For children coming to the John Radcliffe Children’s Hospital:
What time should we arrive at the hospital?
You will receive a letter inviting you to the pre-operative assessment and the operation date and this will include the time that you should arrive to the ward.
Which ward do we need to go to before the operation?
It is most likely that you will go to Robin’s Ward on Level 1 of the Children’s Hospital. This will be indicated on your invitation letter, so make sure to check, in case it is different.
How long will we have to wait until our child goes to theatre?
When you arrive on the day, the surgical team will be able to give you an estimate of the time your child will go to theatre. It is possible that you will have to wait a little while, but there are lots of toys to keep your little one entertained!
Can we stay with our child while they have the anaesthetic?
One parent or carer can go down to theatre, but we do ask that you leave once they are asleep.
How long will the operation last?
This will vary depending on the operation your child is having, but the medical team will keep you regularly informed of their progress. It is possible that the operation will last longer than expected, but you will given updates to keep you informed.
What happens when our child wakes up?
You will be called by the recovery nurse as soon as your child is ready. It can take some children longer to wake up than others, but there will be a nurse with them all the time. You will then be able to see your child, and go with them back to their ward.
How long will they need to stay in hospital?
Most children will stay in hospital for one or two nights, but this depends on the type of surgery they are having. As long as they can eat and drink without too much difficulty, and the medical team are pleased with their progress, you will be discharged home.
Can we stay overnight with them?
Only one parent or carer is able to stay with the child overnight. It may be possible to find onsite accommodation for another parent. Please speak with your cleft nurse to find out more about this.
What are the visiting hours?
Parents are welcome to visit the ward at any time, along with brothers and sisters, although we ask that all children are supervised. Other visitors are welcome until 7pm when children start going to bed.
What facilities are there for parents?
If you are staying overnight, you can bring a sleeping bag or blanket and pillows. There are several options for food and drink, including Pret, the League of Friends Cafe , WHSmith and M&S foods. Ronald McDonald House can provide shared washing facilities for parents staying with their children. Please ask your cleft nurse for more details.
What kind of pain relief will our child have?
This will depend upon the type of surgery your child is having and whether they have any allergies to specific medication. Usually, there will be regular ibuprofen, paracetamol, anaesthetic spray and possibly morphine as a liquid by mouth.
How long will they need pain relief?
We typically recommend that you continue to provide pain relief for a week after the operation, but some children will need it for up to two weeks. You will need your own ibuprofen and paracetamol to use at home.
Will we be able to speak to our cleft nurse?
One of the cleft nurses will visit you on the ward after your child’s operation. If this is not possible, they will come and see you the day after.
Will we see the surgeon while we are in hospital?
Yes. You will see the surgical team before and after the operation
What food and drink should we bring?
The hospital provides food and drink for your child, but you are welcome to bring some of their favourites too! They won’t be able to eat until after their surgery so it might be best to
keep them hidden until then. Any palate surgery will require a soft diet for 2 – 4 weeks after the surgery, so please keep this in mind.
What should we pack?
- Any medication that your child is currently taking.
- Clothes that open up at the front – they may get stained from dribbling after the operation so don’t bring anything too new or precious. Mittens or socks for their hands to help stop them putting their fingers in their mouth can also be very useful.
- Toiletries and nappies and a soft toothbrush if your child has teeth.
- Baby formula, bottles, teats and open cup.
- Favourite toys or comforter. There is also a playroom with toys on the ward.
- Money for meals (for parents).
More questions?
Speak to your cleft nurse in the first instance, or feel free to call the Spires Cleft Centre on 01865 226965 and we will be happy to answer them.
For children coming to Salisbury District Hospital:
What time do we need to be at the hospital for?
The letter confirming the pre-operation assessment and operation date will include the time of the admission.
Which ward do we go to before the operation?
Your child will be admitted to Sarum Ward, unless otherwise stated on your admission letter.
When will our child go to theatre? How long will we wait?
We do our best to minimise waiting times for children before going to theatre. The surgical team on the day will be able to provide you with the best estimate.
Do we get to stay with our child while they are having the anaesthetic?
One parent is able to go to theatre but we will ask you to leave as soon as your child is under anaesthetic.
How long will the operation last?
This varies depending on the specific operation, and the team will outline this in clinic when explaining the operation. The time away from the parents is always longer than the actual operating time.
Will we be called to the recovery room before our child wakes up?
The recovery nurses call parents as soon as their child is ready. This can vary between different children, as some wake up more slowly than others. The recovery nurses may ask you to take a bottle of your baby’s milk feed down with you.
How long will they need to stay in hospital?
Depending on the surgery your child is having, most children stay in one to two nights. Providing they are eating and drinking well and the ward and medical team are happy, your child will be discharged home.
Can both parents stay? If not, what accommodation is available nearby?
Only one parent is able to stay on the ward overnight. Limited onsite accommodation for one other parent/carer is available at a cost of £15 per night. Bookings are taken on a first-come-first-serve basis. Please discuss this with your cleft nurse or the cleft office to arrange.
Will our cleft nurse be around?
One of the cleft nurses will try to visit your child on the ward after their operation. If this is not possible, one of them will visit the next day but not over the weekend.
Will we get to talk to our surgeon before and after the operation?
Yes, you will see Ms Fallico and her team when you come in on the day of surgery and again after the operation. The team does a ward round each morning and evening.
What pain relief will our child have?
This varies according to the operation and also whether there are any medicines that your child cannot take. Usually, there will be regular ibuprofen and paracetamol and possibly morphine as a liquid by mouth.
How long will our child need to take pain relief?
You will not be provided with pain relief on discharge and will need to provide your own ibuprofen and paracetamol at home. We recommend that you give regular pain relief for one week after discharge but some children may require pain relief for up to two weeks.
What do we need to pack?
- Any current medication that you child is taking.
- Clothes that open up at the front – they may get stained from
dribbling after the operation so please do not bring anything too
new or precious. - Mittens or socks that can go on their hands to stop them putting their fingers in their mouth.
- Toiletries and nappies, and a soft toothbrush if your baby has teeth.
- Baby formula, bottles, teats and open cup.
- Favourite toys or comforter. There is also a playroom with toys on the ward.
- Money for meals (for parents) or own food from home (please label with date and name – this can be stored in our refrigerator on the ward).
What are the visiting hours?
Parents, siblings and guardians are welcome to visit at anytime. For other family members and visitors, we ask that they come to the ward between 2pm and 5pm and 6pm and 8pm as this allows meal times to be uninterrupted and provides time for the children to rest.
Are there parking permits available?
The Sarum Ward clerk can register your vehicle and you will be exempt from any charges. You will need to provide them with your car registration.
What food/drink should we bring?
The hospital provides food and drink for your child but if your child has any particular favourite foods then you may like to bring them with you. Highchairs are available on the ward. If your child is having an operation to their palate they will need to have soft food for 2 – 4 weeks after the surgery. We have a food leaflet for reference and ideas.
What facilities are there for the parents?
The ward has a kitchen to make tea, coffee and other drinks, but the ward does not provide food for the parents. Parents have a fold up bed next to their child and a shared bathroom or en-suite if in a cubicle. Springs is the main canteen located on Level 2. Marks and Spencer coffee shop is by the main entrance. Check for opening times as these vary per day.