In view of the recent rapid developments in paediatric daycare provision and ambulatory care, a qualitative study was undertaken to ascertain parents’ experiences of this service. A high proportion of the research literature addresses issues in surgical day care only. This study was undertaken to redress the balance. Eleven parents who accessed local ambulatory care services were selected then interviewed at home following discharge. The interviews were analysed using a framework based on grounded theory in order to generate explanations from a parent’s perspective. It transpired that parents’ experiences of their children’s illness extended the bounds of the hospitalised period and professional support was important throughout. Parents who felt cared for in the social sense and received adequate information, appeared to report the more positive experiences and coped better.