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While my daughter’s been lucky enough to avoid any major medical procedure so far, we have become closely acquainted with our local hospital, due to her ongoing hypermobile joint issues. When the appointments with the clinicians, physio and orthopeadic specialists started, my (then) almost two year old was clearly daunted by the the big and scary place. Just being there for a few hours was long enough, let alone the thought of being there overnight, in a different bed in an unfamiliar room.

As I journeyed home on the train from London on Sunday, I listened to a mum behind me discussing an upcoming hospital appointment with her daughter. They’d been into town to buy a new teddy to take with them, as the daughter was going to be having surgery and staying in for recovery time afterwards. She was about four years old and it seemed like a lovely way to help prepare the little girl for the most basic aspects of her hospital stay.

For the purpose of this post, I’ve had some expert advice offered for other parents in a similar situation. I’m told there are several steps you can take to help prepare your child for an operation, to make it as stress-free and straightforward an experience as possible.

Prepare yourself

In everyday life, children tend to ask a lot of questions about all manner of things and it will be no different in the build up to surgery. That’s why it’s important for a parent or guardian to have a solid understanding of the procedure.

Be proactive about the situation and approach your doctor, consultant or surgeon. They will be more than happy to explain what will happen and answer any questions or concerns you or your child may have. It’s bound to be an overwhelming time for you as well, so making a list of any queries is a good idea.

A fellow parent may have also gone through a similar experience, so ask your circle of friends. If your child attends nursery or school, this could also be a good place to ask for help and support.

It’s reassuring to have some sort of support network in case of every eventuality. A medical lawyer is able to give advice and process a compensation claim in the event of incorrect diagnosis or treatment.

Explain and reassure

Give your child enough appropriate information to prepare them for the operation and minimise any fears that exist, but try not to be too detailed as this may increase apprehension. Use child-friendly language to explain medical terms and procedures. For example anaesthesia is best described as ‘medicine that will make you fall asleep’.

Try to explain the process of going into the operating theatre and waking up as a simple and hassle-free experience. Constantly reassure your child that you will be there when they wake up.

At the hospital

Treat the day as a special occasion and don’t be afraid to spoil them a little. A new toy or game will keep them occupied and in high spirits. Tell your child that it will be a unique experience that few other kids go through and that afterwards, they will be able to tell their friends about what happens at a hospital.

Take a few possessions from home like pictures, books or toys so that the hospital ward doesn’t seem like a totally unfamiliar environment. Make the point that there are a lot of other children also having procedures, so going to hospital is a normal and regular occurrence. If all this reassurance is still not quite enough to pacify them and you feel you need to offer more, The NHS is able to provide more information and advice about preparing your child for surgery.

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