Final Report > Chapter 17: Parents' Experiences > Involvement in care
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Involvement in care
3 Parents' reactions to `child-centred care' differed. Some were pleased to be able to assist in their child's care. Others felt that their involvement in looking after their child was as much a reflection of a lack of staff at the UBH/T as of any actual policy of involvement.
4 Michelle Cummings, mother of Charlotte, told us: `I found it a great help to feel I was included in Charlotte's care, that I was able to do basic things like wash out her mouth and wash her down, not do huge amounts, but it made me feel included. I think that is quite a help for parents.' [2]
5 Karen Welby, mother of Jade, said of another parent: `While Jade was in for her second operation in 1984, a little boy who was admitted whose mother could not cope at all, she delivered [him to] the hospital and then left a few hours later and said she would be back after his surgery and after his intensive care. The nurses were very, very busy and they did not have time to play with him, or feed him. Obviously they would have made the time to feed him, but I took over his care, as well as Jade's. ... he was a bit younger than Jade and I had two, both in a high chair, feeding them both at the same time.' [3]
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