Visiting times

Normal visiting hours are:

• 10:00 to 12:00 and 15:00 to 18:00
• Siblings of the patient are allowed to visit as long as they are accompanied by a parent or carer.
• Other children aged between 12 and 16 years are allowed to visit during normal visiting hours as long as they are accompanied by an adult.
• We ask that there are no more than three visitors at the bed (one of which to must be a parent/carer).

Note One parent can stay overnight while the second parent can stay until 10pm.

Layout of the ward

The paediatric ward has 41 beds, divided into nine side rooms with en-suite facilities, eight four-bedded bays and a resuscitation room. There are:

• Dedicated bays for observation including an examination room
• Day case area
• Dedicated adolescent area with single-sex facilities and a sitting room

There are facilities for parents including:

• A parents’ room
• A quiet sitting area
• Toilets and bathroom
• Beds are provided at the child’s/young person’s bedside

What do I need to bring?

Medicines

If your child is regularly using medication including, prescription or over-the-counter tablets, inhalers or creams please bring them with you to the ward and inform a member of the nursing team.

Your letter of admission

If your child is attending for planned surgery, please bring your letter with you.

If there is anything that you feel would make your child’s stay more comfortable then please bring this with you. For example:

• A favourite teddy bear, or other comforter
• Favourite book
• iPad or other tablet (because of health and safety reasons no electronic devices are allowed to be plugged into hospital sockets to charge)

Other items you may need to bring with you:

• Nightdress/pyjamas
• Spectacles, hearing/walking aids etc
• Personal toiletries for yourself if you are staying overnight with you child

Security

For security reasons the Children’s Ward is monitored. To gain entry there is an intercom outside the front door and to enter the ward simply press the buzzer and tell the person who you are and the name of the patient you have come to visit.

You cannot get out of the ward unless you are let out by a member of staff. At times this can take a few minutes. Please be patient with us during these moments.

We ask you not to stand by the nursing station during the handover period (7am and 7pm) to protect the confidentiality of our patients, but please feel free to interrupt if you need our help.