Children come into hospital through the Accident and Emergency department or by referral from a doctor.

If your child is referred, the doctor, usually the child’s GP or paediatrician, will write a letter to the contact at the hospital, giving the details of the child’s condition.  The hospital will then write you a letter, telling you where and when to come for your child’s first appointment.  Your child may be admitted as an inpatient (when they will need to stay in hospital overnight or longer), or as an outpatient (when they will be treated and allowed to go home).

Coming into hospital as an emergency admission through the accident and Emergency department can be frightening for anyone, but children can find the process particularly scary.  Many hospitals will have a Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS), who will be able to give you information about your child’s condition and the hospital procedures and policies

If you go to the Accident and Emergency department of a hospital, your child will be seen by a triage nurse, who will make a brief assessment of their condition.  You may have to wait some time to see a doctor, depending on how serious the condition is in comparison to other patients waiting.  Usually, doctors will try to see children as soon as possible.

If your child has been referred by their GP or paediatrician, you should go to the ward stated in your admission letter.  Usually, someone will greet you at a reception desk and show you where to go.  A nurse will also tell you where to store your personal things and show you where the bathroom and toilets are.  Many hospitals have special children’s wards, where the nurses are very experienced in making children feel comfortable and relaxed about their stay.

A doctor will visit you and your child as soon as possible, to discuss your child’s treatment and carry out a physical examination if necessary.  Your child may need to have tests or scans, such as an x-ray, and a nurse will tell you where to go for these or will go with you.

Many hospitals have a Patient Advice and Liaison Service, with people available to provide information about the hospital, advice about your child’s condition and support during this difficult time.  They will also listen to you worries and concerns and act on your suggestions to improve the hospital’s services.