Your child's visit to the children's day surgery unit

There are things that you can do to reduce the chance of your child becoming unwell and their procedure being cancelled. We recommend that:

• your child avoids contact with anyone who you know is unwell for 1 to 2 weeks before the procedure
• your child does not have any routine vaccinations for 2 days before the procedure

Please make sure that you have a week's supply of paracetamol (a painkiller) and ibuprofen (an anti-inflammatory medicine) at home before the procedure. We do not routinely give these medicines to take home for your child after day surgery.

You can buy paracetamol and ibuprofen from a pharmacy, supermarket or shop. Paracetamol for children is also called Calpol®. Ibuprofen for children is also called Calprofen® or Nurofen®.

If your child cannot take paracetamol or ibuprofen because of an allergy, please speak to their healthcare team about other options.

We also recommend that you read our leaflet about your child's anaesthetic. A general anaesthetic is a medicine that makes your child sleep and stops them feeling any pain during the procedure. 

We understand that going to hospital for a procedure can feel worrying for you and your child. Knowing what to expect is a good way to reduce anxiety and help you feel more prepared. It is a good idea to talk to your child about their procedure.

See website pages that may help children and young people prepare for their visit.

You get a reminder call or text message from the children's day surgery team 3 days before the appointment. We ask you to confirm that you are coming to the appointment.

If your child has a cough, cold or high temperature in the 2 weeks before their procedure, please contact us and describe their symptoms. You can call our pre-assessment team on phone 020 7188 7188 extension 58209.

We let you know if it may be safer to delay the procedure until your child is completely better.

If you cannot keep the appointment or no longer want your child to have the procedure, please contact our admissions team on: phone 020 7188 9098 or email gst-tr.paediatricadmissions@nhs.net

We can give you a different appointment, if needed, and offer your original appointment to another child waiting for surgery.

If your child is unwell on the day of their procedure, please call the children's day surgery unit directly on phone 020 7188 5300.

We explain what time your child needs to stop eating and drinking (fast) in the admissions letter or text message. The following table gives you guidance. 

The children's day surgery unit is on the ground and 1st floors of the Children's Day Treatment Centre. You can get to us through the South Wing corridor of St Thomas' Hospital. Please follow the signs for children's day surgery from the South Wing corridor. 

There is limited parking in the main car park at St Thomas’ Hospital.

Only 1 parent or carer with parental responsibility should come to the appointment with your child. Please make childcare arrangements for any other children.

We tell you the time that you need to arrive in your admissions letter or text message. If we need to change this time for any reason, we will call you.

We spread out the arrival times for children having day surgery. This reduces the time that you need to wait before the procedure.

It is important that you arrive at the correct time. Your child's procedure may be cancelled if you arrive late.

Please bring any regular medicines that your child takes. It is a good idea for your child to wear comfortable clothes. Books or electronic devices and a favourite toy can help to pass the time while you wait.

Please only bring a small bag with you. We have small lockers, where we can store your child's belongings while they have their procedure. You need to keep anything valuable or too big to fit in the locker with you.

When you arrive, we book in your child, weigh them and give them a drink of water. We also put a wrist band on your child with their:

• name
• date of birth
• hospital number

If your child has any allergies, their wrist band will be red. Otherwise, it will be white.

If your child is over 2 years old, we will put some local anaesthetic cream on the back of their hands. This cream makes the skin numb and eases the pain from any needles or tubes (cannulas).

We do a pregnancy test for all girls aged 12 and over who have a general anaesthetic.

We give your child a small bottle for a urine sample. On the day of the procedure, we test this sample.

Yes. Just before your child's procedure, we give them a hospital gown to wear. A member of our team then takes you both to the anaesthetic room. You can stay with your child until they are asleep.

Please do not take any photographs or videos when the general anaesthetic starts working and makes your child sleep.

When your child is asleep, we take you back to the children's day surgery reception. We give you a small electronic device called a pager. This device gives a bleep when it is time for you to return.

You are welcome to use the rest and refreshment facilities in St Thomas' Hospital. 

Hello there. My name is Angelos and I'm having surgery here at Evelina London Children's Hospital.

If you're watching this, you might be having an operation here soon too.

The doctors do operations at the children's day surgery unit, which is this building with lots of brown slats on the front of it, and in the Evelina London Hospital main building, which is this light coloured building here, with the big glass atrium on top.

Follow me, I'll show you around and tell you what happens on the day of your operation.

Can I tell you a secret? I was a bit nervous when I first came in here. I mean, like you. But I'm super brave, so I was totally fine.

But it's okay to be nervous. That's what the nurses told me.

To be totally honest, I went through a bit of a rollercoaster of emotions. Up, down, round and round.

But because everyone is so lovely, you'll be made to feel very welcome and safe here.

There were even some pretty cool bits. Let me show you.

Good morning. Parents and carers get lots of useful information about your procedure in your admission letter.

This will tell them important things like where to take you, what time to arrive, what to bring, oh yes, like comfortable clothes, pyjamas, a favorite toy, definitely a teddy for me.

Oh yes, my top tip: bring a book or electronic device to pass the time.

