Preparing for your hospital stay

Royal Hospital for Children for Patients, Carers & Visitors
NHS GGC

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If your child has an arranged admission (not an emergency admission) you will have received information at your pre-assessment appointment or received a letter with the admission date and details about where to go. Please read this information carefully.

It will contain any special instructions for your child that you need to follow before their procedure, such as whether they are allowed anything to eat or drink beforehand. If you are unsure of any of this information please telephone the number on your letter. 

See also: Cancelling or rearranging an appointment or admission

What should you bring with you to hospital?

If your child has an arranged admission your letter will help with what to bring.

For your child you will need to bring:

  • clothes and shoes or slippers for daytime
  • night clothes for their overnight stay
  • any toiletries they may need.

Younger children:

The hospital supplies disposable nappies for children in hospital. if your child has a bottle or feeder cup please bring this with you.

Keeping your child entertained:

WiFi is available on the ward and you (or your child) may wish to take a phone or a tablet with you.

To help your child feel more secure you may also wish to bring:

  • A favourite toy or blanket
  • Favourite books or games

We have play therapists available on every ward who can help with activities for your child. Please ask if you would like to meet the play therapist.

Snacks:

Vending machines are available in the hospital atrium, you may wish to bring a small amount of change for these.

We discourage families from bringing valuables into the hospital.

Videos to help prepare your child for their hospital stay

The What, Why, Children in Hospital website has helpful information on preparing your child for their hospital stay:

Preparing for hospital

This video helps families prepare for hospital by talking about questions like: Should I tell my child in advance they are going to hospital? When do I tell them? How much do I tell them about what is going to happen in hospital? How could I use play to prepare? How can I help my child when they are anxious? What support is available in hospital when my child finds it difficult to have a procedure? 

What happens during a General Anaesthetic?

This video shows children having a general anaesthetic before their operation. The anaesthetist explains what will happen, how they make sure you are asleep during your operation and how quickly you will wake up again. Rory tells us how it felt to have a general anaesthetic.

Play to prepare children for a General Anaesthetic

When your child needs to have a general anaesthetic before their operation it can be helpful to prepare them through pretend play. This video shows how you could play with your child the day or morning before you go to hospital. By using yoghurt pots, pretend sleepy gas and sleepy medicine they prepare Lily the giraffe and Lewis the lion for their operations. This video with pretend hospital play is aimed at younger children and those at an early stage of development.

If your child is unwell before their appointment

If your child is unwell or has developed a fever when they are due to come into hospital you should telephone the secretary of the consultant who is responsible for your child's care. This information will be on your appointment letter.

To contact the secretaries, phone 0141 2010000 and ask for the named consultant's secretary.

 

Editorial Information

Last reviewed: 15/01/2024

Next review date: 15/01/2027