Dads staying overnight on children’s ward

My son was in for 10 months and never had a side room just because he was there longer term. I wish though! 😂

Exactly. Hospitals are horrible places to be with kids but you deal with it because it's part of being a parent.

I'm surprised at all the objections to other fathers seeing them in their pjs though. There's never been a time I've been in hospital with my children, for any length of time, that I've got into pjs. Normal clothes 24/7 here.

The nurses don't have x-ray eyes.
They want and need to be able to see children at a glance which they cannot do if people have curtains pulled round beds.

Not only does it block the view of the child who's bed they are pulled round they block the view of the bed next to them.

Good luck with that! You are lucky to get a pillow sometimes!

I’d be demanding a private room or to be moved to another room/ward whatever you call it, which had curtains. They’re not just for privacy but whilst we’re talking about privacy, that is something every child deserves. Particularly when they’re vulnerable.

What's so special about teenage girls? They can deal with it like everyone else. "Yes dear, hospitals are uncomfortable places, aren't they? Being in hospital isn't fun for anyone." Generally stays are short and if they are in longer term, they should have their own room, like anyone else should. If my daughter is uncomfortable, I'll make sure she has a parent with her.

My son was critical too at first, he was actually in a side room at that point because we were told to expect the worst but I still wasn't allowed to stay overnight. To be fair, there was just no room due to all of the machines he needed so it was upsetting but I understood.

The ward he was on the longest only had a few side rooms so they were almost always full. The other two wards had more side rooms but they were also wards that had transplant patients so were always full due to those children needing to be isolated.

It sounds tough paticurly on icu as I said my son was in an adult Icuand tbf,were very accommodating this is just my experience of having a critically 16 year old

My son was in hospital for 10 months. PICU and 3 different wards, thankfully discharged since January.

The only time he had a side room on the wards was when he had infections or suspected infections and had to isolate. In PICU, parents weren't allowed to stay overnight at all.

The staff were amazing, don't get me wrong but space and options were always limited on each of the wards he was on.

No they shouldn’t be able to dictate anything, their needs don’t trump all. Patients sleep day and night. My daughter was ill for many years and spent many long admissions on paeds, she needed her dad and I couldn’t be there all the time as I was trying to keep my job.

All.I can say he's in the best place ,but I do know how worrying it is .

Thank you, I'm so worried he's at our local hospital but is under GOSH , he was born with a heart condition that the local hospital, where he was born, had never seen before.

Oh no.it's awful.my son was blue lighted a couple of years ago it was terrifying but he recovered well sending positive thoughts your Grandson will too.

Tbf,my experience has been quite good my youngest son had a couple of hospital admissions when he was younger he's severely autistic,and has some extremely challenging behaviour ,he has chronic constipation and had to be admitted for disimpaction,the staff always tried to find a side room if available due to his needs
My oldest son was admitted to an adult Critical care unit two years ago he was 16 and still at school! In year 11_the staff were brilliant and put him in a side room due to his age and also allowed me to stay with him for six nights
So ime, at least I the staff did try to work round issues.

This thread seems to have tempted fate , my grandson was blue lighted in this morning 😞

They won't be putting a young girl in her own in a bay with a man .

I think Dad’s should be encouraged to take their turn staying with their children, so no I wouldn’t be uncomfortable. It’s not really acceptable that there were no privacy curtains though. Everyone needs privacy, even if it were a single sex space.

Most can.

How is it possible? What would your suggestion be?

Of course it's possible. And no, not every child can have a parent with them.

In a hospital where space is limited, side rooms are limited/for infection risks and with other children to also consider, it just isn't possible.

They will be able to have their own parent with them.

Girls should be able to dictate that they won't sleep with a random man there.

Weren't you the one saying it should be about the children and not the parents? Unless the child is a teenage girl and then she can stfu

I would propose no teenage girl has to sleep in a room with a random male.

If they also want a parent there? Unfortunately, yes. They can't dictate which parent other children have there.