Peace of mind...
Young patients are treated with consideration and respect at Parkside. We know that coming in to hospital is a frightening time for children and their parents. We would therefore encourage you to contact us with any queries you may have, as your peace of mind is important to us. If you would like to visit the ward before admission, please contact the nurse in charge and she will arrange a time for you to visit.
We do need to make you aware that if your child is under 2, or requires an overnight stay, your child will be cared for on F1 - the Trust's paediatric ward. This is because your child’s safety is paramount to us and they have a dedicated team of specialist paediatric nurses to care for more complex procedures and the very young. They will try to accommodate you and your child in a single room, though this may not always be possible. You will naturally be allowed to stay with your child overnight if you wish to do so.

Before you arrive at the hospital:
• Check that you have a supply of children’s paracetamol or ibuprofen at home.
• Bath or shower your child and dress them in loose, casual clothing (to avoid pressure on wounds after surgery)
• Do not give your child anything to eat or drink after the time specified on your appointment letter (doing so could cause risk of sickness after anaesthetic)

Treatment procedures
On arrival, you and your child will be shown to your room. A nurse will weigh your child, take his or her temperature, and obtain relevant medical details. The surgeon and anaesthetist see all patients before operations begin, so there might be a wait on the ward – the youngest children normally go first.
Our anaesthetist will ask you whether you’d like to come into the room while your child is put under anaesthetic. This decision is entirely yours: while your child may appreciate your closeness during this time, you may prefer to ask a close relative (and many parents do this). The anaesthetic is usually given by injection to the back of the hand, following local anaesthetic cream, or by gas, which is held close to your child's face until they becomes drowsy Both methods are very quick and can be done while your child is sitting on your lap.

Recovery
Following the operation, your child will be taken straight to our Recovery Room. As soon as they begin to come around from the anaesthetic, the ward nurse will collect them, and you can accompany her if you wish. Children are often restless when waking, but will soon settle down again and sleep off the effects of the anaesthetic. All patients stay on the ward for at least three to four hours, but the nurse will let you know when you can take your child home.

Going home
Before you leave, make sure that you understand the nurse’s instructions regarding stitches, dressings, medication and any follow up arrangements. The anaesthetic can take up to 24 hours to wear off. At home, keep a close eye on your child and call your GP
if you are anxious about anything.