Oh, yum! Ah, okay, yes. And my even bigger top tip: find out what time you need to stop eating and drinking before surgery.

I was pretty hungry before my operation, but afterwards, when you're feeling ready, you can have something tasty, just ask for something like a snack box.

[Nurse] Hello, Angelos. My name is Audrey, and I am one of the nurses working here.

[Angelos] Hello, Audrey. Once you're booked in, a friendly nurse will take you to the assessment room.

[Audrey] Angelos, please follow me and I will show you what happens next.

[Angelos] Before surgery, a nurse will have to take different measurements such as how tall you are and how much you weigh.

You will also get a special wristband and some magic cream. Here we go!

[Audrey] So Angelos, this magic cream will help your hand feel numb. So if we need to put a tube in your hand or in your arm for surgery, it won't hurt that much. Are you ready, Angelos?

So, we'll also have to take different measurements such as your blood pressure.

There will be a few doctors asking you some questions, such as the anaesthetists and the surgeons.

Right, shall we go to the next cubicle and meet them?

[Nurse] Hello, Angelos. Angelos is waiting for his surgery in the bed bay on our children's day unit today, so he won't need an overnight bag.

Make sure to pack one if you are staying with us. We will let you know if you need to stay overnight after surgery.

If you are, you will get a locker to put your things in and there'll be things like pull-down beds so one of your grown-ups can sleep over with you.

Angelos, if you look over there, you will see the play specialist in the pink T-shirt.

[Play specialist] Hi, Angelos! You can always tell who the play team are. We're the ones in the pink or yellow T-shirts.

We can help you if you feel anxious about your surgery, if you have any questions to ask, or if you just want something to do while you wait, just ask.

Oh, and remember Angelos, I can come down to surgery with you if you want me to, so just let me know.

[Anaesthetist] Hello, Angelos. Hello, you. My name is Corinne, and I'm going to be your anaesthetist today.

I am one of the doctors who's going to help drift you off to sleep and look after you while you're having your surgery.

There are a number of ways we can do this, and I'll explain this to you on the day of your surgery.

Sometimes we use a mask with special gas. Well, I think it smells a little sweet.

And sometimes we put magic cream on your hand, like we've done for Angelos.

One more person from the surgical team will be coming to see you, but don't forget you can ask anyone any questions at any time. I'll see you later.

[Surgeon] Hello Angelos, nice to see you again. Finally, the day you have been waiting for.

We discussed the surgery at the clinic, but now it is your chance to ask me any further last questions that you might have.

A lot of doctors will come to see you today and they will make sure you know everything that will happen at any point in time.

We will have to do the necessary paperwork, and then we'll use a marker pen like this one to draw an arrow at the site of the operation.

Would you mind if I draw an arrow at your leg?

I forgot to say sometimes there might be a bit of a wait so make sure you bring a book or electronic device with you. That's fantastic! Well done Angelos! Bye!

[Angelos] One of the staff will walk you up to surgery, or you might get pushed in a wheelchair or a trolley, which is pretty cool.

[Play specialist] Come on, follow us.

[Angelos] And your grown-ups can come along for this bit too.This is the bit I get a bit nervous at, but I know everyone is looking after me.

[Corinne] Hello again. It's now time to get you ready. All right, I'm going to give you some medicines to help you drift off to sleep.

Don't worry about the monitoring and the beeping. It's just here to keep you safe while you're asleep during your operation.

Your grown-up can give you a really big kiss now. And what we're going to do is we can all count down together. 5, 4, 3, 2, 1.

[Audrey] Hey, Angelos! Wakey, wakey! Your surgeon is here.

[Surgeon] Hello, Angelos. Everything is okay. The operation went very well. You might be feeling a bit groggy now.

[Audrey] In a little while, we'll get your grown-ups up here. And if you feel much better, we can bring you back down to the ward.

[Angelos] Hello again! I was quite sleepy for a bit, but feel a lot better. Now, I'm allowed to eat and drink.

I'm looking forward to having one of my favourites, Evelina buttery toast.

Thanks for looking after me!

[Everyone] Thanks for visiting us! Bye!

When the pager makes a noise, you need to return immediately to the children's day surgery reception. A member of the children's day surgery team meets you there and takes you to see your child in the recovery area.

Some procedures have specific restrictions. However, most children can eat and drink as usual within 1 to 2 hours of the procedure.

We recommend that your child has sips of water at first. They can then have larger amounts of fluid and food. We give you a simple snack box, but please feel free to bring some of your child's favourite snacks.

We follow guidelines specially designed to make sure that we only send children home when this is safe. Some procedures have specific restrictions. However, most children are well enough to go home 1 to 2 hours after they wake from their procedure.

Some children may need to stay with us for longer. Rarely, your child may need to stay in the children's hospital overnight while they recover.

It is usually best to go home by car or taxi. Some children can go home on public transport if they have a small (minor) procedure. Please talk to your child's surgeon or a member of their healthcare team about this before the day of the procedure.

If you have a child under 1 year old, we recommend that an adult sits with them in the back of the car.