Coming into hospital for children and young people
Here’s some general information to help you and your child prepare for their appointments and to make their stay as easy and comfortable as possible.
Pre-admission
If your child needs an operation, you’ll be invited to bring them to a pre-admission visit. These visits are held on a Sunday and usually take 45 minutes. If you live a distance away, we'll phone you instead. During the visit:
- You can meet some of the staff who’ll be looking after your child
- You’ll be shown around to help you all feel more familiar with the hospital
- Your child’s weight, height, temperature, pulse and blood pressure may be measured
- Medical and surgical history of your child will be taken and any allergies or dietary requirements will be discussed
- Swabs for MRSA will be taken to help protect them against certain infections if they’ve been in hospital in the last 12 months - this also depends on the procedure your child has been booked in for
- It’s policy to perform a pregnancy test for teenage girls over the age of 12 years – we understand this can be a sensitive subject to talk about, but it’s for our patients’ safety
You’ll be given an information pack about your child’s treatment, hospital stay and aftercare to help you and your child prepare. If you have any questions or special requirements, our staff will be happy to help you.
For young people aged 16 or 17, you'll receive a phone call from one of our Children and Young People's (CYP) Nurses, and risk assessed as to whether you'll be looked after by the adult or CYP team.
On the day
Your child will have their own private, en-suite room. We’re happy to arrange for one parent to stay overnight in their room if you’d like.
The consultant surgeon and consultant anaesthetist for your child will explain what’s going to happen during and after the procedure, and you’ll be asked to sign a form consenting to the operation. Young people aged 16 or 17 can consent to their own treatment.
If your child (aged between three and 16 years) is having an operation involving general anaesthetic:
- One parent can accompany your child to the anaesthetic room
- You’re welcome to stay with them until they’re asleep
- Our Children and Young People staff will invite you to come with them to collect your child from the recovery area and take them back to the ward
Your child's stay
On the ward, your child will be cared for by nurses specially trained in looking after children – a registered sick children’s nurse or a nurse with a child branch certificate. The children’s nurse allocated to you will be present throughout your stay on the day of the procedure.
To help make your child’s stay as comfortable as possible, we provide:
- A range of age appropriate toys and books – you can also bring your child’s favourite toys or comforters
- Free WiFi for patients and visitors – however, we take children’s internet safety seriously and encourage parents to refer to the guidance set out by the NSPCC on how to keep your child safe online
- A special children’s menu with freshly prepared meals, and we’ll always try to accommodate if they’d like something that’s not on the menu – we also offer a meal service for one parent and any allergies and dietary requirements will be discussed
When your child is ready to leave, their nurse will explain any aspects of care you’ll need to help with while at home – such as dressing changes or helping with mobility. They’ll also explain how we can continue to support you and who to contact if you have any questions while at home.
Visitors
Parents and carers can visit anytime during the day until 10pm and we even can arrange for one of you to stay overnight if your child is staying in hospital. We understand how important it is that your child feels safe and happy throughout their stay, so we encourage family members to be around as much as they feel is necessary. Extended family members can visit between 9am and 9pm.
Our nurses are very experienced in caring for children of all ages and we’ll work with you to ensure that your child has the best possible experience with us.
Contact information
Lisa Cree – Children and Young People Service Manager
Cathryn Stevens – Children’s Specialist Nurse
Georgina Davies – Children’s Specialist Nurse
Children’s Ward: 0117 980 4000 (Ext. 4544)
Out of Hours (Main Reception): 0117 980 4000
Email: bristolcypteam@spirehealthcare.com
Get in touch
Important information about COVID-19 tests
COVID-19 testing or antibody tests are not available as a standalone service at Spire Bristol Hospital.