If a child or young person has disclosed an incidence of abuse, they might be invited to our special child-friendly examination room at the RHCYP, the Acorn Suite, which is situated next to the children’s outpatient department on the ground floor. 

The Acorn Suite has two purpose-built child-friendly examination rooms that meet the standards required for forensic examinations. There is a discrete entrance and dedicated parking, which can be booked in advance.  The Acorn Suite team can be contacted on 0131 312 0499.

In some situations, we may see older children for examinations at one of the other NHS Lothian forensic suites, either the Sycamore Suite (Astley Ainslie Hospital, Edinburgh) or The West Lothian Civic Centre (Livingston).  We will advise professionals, families and their children or young people involved where their medical examination will be taking place at the time of booking. 

Medical examinations may need to occur at the hospital bedside in situations where the child or young person is too unwell to be moved, and the examination is urgent. We always consider the child or young person’s best interests when making decisions about the location and timing of a medical examination and respect their right to dignity and privacy during the examination. 

All medical examinations need permission from the child or young person (where old enough) or their responsible parent or carer if they are too young or unable to do this themselves. The people who can give this permission on behalf of a child, also known as ‘consent’, are set out by law. 

This can be a very anxious and confusing time for families and those that care for children.  We have developed a leaflet to help young people and their parents or carers understand consent and what to expect at a child protection examination.