Niamh

When Niamh was 10, she burnt her hand whilst toasting marshmallows at a camping weekend. She said the experience was ‘a bit overwhelming’. When she got home from camping, Niamh was taken to A&E. This made her realise the burn was ‘serious’. Niamh was interviewed together with her mum Lindsay.

Niamh would rather the doctors told her that her dressing changes were going to be painful, but her Mum felt it was better for her not to know.

Age at interview 12

Niamh: I think I would have rather them told me what they were going to do so I know what was coming.

Yeah, was it a bit unexpected then?

Niamh: Yeah.

Mum: Now, stepping in as her mum … I’m glad they done it the way they done it because I think then it might have been ‘No, you’re not touching my hand, you’re not touching …’ and then it becomes a … quite a traumatic experience going into it. Whereas, the way it was done, yes, she was annoyed, yes it hurt, but it was done in seconds.

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