Having an operation can also be called ‘having surgery’ or ‘going to theatre’. Many children have operations every day, with specialist doctors and nurses looking after them before and after. Some also have special tests, scans or procedures that need them to be asleep. This is called ‘having an anaesthetic’.
Operations and procedures usually take place at the Royal Hospital for Children and Young People in Edinburgh, or sometimes at the Western General Hospital in Edinburgh or St. John’s Hospital in Livingston. This includes endoscopy tests, where a tiny camera looks inside the body to see what’s happening inside, or some types of scan such as an MRI or CT scan. The reason for having an operation or procedure in hospital is likely to be different for everyone.
Some children come to hospital for an operation and go home again on the same day – this is called ‘day case surgery’. Sometimes children are already staying in hospital before their operation, or need to stay on a ward afterwards. If you know that you’ll be having an operation, you’ll find helpful information here about what to expect.
