For children and parents, coming to hospital for an operation is a stressful experience. It is very important that children receive the care appropriate to their development and every effort is made to ensure this happens.

The most important factors in providing a high quality service for children and parents are:
• Providing a child friendly environment
• Having staff on the wards and in theatre all trained to look after children
• Having dedicated areas for children in theatres
• Providing a pain service specifically for children

At Derriford we have strived to develop all of these areas and now have facilities not available in most other hospitals in the South West region.

Surgery on children will be formed either in the main operating suite (Level 4) or in the Plym Unit (Level 6). A majority of children’s operations can be done as daycases.

Some children who are very anxious about hospitals, operations or dentists can be placed on a special operating list where more time is available to prepare your child for their procedure and in a more child friendly environment. This often includes the use of premedication with a small drink which contains a drug to help reduce your child’s anxiety and make them a bit sleepy.

Similarly, children with special needs also attend this special operating list where usually a special anaesthetist and dentist will try to make the difficult trip to the hospital as smooth as possible. Most of your child’s details will already been passed on to the attending team before you arrive so that they are aware of any particular challenges.