Getting ready for hospital
Hospital can be a daunting place to visit for adults, let alone children. Here, Spire Cardiff Hospital’s paediatric lead nurse Fiona O’Sullivan gives some useful advice to parents preparing to take their children into hospital
The news that your child requires an admission to hospital for a procedure or operation can be an anxious time for any parent.
The amount and type of information you might want to give them to prepare them for their visit will, most likely, be dictated by your child’s age and their ability to take in what you’re are telling them.
However, it is important to remember that every child is an individual and each is liable to react in a different way.
One thing to point out is that although it is only natural for you to be anxious you must try not to transfer your own anxiety to your child. Even quite young children can cope remarkably well with hospital admissions.
Once a date has been booked you will often be contacted by the hospital. Many, like Spire Cardiff Hospital, provide a pre-admission visit which is a useful way to introduce the child or young person to the hospital environment and meet some of the staff who will care for them.
If this isn’t feasible then there are many other ways of introducing your child to what they might expect when they are in hospital.
These can include story books and videos of characters your children may well know from the CBBC channel visiting a hospital.
A video available on YouTube called ‘A Little Deep Sleep’ tells of a child’s visit to hospital through a cartoon character.
This is aimed at children of primary school age.
Young people aged 11-17 often find hospital admission more worrying and it may be beneficial to discourage them from over-using the internet as a source of information.
It may also be helpful to explain that hospital stories told to them by friends may be “slightly exaggerated” to say the least.
As a parent you would be fully involved in all aspects of your child’s care, and be required to consent to any procedures.
At 16 years of age young people are deemed to be able to consent legally, but consent verbally should be obtained from children of all ages where possible.
You will meet many different staff depending on the procedure planned and all should be identifiable by identity or name badges.
They should be able to answer questions from both you or your child so if there is something on your mind ask them about it.
You will remain with your child as much as is practicable, so if the visit includes an operation you will be there until they are asleep and will also be at their bedside when they wake in the recovery unit.
When thinking about what to bring to hospital look for something your child finds comforting – for younger children their favourite cuddly toy is always a winner.
For older children a phone or tablet which allows them onto the internet is a good way to keep their minds occupied.
Of course, traditional things such as books – either to read or to colour in – are still very popular choices.
Make sure night clothes are light and comfortable and slippers and a dressing gown are often useful.
At Spire Cardiff Hospital we see children of all ages in our outpatients department but only undertake procedures on those over the age of three years old and above.
Our consultants specialise in a variety of conditions including paediatric surgery and orthopaedic conditions in our centre of clinical excellence, but ear, nose and throat cases such as the insertion of grommets and tonsillectomies are probably the most common procedures.
As parents it’s important you have all your questions answered to ensure you can prepare properly for your child’s admission to hospital.
Therefore, having time with your paediatric nurse is important and something we strive to ensure all parents have at Spire Cardiff Hospital.