Paediatric Surgery

Spencer Private Hospitals is one of only a few private hospitals that can provide surgery for children from 3 years to 17 years in South East Kent. That’s why at Spencer Private Hospitals, we are extremely proud to be continuing to provide this service for the children and young people who need it.

We provide comprehensive, expert care for children and young people. Our services include a range of medical and surgical specialities including ENT, General Surgery, Gynaecology, Maxillofacial, Trauma and Orthopaedics and Urology.

We appreciate being referred for surgery causes anxiety for the whole family. We do everything we can to make your child’s time with us as stress-free as possible and encourage you to contact us with any questions/ worries you may have.

We work with experienced surgeons, anaesthetists and paediatric nurses so that you can concentrate on the most important thing - your child.

By choosing Spencer Private Hospitals you are safe with the knowledge that we have the backup of a full emergency care team at all of our sites; all of this translates to the ultimate peace of mind for you and your child.

Working with you - keeping you informed

Before your child comes into hospital, you will have a telephone Pre-Assessment phone call with one of our paediatric nurses.

This telephone appointment will provide you with the information you need to help you and your child prepare for the upcoming surgery, answer any questions you have and provide details on what to expect on the day of surgery.

Preparing your child for a day surgery operation

We know that a hospital visit can be an unfamiliar and potentially overwhelming experience for your child. Our priority is to ensure that they feel comfortable, safe, and supported throughout their time with us.

To make the process smoother for both you and your child, here are some tips on how to prepare them for their time in hospital:

• Open and honest communication: Start by having an open conversation with your child about the upcoming hospital visit. Explain the reasons for the visit or stay in a way that’s age-appropriate and reassuring. Encourage them to ask questions and address any concerns they might have. The Association of Paediatric Anaesthetists of Great Britain and Ireland (APAGBI) have age-appropriate resources of which are useful to start a conversation with your child about their upcoming surgery. Children and Young People | APAGBI

• Bring comfort items: Your child is welcome to bring a favourite stuffed animal, blanket, or toy from home. Having familiar items nearby can provide a sense of security and normality in an unfamiliar setting. We also encourage you to bring in items that your child can play/watch to act as a distraction and to ease any anxieties.

• Stay calm & reassure: Children often take cues from their parents' emotions. Staying calm and positive will help reassure your child and create a sense of security.

Be assured, that our paediatric team are extremely happy to be contacted and we will happily answer any questions you may have!

What to expect

Most inpatient stays for a child are classed as a Day Case and your child is likely to return home with you the same day.

On the day of surgery, we ask you to come to our dedicated Spencer Private Hospitals car park where you will be welcomed by a member of our friendly team and provide a parking permit for the day.

You and your child will be escorted to the Inpatient Ward and settled into one of our private rooms with en-suite facilities.

You will be introduced to our wonderful Paediatric Nursing team who will complete observations and prepare your child for their planned procedure. Our nurses will be there to provide reassurance, distraction and regular updates.

Our paediatric nurses will support your child through their recovery on the ward and provide advice, instructions and up-to date information on discharge to help your child recover as quickly as possible. Once discharged, you will be contacted at home by a member of our paediatric nursing team to discuss how your child is recovering and provide support whilst at home.

Food and drink

To aid recovery and ensure your child is comfortable and happy we offer a snack box (including ice cream and jelly!) which is provided once your child is recovering back on the ward. We appreciate that some children have their favourite food and snack items so please feel free to bring them along in a temperature-controlled container.

Our nurses will provide advice on what foods are suitable at the telephone Pre-Assessment appointment.

After the surgery

We aim to keep your child in hospital for the minimum amount of time and the discharge time will be led by the paediatric nursing team.

To meet our discharge criteria, your child should have minimal nausea, eaten and drank, passed urine and able to mobilise safely.

Once the paediatric nursing team are satisfied your child’s observations are within safe limits and safe for discharge, your child will be able to go home.

On discharge you will be signposted to appropriate pre-operative information relevant to your child's operation with advice on how to help your child recover alongside a guide to timings for adequate pain relief to maintain your child’s comfort through recovery.