Day surgery information

This information is relevant for children who will be coming in for day surgery and for overnight stays.

What to bring for your child's day surgery

Make sure you have everything listed below ready to show hospital staff:

  • Your child's personal health record, such as their blue book, immunisation record and any other health summaries you may have
  • Medicare card
  • Health insurance details or evidence of current fund membership
  • A list of medications or treatments your child is currently receiving, as well as the medications themselves to show hospital staff
  • Any equipment which your child needs to aid mobility, feeding or communication
  • Your family doctor's name, address and phone number
  • Your general paediatrician's name, address and phone number if your child sees one regularly
  • Any relevant x-rays and results from pathology tests.

What to bring for overnight stays

For overnight stays, there are some additional things to bring:

  • Clothes (including pyjamas and slippers), shoes
  • Soap, toothbrush, toothpaste, hairbrush
  • A favourite toy or comforter, colouring pencils or games
  • School books/homework (the hospital has a school run by the Department of Education and Training)
  • Special dietary formula
  • Money for your meals, parking and accommodation
  • Change for phones or phone cards
  • Storage space on the wards is limited so please do not bring too much with you.
  • We recommend you leave valuables at home as the Hospital cannot accept responsibility for any lost belongings.

Fasting for patients having an anaesthetic

Fasting means not eating or drinking for a certain amount of time.

It is very important for your child to fast before surgery. If your child has food or fluid in their stomach during an anaesthetic they may vomit, which could then enter the windpipe or the lungs.

Your child must have nothing to eat or drink (not even a sip of water from the time you are asked to begin the fast). The Pre-Admission Nurse will phone you prior to your child’s surgery date.

Operating theatre

If the anaesthetist agrees, one parent may be allowed into the anaesthetic room to stay until your child falls asleep. When your child is asleep, you will be asked to wait in a designated area. If you choose to leave this waiting area, please make sure we have your correct contact details and you remain contactable by phone.

When your child's operation is finished, you will be called to the Recovery Area to sit with your child as they wake up from the anaesthetic. Only parents and carers are allowed into the Recovery Ward (no siblings or any other family members).

After an anaesthetic, it is quite normal for some children to become upset. This does not necessarily mean they are in pain and they will usually settle down after a little while. Some children can remain drowsy after an anaesthetic - it is best to let them sleep. If your child does feel pain after the procedure/surgery, they will be given pain relief medication as required.

If your child is having 'day surgery'

Main theatres

After surgery, your child will to go to the Recovery Unit for a short time. When ready your child will return to the Short Stay Surgical Unit situated on Level 1.

Urology theatres

After surgery, your child will be recovered in the unit, then moved into the next bay once they are awake and ready. When ready your child will be discharged directly from the department.

If your child is staying overnight after the operation

Main theatres

After surgery, your child will go to the Recovery Unit. When ready your child will then be transferred to a ward bed.

Urology theatres

After surgery, your child will be recovered in the unit. When ready, your child will then be transferred to a ward bed.

When is my child able to eat and drink?

Depending on the type of procedure/operation, food and drink will be slowly given to your child. The medical and nursing staff will tell you when your child may start to eat and drink.

Going home (when your child is discharged)

Your doctor or nurse will let you know when your child can go home (be discharged) and arrange for any necessary follow-up appointments.

For children staying overnight, the aim of the hospital is for most children to go home between 9.00am - 10.00am on their day of discharge. Please be prepared for early discharge so that other children waiting to be admitted are not disadvantaged.

Unable to attend?

If your child is unable to attend due to illness a new date needs to be arranged.

Please call the phone number on your admission letter as soon as possible so the appointment can be reallocated to another child waiting for surgery.

Please be aware if you decline your admission on two occasions, your child may be removed from the waitlist in line with the NSW Ministry of Health Waiting Time and Elective Surgery Policy.

Directions, maps and parking

Information about direction, maps and parking for Sydney Children's Hospital, Randwick.

Where to go 

Main theatres

For day surgery, take the lifts to level 1 and follow the signs to the 'Short Stay Surgical Unit', located near ward C1 South (Level 1). Otherwise, go to the Enquiries Desk at the entrance and ask for directions.

Urology theatres

For day surgery, when entering through the Children’s Hospital High Street Entrance, find C3 South (Level 3) then take the bridge into Prince of Wales. The Urology Department is the first department on the right. 

Alternatively, if you enter directly into the Prince of Wales adult Hospital, follow the signs labelled ‘Urology/Lithotripsy’. The Urology Department is located in the Clinical Sciences Building.

Food and facilities

There is a cafe and cafeteria inside the Sydney Children's Hospital, Randwick, which is open on weekdays and Saturdays.  Services and facilities available include an interpreter service, gift shop, pharmacy, home equipment lending service, chaplaincy services, kids entertainment facilities and a hospital school. 

Public phones are available at the northern end of the main corridor on Level 0 and the Emergency Department of the Sydney Children's Hospital, Randwick.