Being in hospital

If you need to stay the night, you will be an inpatient and be admitted to one of the wards. This might be planned, or sometimes might happen after an operation or after a visit to the Emergency Department. Whatever happens, we will make sure that you feel safe, comfortable and well-cared-for.

You will have your own bed – either in a room by yourself or in an area with a few other children. There will be a small cupboard or space for your things. You might want to bring:

	Pyjamas & slippers
	A change of clothes
	Your favourite toy
	A book, magazine or comic
	Toothbrush and toothpaste
	Face cloth or sponge, hairbrush or comb
	A blanket or favourite cushion
	Water bottle, drinks or snacks
	A tablet (don’t forget your charger!)

It is likely that you’ll meet quite a few people during your hospital stay or visit.  Doctors at the RHCYP and St. John’s Hospital are trained to look after young people who come to the hospital.  You may see a Consultant, who is a specialist. You may also see doctors training in a particular speciality – or sometimes medical students as well. Nurses are also specially-trained to look after young people. They will check to see how you are feeling and help you if you need anything.   Different nurses might wear different coloured uniforms – or sometimes scrubs, because they work in theatres or surgical areas. Pharmacists get any medicine you need ready for you and are sometimes seen on the wards. Surgeons carry out operations. You might meet a surgeon if you're having surgery.  Anaesthetists put you to sleep when you have an operation and look after you during your time in theatre.  Play specialists work on every ward at the RHCYP in Edinburgh and the Children’s Ward at St. John’s Hospital. They can help you understand about any tests or checks that you’ll have in hospital, can show you pieces of equipment and help you know what to expect. They also have some brilliant toys, games and art! Therapists like Dieticians, who help children with food or nutrition, Physiotherapists who help with balance or moving your body, Speech and Language specialists who help children to communicate, talk, speak or swallow and Occupational Therapists can help children recover safely at home or get back to school.  Therapists can visit children on their ward, or might see you at a clinic or by making an appointment for a special visit. Porters: they take you from place to place in the hospital if you need help getting around, for example from your ward for an x-ray and back again. Lots of other people work in a hospital too!  Our teams of cleaners, catering staff serving meals or snacks, receptionists on the welcome desk and on the ward, or volunteers in their purple or red t-shirts all play a really important part in helping children when they come to hospital.

In the morning, the nurses in your ward will bring you breakfast. The nurses looking after you will encourage you to wash, brush your teeth, and get dressed if you’re well enough. You will have a toilet and a bathroom close to your bed – or sometimes as part of your individual room. Getting dressed for the day can help you feel better! Doctors sometimes come round early in the morning to see each patient – they might bring medical students or other specialists with them. They will always be happy to answer any questions you have. If you prefer, your parent or adult can ask your questions for you. The doctors might decide that you need some tests, like an x-ray or a scan. You can read more about it in the tests and scans section. If you don’t need anything new, you can go to the playroom or stay on your bed to read or play games. Sometimes you might have treatment, like physiotherapy to help your body recover, time in the gym or rehab room to work on exercises to make your muscles stronger, or a visit from a speech and language therapist, or dietician who can help with your recovery. You might also have some medicine to take throughout the day (your nurses will help with that). If you need to have any tests or checks and are feeling worried, one of our Play Specialists can come to see you, to show you the equipment, or let you see, touch and listen to things that doctors might use. If you are feeling scared or unsure about anything, they can help you understand what is going to happen. The Hub can be found on the ground floor by the Outpatients pod. Run by the Edinburgh Children’s Hospital Charity and open to everyone, you can drop in, take a yoga class, or spend some chill-out time away from the wards. Make sure you look out for our ECHC artists and youth workers on the wards - there’s a daily Arts Programme provided by ECHC, and you can find out details on your bedside welcome app. Little France school is open during normal school hours, and if you don’t feel well enough, teachers can come to see you in your bed. After lunch, friends and family might come and visit you in your ward – it can feel quite busy at times. If you have some time between tests or having your medicine, you can go back to one of the playrooms – or have some fresh air in one of the outside courtyards. You might even spot the helicopter landing on the roof! Later in the evening, it’s time to relax and get ready to go to sleep. You might watch some TV or a movie, play a game or read. There is always space for an adult to stay overnight with you – either next to your bed or in our special family accommodation on the top floor. Hospitals can be busy at night time too, with people moving around and the noise of equipment, but we’ll try to make it as easy as possible for you to get a good night’s rest. It’s normal to feel a bit homesick or worried – let your nurse, your parent, or another adult know, and someone will always be there to help you.

If you’re feeling well, you might want to visit the play area on your ward or have some fresh air in one of the outside courtyard areas. If you need to stay in bed, our special play therapists, artists or dancers can come and visit you. Each ward has a choice of toys, art resources and other things to keep you busy.

If you’re well enough to visit the restaurant or café, your parent or another adult can let staff on the ward know that you’re going for a snack or a walk. There are some wonderful pictures, sculptures and pieces of artwork all around the RHCYP – see what you can find! Down in the Hub on the Ground Floor, the ECHC team has space to make a drink for families to meet away from the ward and arrange plenty of fun activities around the hospital – like art groups, movie nights or visits from musicians. Nearby you’ll also see the Radio Lollipop studio – they can give you a shout out or play a request if you like.