Knackered - F. is my new au-pair and has been with us since March. She is lovely, helpful kind - get on very well with her. Last week she fell ill, sore throat, swollen glands.... we brought her to the walk in centre and she was sent to hospital. obviously this was scary, but nothing was found and she was sent home on Sunday with antibiotics. Didn't get better by Monday (....) so she started to get very nervous and asked to go back to hospital, which we did today. ever since we arrived at 9am - 8 hours of emotional upset. Of course its not nice being in hospital, but she is so scared its almost not true.. And I'm not sure how best to deal with it? For example - when taking blood almost fainted. Cried at the suggestion to have the nurse look into her nose (with one of those little unpleasant pipes?). Found taking temperature in her ears painful?? Cried when nurse snipped her arm to get blood flowing? First diagnosis was...common cold. Second doctor mentioned tonsillitis....I mean, they are not exactly life-threatening? She is so scared its really painful to watch and I do feel sorry, as she is not playing up, she is genuinely very scared - but, honestly? When asked how painful on a scale of 1-10 taking blood was she said 8.......there are people there who have operations and she keeps shielding her eyes from them, as she cant see blood...I wish I could be more sympathetic, but cant help thinking she needs to get a grip?