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• Heart disease >> Parents of children with congenital heart disease >> Child aged under 1 >> Interview CH31 >> Felt communication between nurses on the cardiac ward could have been better.

Vikram was diagnosed with a large ventricular septal defect (VSD) at 3 months old. He had corrective open heart surgery to close the VSD at four and a half months old. He is recovering well and no further treatment is expected. Current medication: none.

• Heart disease >> Parents of children with congenital heart disease >> Child aged 1-3 >> Interview CH10 >> Gives advice about getting the information you need from health professionals.

Their son was diagnosed with Transposition of the Great Arteries, ASD, VSD, Atrial Isomerism and Pulmonary Stenosis. He has Dextro cardia and Bronchial Isomerism. Treatment: none given yet, surgery planned for when their son is older. Current medication: ventolin & flixotide for asthma.

• Heart disease >> Parents of children with congenital heart disease >> Child aged 1-3 >> Interview CH20 >> They found it hard taking on board information when they were told their son's diagnosis but when they came home they had lots of questions and found

Toby was diagnosed with Tetralogy of Fallots and mild branch pulmonary stenosis at six weeks old. Treatment: he had a catheter at 6 months old and corrective open heart surgery at 8 months old. Current medication: none.

• Heart disease >> Parents of children with congenital heart disease >> Child aged 1-3 >> Interview CH22 >> Describes the different sources of information they used and their usefulness.

Millie was diagnosed with Coarctation of the Aorta and a VSD at 3 weeks old. Treatment: she had closed heart surgery to repair the coarctation and a band was put around the pulmonary artery at 3 weeks old. At 7 months old she had open heart surgery to repair her VSD. Current medication: captopril.

• Heart disease >> Parents of children with congenital heart disease >> Child aged 1-3 >> Interview CH20 >> Initially found the terminology used by doctors difficult to understand and didn't feel able to ask for explanations.

Toby was diagnosed with Tetralogy of Fallots and mild branch pulmonary stenosis at six weeks old. Treatment: he had a catheter at 6 months old and corrective open heart surgery at 8 months old. Current medication: none.

• Heart disease >> Parents of children with congenital heart disease >> Child aged 1-3 >> Interview CH05 >> The way her child's doctor communicated her son' diagnosis was not helpful and suggests the way that would have been better.

Joe was diagnosed with Di-George Syndrome and Tetralogy of Fallots. Treatment: one operation at 3 weeks old, 10 months and at 18 months old. Current medication: none.

• Heart disease >> Parents of children with congenital heart disease >> Child aged 4-5 >> Interview CH26 >> Comments that the communication with cardiac care team had been excellent and that they supported them emotionally and built a close relationship with

Her daughter was diagnosed with Partial Ventricular Septal Defect after GP noticed a heart murmur when she was two. Treatment: open heart surgery to repair hole and mend the valve at 2½ yrs old. Pacemaker fitted 5 days after surgery. Possibility of further surgery in the future. Current medication: none.

• Heart disease >> Parents of children with congenital heart disease >> Child aged over 5 >> Interview CH19 >> Describes the way the doctors talked to her son and explained that they always had time for him.

Luke (1996-2002) was diagnosed with coarctation of the aorta, transposition of the great arteries, VSD, pulmonary stenosis and double inlet left ventricle. He died when he was nearly 6 yrs old after his fourth operation (not including cardiac catheters). He had epilepsy and asthma and was quite ill at times. Medication: warfarin, medicines for asthma and epilepsy, diuretics after operations. Family live 15 miles from the specialist hospital.

• Heart disease >> Parents of children with congenital heart disease >> Child aged 4-5 >> Interview CH09 >> Explains that she sent her consultant an email detailing her questions and concerns and he called her at home the following afternoon which she said m

Their son was diagnosed with Coarctation of the Aorta, PDA, Bicuspid Aortic Valve, Hypoplastic Aortic Arch, VSD, Mitral Stenosis and Pulmonary Hypertension. Treatment: Surgery at 3 weeks old, mitral valve replacement at 2.5 years. 2 cardiac catheterisations at 2½ yrs and at 3½ yrs. Further mitral valve replacement planned. Current medication: warfarin.

• Heart disease >> Parents of children with congenital heart disease >> Child aged 1-3 >> Interview CH07 >> Their son's consultant is very open and honest with them and accessible.

Felix was diagnosed with Hypoplastic Left Ventricle, VSD, Mitral Atresia, Pulmonary Atresia, Right Atrial Isomerism, aorta arising from the right ventricle, TAPVD and Bilateral Superior Vena Cava and no spleen. Treatment: modified BT shunt (6 days old) open heart surgery (3 months and 6 months), 1st stage Fontan (10 months). Further surgery planned. Current medication: warfarin, enanapril, frusemide, penicillin.

• Heart disease >> Parents of children with congenital heart disease >> Child aged 4-5 >> Interview CH17 >> Comment that different parents prefer different ways of communicating with their child's doctor and it can be difficult for doctors to find the right

Their son was diagnosed with a ventricular septal defect (VSD). Treatment: surgery to close hole and repair leaky valve at 3½ years old. No further treatment planned. Current medication: none.

• Heart disease >> Parents of children with congenital heart disease >> Child aged 1-3 >> Interview CH30 >> Describes the extra effort their child's surgeon made in communicating with them which they said made a difference.

Their daughter was diagnosed with pulmonary atresia, VSD, and an overiding aorta. Treatment: closed heart surgery (shunt) at 11 days old closed heart surgery (shunt) at 11 months old. Corrective open heart surgery at 2 and a half yrs old. Current medication: none.