Some hospital admissions are unavoidable. There are many things to think about when getting ready for an admission.
Depending on why you have been admitted, you or your family may need to be assertive and advocate on behalf of your child’s specific Spinal Cord Injury needs. Here are some suggestions to help when your child is being admitted to hospital.
What to bring to hospital
Medical checklist
- Personal health records e.g. the blue or red book or recent clinic letter
- Medicare card
- Private health insurance details
- List of medications and the medications themselves
- Details of your General Practitioner (GP) including their address and phone number
- Details of therapists you are using e.g. Physiotherapy, Occupational Therapist, Nurse
- Any relevant x-rays or results from recent tests
- Any mobility equipment (including wheelchairs, customised commode and orthotics )
Personal checklist for overnight and long term stay
- Clothes (including pyjamas and slippers) and shoes
- Toothbrush, toothpaste and hairbrush
- Catheter or bowel washout equipment (if required)
- Money for meals, parking and accommodation of family members
- Books and activities to pass the time. Children’s hospitals also have a school onsite which is run by the NSW Department of Education.
- Phone and phone charger
What to ask for
Not all hospital staff will have a good understanding of Spinal Cord Injury. Please ask the ward staff to advise the Spinal Cord Injury Clinical Nurse Consultant (CNC) of your admission.
You or your family may need to ask for the following:
- Pressure mattress or other skin protection equipment that you use.
- Staff to check skin for pressure injury marks, morning and night.
-
Medications if needed at certain times.
- Help with bladder and bowel management program.
Further information about Spinal Cord Injury is available at:
- The Sydney Children’s Hospital Network website has a series of factsheets about Spinal Cord Injury
www.schn.health.nsw.gov.au/parents-and-carers/fact-sheets
- The agency for clinical innovation have a series of factsheets available:
www.aci.health.nsw.gov.au/resources/consumer-resources
Remember:
- Not all hospitals are going to know your specific needs. It is OK to be assertive and advocate for your child.
