Information for Parents/Carers prior to Children's Day Surgery

If your child is having planned surgery, you will receive a call the day before surgery by the Roses Day Care Team.
They will go through some pre-assessment questions and answer any questions that you may have.
Please confirm with the team what time you are expected to arrive on the day of surgery.
If your child is having an unplanned emergency surgery, the pre-assessment questions will be completed on the morning of the surgery.

Please come to Roses Day Care Unit which is through the Ifor Ward (children’s ward), on level 4, at the time you have been asked to arrive.

Your child must not have had anything to eat after bedtime on the evening before their surgery. Do not give them any milk or juice after that.
Please wake your child at 6am to have a drink of water, but nothing else to drink (or eat).
If you have been asked to come at 12.00 noon, your child may have breakfast at 7am and a drink of water at 11am.
The parent/legal guardian needs to come with the child as they will need to sign the operation consent form.
Do not bring any other children/siblings with you.
Please make alternative childcare arrangements. This is mainly for safety reasons and because there is limited space in the day surgery area.
Please remove any jewellery, make-up or nail varnish from your child.
Bring your child’s pyjama’s (ENT surgery only), slippers and favourite cuddly toy/book.

Nurse will check your child’s temperature, heart rate, breathing rate and oxygen level (and sometimes blood pressure).
A name bracelet will be placed on their wrist.
Ametop cream (local anaesthetic) will be applied to your child’s hands to numb the skin.
This is so that they do not feel the cannula (needle) being inserted in the anaesthetic room (the cream takes about 30 minutes to work).
You will be seen by the anaesthetist and surgeon before the surgery.
Your child will be asked to change into their pyjamas or theatre gown.
A play specialist will be available and will have a range of toys, games, and activities to keep your child busy before the surgery!

Once it is your child’s turn to go into surgery you will be able to accompany them into the anaesthetic room until they are asleep.
A Nurse and Play Specialist will also come with you.
When your child has gone to sleep you will be asked to go to the pharmacy to collect painkillers to take home (You should also have time for coffee/breakfast!).

When your child has had their surgery, they will be taken to the recovery room.
Pain killers will be given in theatre, so they should feel comfortable.
Once they are awake the Nurse will bring them back into the day surgery area and watch them closely.
Your child will stay in hospital for about 2 hours, until they are eating and drinking: water, squash, biscuits and sandwiches will be provided.

Please arrange transport home, we do not advise using public transport.
Your child will need to be off school for at least 24 hours (1 day) to recover from the general anaesthetic.
They may need to be off for up to 10 days, depending on the type of surgery they have had.
Your child will be discharged with pain killers to take regularly.
You will be given advice leaflets to take home.
A follow up appointment will be arranged if necessary.

Please contact us if you have any further questions before your child’s surgery.

Roses Day Care Unit
Tel: 0207 288 5630 / 3104 Monday to Friday 7:30 am to 8 pm

Published:

14 Oct 2026

Review:

14 Oct 2028

Reference:

CYP/AcPaed/IPCPCDS/01