Operation only one parent allowed to go

[Cassie98761]

Hi, im new here.

I'm just freaking out a little bit, my one year old daughter is due to have surgery on her throat on the 14th of next month. I just called about the pre op and I've just been informed only one parent can be there. I'm so worried about something going wrong and now I have to deal with it all by myself. This is all due to covidrestrictions I am so fed up now.
Has anyone else had a similar situation?

They haven't given me much information at all. The pre op was a phone call today and she couldn't answer many questions. I think what worse is it isn't a local hospital. I knew from the start it would be only 1 parent staying over night. But I though we could both be in the waiting room while the surgery was actually happening

If you ring the childrens’ ward or the consultants secretary they may be able to tell you or find out. Definitely take someone with you to pass the time. Every hospital is different but most aren’t under heavy restrictions currently

My DS had surgery just a few weeks ago. I was the parent that stayed with him. You will be with your DC on the ward and will sign the consent forms and will speak to the Consultant and Anesthetist before surgery.
I would make a point of asking roughly how long they expect the surgery to take so you can work out what to do while you wait.

When it's time for surgery, you will go up to theatre with your DC and be there with them whilst the Anesthetist administers the pre-meds and puts DC into a deep sleep. You will then be asked to give a kiss goodbye and make your way back to the ward.

Then you are waiting until your DC's surgery is done and they are moved into the theatre recovery area. If you have a while to wait you can leave your mobile number with the ward staff and go to the coffee shop or something.

My DS was under for 1.5 hours so I left the ward and went out to the hospital coffee shop. My DH wasn't allowed into the building due to Covid restrictions at the time (early July) but it's worth checking if things are a little more relaxed now - perhaps yours could meet you at the hospital coffee shop so you can wait for news together?

When the time comes, you will go back to the theatre level and be admitted into the recovery area. DC will be coming around and you can stay with them and go back down to the ward together.

Don't expect you will need to wear scrubs - I haven't had to either time my two have had surgery.

Hope it all goes well