Home | Site map | Contact us | Help |

Children's Health Services District - For Patients & Families

• Home
• Emergency Contact
• About Us
  • Mission, Values
  • History, Location
  • Who we care for
  • Contact Us
• Using Our Services
  • Directions & Maps
  • Parking
  • Facilities
  • Activities
  • Coming to hospital/prepare your child
  • Parent Accommodation
  • Services for Private Patients
  • Public Specialist Outpatient Clinics
  • Family Advisory Council
  • Community Child Health Service
  • Child and Youth Mental Health Service
• Careers
• For Health Professionals
• Ways to Help
• Queensland Children's Hospital Development

Coming to Hospital

Parent Information
Get the most out of your visit to the Royal Children’s Hospital by reading the information below.

• "My trip to hospital" program
• Important reasons to telephone the hospital
• How do I prepare my child for hospital?
• What should I bring to hospital?
• What shouldn’t I bring to hospital?
• What are the admission times for children coming to the Royal Children’s Hospital?
• My child is being admitted at 7am. What do I need to do?
• My child is being admitted at 11am. What do I need to do?
• What happens in hospital?
• Routines while my child is in hospital
• Can I stay near to my child?
• When can I visit?
• How can I help my child cope with being in hospital?
• Preparing to go home: special note on medications
• After it is all over, how can I help my child settle back into their usual routine?

 

"My trip to hospital" program 
The “My trip to hospital” program helps children prepare for a hospital admission. The books and the DVD will show you through a ‘typical’ admission starting at the front of the hospital, through to the wards and the Operating Theatre, the Wonder Factory and even Outpatients.

Reading the age-relevant book, along with watching the video clips, will show you what happens here at the Royal Children’s Hospital - Brisbane so that you don’t have to worry or ‘freak out’ about coming here.

My trip to hospital 12 years & older (2.9 MB PDF)	My trip to hospital 9 to 11 years (3.1 MB PDF)	My trip to hospital 7 to 9 years (3.2 MB PDF)	My trip to hospital 4 to 7 years (3.8 MB PDF)
Fred's trip to hospital 3 years and younger (2.4 MB PDF)		Watch the My trip to hospital video

top of page

Important reasons to telephone the hospital 
Your child’s procedure has been performed elsewhere or is no longer required

• You no longer wish your child to undergo the procedure
• Your address or phone number changes
• If your child is sick in the week before a booked procedure. (This includes colds, temperatures, runny nose, bronchitis, wheezing, diarrhoea, vomiting, or in contact with any infectious disease eg Chicken Pox.)  Contact the hospital for advice regarding suitability for anaesthetic.  You should consult your local doctor if you are concerned about your child’s illness.

If you need to cancel your child’s procedure, you may have to wait some time before a new appointment is available.

	Phone:
Weekdays: 8am until 4.30	07 3636 7556
All other times Ask to page the Royal Children’s Hospital Nurse Manager	07 3636 8111

top of page

How do I prepare my child for hospital?
When to tell your child
You know your child best. A general guide for when to tell your child is:

• 1 day prior to coming to hospital for a toddler
• 1-2 days prior to coming to hospital for a pre-schooler
• 1 week prior to coming to hospital for a school-aged child
• several weeks prior to coming to hospital for an adolescent

What to tell your child
Ensure that you answer their questions honestly and simply.

• Tell your child that he or she will be going to the hospital for an operation or test.
• Talk about what happens at the hospital in very simple terms.
• Explain the reason for the operation or procedure
• Highlight the benefit of the procedure
• Let your child know that other children will be in the hospital
• Avoid the phrase ‘put to sleep’ because some children may associate these words with the death of a pet.

Other Ways to Help Prepare Your Child

• Use dolls or stuffed animals to help take turns being doctor and the patient. Pretend medical kits can help to practice a procedure.
• Reading library books about going to the doctor or hospital.
• Helping your child pack his or her bag for hospital, complete with a favourite toy or security item.

top of page

What should I bring to hospital?
Please ensure that all items are labelled.

For Your Baby

• warm clothes – the hospital is a cool environment
• favourite toy & familiar object
• If your baby has a special teat, please bring it with you. We have disposable teats.
• We supply ready-made S26 & Karicare formulas.

For Your Child

• a change of pyjamas
• casual clothes
• toothbrush & toothpaste
• favourite toy, storybook, colouring pencils or games
• any special dietary formula

For You   - If you have to stay overnight                                

• change of clothes
• toiletries
• food for yourself

Paperwork:

• list of medications that your child is taking
• any relevant letters from your Doctor
• relevant x-ray and pathology results
• Medicare card
• health insurance card
• health record book
• patient travel subsidiary scheme form

top of page

What shouldn’t I bring to hospital?
Valuables
Items of a high monetary value should be left at home as there are no secure facilities available.

Electrical equipment
In the interests of safety, electrical equipment powered by mains electrical supply can not be used in the hospital unless proof of inspection by an electrician is provided beforehand.
Battery operated equipment is preferred.
For more information, phone the Occupational Health and Safety Coordinator on (07)3636 8164.

Hot drinks
For safety reasons, hot food and drinks must not be brought into the ward area, however, parent lounge facilities are available on each floor.

Infection control
Anyone who has a cold, flu, fever, diarrhoea or rash, or has been exposed to a contagious disease and has not been immunised for that disease should not visit the hospital.

