A visit to hospital can be either unplanned or planned. Unplanned visits will often be to the Emergency Department, while planned visits can be as either an outpatient or day case or as an inpatient (i.e. staying for one or more nights).
When a child is admitted to hospital it can be a very stressful and scary time for both patient and parent.
NHS Grampian is committed to supporting person-centred care, including person-centred visiting in the case of inpatients. Person-centred visiting is less about having fixed visiting times and more about staff, friends, family members and carers working together to support those in hospital in the best way possible.
Royal Aberdeen Children’s Hospital and The Archie Foundation have teamed up with ‘Little Journey’ to provide the free ‘Little Journey app‘ to help prepare your child for procedures such as general anaesthetics, blood tests or MRI scans before their hospital visit. When children understand what will happen, they will have lower levels of anxiety and will be able to cope better. Please download the Little Journey App.
To find out how ‘Little Journey‘ can help to prepare your child for their hospital visit……
There are many resources, including easily accessible short videos and films, to help answer the questions children and families have as they prepare for hospital. These questions often start with ‘What and Why’ so please check out What? Why? Children in Hospital – YouTube channel.
You can also access a digital copy of our Welcome Wards Booklet, our guidance for patients, carers, families and friends.
In addition, you will finds lots of helpful information in the Visiting RACH section of this website.
