first, but I am getting used to it now!