Ride on wheeled toys
In the interests of safety, ride-on wheeled toys are strictly prohibited within the hospital buildings and grounds. This includes scooters, bicycles, roller blades, tricycles and skateboards.

top of page

What are the admission times for children coming to the Royal Children’s Hospital?
Admission times:
For morning procedures admission time is  7am
For afternoon procedures admission time is 11am.

My child is being admitted at 7am. What do I need to do?
Ask your health care team whether your child needs to fast (see below). If your child has a medical condition that may be compromised by an extended fasting period please discuss fasting requirements with your health care team.

If your child’s procedure is in the morning:

• Bathe your child and wash their hair the night before  
• Arrive at the Admissions Office by 7am

If your child’s procedure requires fasting:

• Your child must eat an evening meal the night before the procedure and be offered a snack before 2am.
• Your child must not have food or milk drinks after 2am.
• Your child may be breastfed until 4am.
• Clear fluids without any food fibre (pulp) or fat eg. Apple juice, non- diet cordial must be offered until 6am.
• Your child must not have anything to drink after 6am.
• Check with your doctor if your child is required to take any medication during the fasting period.

My child is being admitted at 11am. What do I need to do?
Ask your health care team whether your child needs to fast (see below)

If your child’s procedure is in the afternoon

• Bathe your child and wash their hair in the morning
• Arrive at Admissions Office at 11am

If your child’s procedure requires fasting:

• Your child must eat breakfast the morning of the procedure.
• Your child must not have food or milk drinks after 7am.
• Your child may be breastfed until 9am.
• Clear fluids without any food fibre (pulp) or fat eg. Apple juice, non- diet cordial must be offered until 11am.
• Your child must not have anything to drink after 11am.
• Check with your doctor if your child is required to take any medication during the fasting period.

top of page

What happens in hospital?

Step	Place	Event
1	Admissions Office In the main foyer of the Royal Children’s Hospital Foundation Building	You and your child book into hospital at the Admissions Office on Admission Day. Admission Day is a long day which involves considerable waiting. You may wish to bring some activities or reading material for yourself and your child.
2	Ward	You will be seen by several members of the health care team including doctors and nurses.  Your child will be examined and staff will be taking a medical history.. On occasions there may be unforseen circumstances that may cause delays.  Staff will keep you informed.
3	Theatre Holding Area	You can accompany your child to the procedure area where a nurse and / or doctor will meet you. You may find that questions are repeated.  This is necessary as a safety check.
4	Theatre	Your child will be taken into theatre. Check with the Anaesthetist whether you are able to accompany your child until they are “asleep”.
5	Parent’s Lounge or Working Wonders Café	Depending on the length of the procedure you may wish to use the available facilities.    Remember to give Nursing staff your mobile number if you are leaving the ward area.
6	Recovery	This is where your child “wakes up” from their anaesthetic. Parents are usually able to be with their children in the recovery room once they have woken.  You will need to check with the nurses in the Recovery Room.
7	Medical discussion with parents / caregivers	There may not always be the opportunity to discuss your child’s condition immediately following the procedure. It is advisable to ask your doctor prior to the procedure when this discussion might occur.
8	Ward	On return to the ward your child may be sleepy. Recovery is monitored closely for a period of time depending on the type of procedure.
9	Home	Your child will be discharged in line with your medical teams recommendation. The hospital provides Instructions on how to care for your child after the procedure Medications necessary to help your child continue his or her recovery at home, (link in to Preparing to go home: special note on medications) Details regarding a follow up appointment. Contact details in the event of any concerns.
10	Follow up	Follow up arrangements will be discussed with you prior to discharge. This may entail an appointment with either your GP or at an RCH outpatient clinic If your follow up is at a Royal Children’s Hospital Outpatient clinic, you will receive an appointment either on discharge or in the mail.

top of page

Routines while my child is in hospital
Children’s meals  

Breakfast	Served shortly after 7:30am
Lunch	Served shortly after 12 noon
Dinner	Served shortly after 5pm

Parent’s meals
The Royal Children’s Hospital provides parents meals to breast feeding mothers. All other parents and visitors must supply their own meals.

General amenities
Visitors to the Royal Children's Hospital may access a range of facilities.

top of page

Can I stay near to my child?
Information on parent accommodation.

top of page

When can I visit?
Parents
Parents can visit any time and are encouraged to do so.  Due to safety regulations and limitation of space only one parent is able to stay overnight.

top of page

How can I help my child cope with being in hospital?

• Try and maintain some semblance of a routine if possible   Talk to the nursing staff about planning care.
• Comforting your child by cuddling, singing, and talking with them
• Telling your child where you are going and when you will be back when you need to leave their bedside. This saves your child from wondering where you have gone.
• You have the option of staying overnight at the bedside
• Getting as much sleep as possible & eating regular meals.
• If your child is in hospital for an extended period of time you might require some time out each day to recuperate. You might want to call on friends and family to assist you where they can.
• If you don’t understand medical terminology used by staff in relation to the care of your child ask for an explanation from your health care team.

top of page

Preparing to go home: Special note on medications
Your child may still require some form of pain relief even after discharge.  Discuss this with your health care team prior to leaving the hospital.

Some common medications may have adverse effects following surgery or a procedure and should only be given AFTER consulting with your Doctor.

top of page

After it is all over, how can I help my child settle back into their usual routine?
It may take some time for your child to settle back into their old routines at home. You can help by:

• understanding these behaviours are normal & temporary
• allowing your child to express their feelings, with your support and reassurance
• spending as much time with them as possible and avoiding leaving them for extended periods.

top of page