Case Study: Aircraft Golfing Society help Wooden Spoon Fund Sonosite Machine at The Royal Marsden Hospital
NationalSurrey
We are incredibly grateful for the continued generosity of the Aircraft Golfing Society (AGS), whose partnership with Wooden Spoon continues to flourish. Thanks to their fundraising Wooden Spoon has funded a Sonosite machine at the Royal Marsden hospital.
Case Study: Oscar’s Story
At just 23 months old, Oscar was diagnosed with a brain tumour, news that no parent is ever prepared to hear.
He underwent surgery at King’s College London before beginning a clinical trial of targeted chemotherapy at The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust in May 2024.
For any parent, discovering that your child has cancer is devastating. But beyond the diagnosis itself lies another harsh reality: watching your child endure repeated medical procedures.
The Challenge
Children undergoing cancer treatment are often underweight, dehydrated, and physically weakened by chemotherapy. As a result, routine procedures such as blood tests and cannula insertions become significantly more difficult.
For babies and toddlers like Oscar, whose arms and veins are tiny, these procedures can be particularly distressing. Multiple attempts are often required to access a vein, increasing discomfort and anxiety for both the child and their family.
Oscar’s mum recalls one particularly traumatic moment:
“Etched in my memory is a 6am incident at King’s College Hospital when a doctor was trying to insert a cannula ahead of an MRI scan. Watching your child go through that is heartbreaking.”
Repeated unsuccessful attempts at taking blood not only prolong procedures but heighten fear and trauma around hospital visits for families and clinicians alike.
The Solution
A nurse at The Royal Marsden mentioned the use of a portable ultrasound device , such as a Sonosite machine , which can scan a patient’s arm to identify the best vein before attempting cannulation or blood sampling.
At the time, the paediatric oncology department did not have one of these machines.
However, after numerous unsuccessful attempts to obtain blood from Oscar, a nurse from the adult cancer centre kindly brought their machine to the paediatric ward.
The difference was immediate and profound.
Using ultrasound guidance:
• Veins could be identified quickly and accurately
• Fewer attempts were needed
• Procedures became faster and less painful
Oscar’s mum describes the impact:
“I cannot tell you what a difference this has made to my whole family’s level of trauma surrounding these appointments. It makes the whole process much easier, more efficient, less painful, and less stressful for everyone involved.”
The Impact of Funding
Thanks to funding from Wooden Spoon, a Sonosite ultrasound machine will now be permanently available within the paediatric department at The Royal Marsden.
This means:
• Every child undergoing treatment can benefit
• Fewer painful multiple attempts at blood tests
• Reduced distress for families
• Improved efficiency for clinicians
• A more compassionate care experience
For children like Oscar, and for the families standing beside them , access to this equipment transforms hospital visits from traumatic ordeals into more manageable experiences.
Lasting Change
Sometimes, the most powerful improvements in healthcare are not large-scale structural changes, but practical tools that reduce suffering in the moment.
The addition of this ultrasound machine ensures that no child in the paediatric oncology department will have to endure unnecessary repeated attempts at blood tests or cannula insertions again.
For Oscar’s family, it represents something simple but profound: less pain, less fear, and more dignity during an incredibly difficult journey.
Support projects like this across the UK and Ireland by donating to Wooden Spoon or learn more here, on our website.