SOURCES OF MEDICAL CARE FOR YOUR CHILD: HOSPITALISATION
Preparation for admission to hospital is always easier if the stay in hospital has been planned for in advance. If you have a choice, try to have the child admitted to a children’s hospital or one where there is a children’s unit and ward. Most hospitals have a pre-admission program — call and check if the hospital has one. The program will depend on the age of the child, and may include written materials for the children as well as parents, and puppets, videotapes, a tour of the hospital, and so on. If there is no organised pre-admission program, you may want to ask permission to show the child the hospital setting.
Hours during which immediate family members can visit children are virtually unrestricted, although there may be some time during the day where there is a ‘rest period’ for young children. All hospitals will encourage parents to stay with the child and become involved with hospital staff in caring for their child’s needs. Parents should negotiate with the nursing staff how this can best be done. Most hospitals will also encourage parents to stay with their child overnight, either in a bed or lounge next to the bed or else in separate accommodation in another part of the hospital or close by. Children benefit greatly from having their parents present during their time in hospital, and the stresses of hospitalisation are significantly reduced.
Children also benefit from being surrounded by personal items from home. These may include a favourite stuffed toy, photographs, cards, letters, drawings, books, a radio or television, and so on, depending on the age of the child. Some children’s hospitals nave in-house videos, snowing special children s programs, visits from siblings and school friends should be encouraged.
Many supports are available in most hospitals. These include social workers, chaplains, play specialists, teachers (especially for children who require prolonged or repeated hospital admissions), psychologists and other professionals. You should not hesitate to ask the nursing or medical staff about the sort of support services available, and use these services as needed.
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