Great Ormond St - I'd like to support my friend

[Whatsounddoesagiraffemake]

My friend's baby had a major operation at GOSH today and I would love to surprise my friend with a few things to keep her going and let her know I'm thinking of her.

Can anyone

a) tell me if there's any way I can find out what ward they're on without asking my friend and ruining the element of surprise
and b) help me with some ideas for aforementioned surprise. Am useless at thinking of gifts and haven't got much further than flowers! I'd love to surprise her with a visit but I suspect my screaming toddler and newborn might make things worse rather than better!

DS spent a lot of time at GOSH when he was little and I always appreciated any magazines/ books and decent food, as it was hard when you couldn't leave the hospital and the food wasn't great.
I don't think they allow flowers on the wards. She might appreciate some nice hand cream (Khieles do a lovely one) as all the antiseptic hand gel you have to apply drys your skin out. There's some shops and restaurants nearby at the Brunswick Centre (Things like Giraffe, Gap, Waitrose, Yo Sushi...) so vouchers or some nice food might be good?
Has she got a laptop or portable dvd player... you could get her a good box set to watch while she is in with her DC. Or if she's in overnight some nice pjs or slippers?
I'm not sure how you find out which ward he is on. If you know what they are in for you could probably work it out, it tells you [http://www.gosh.nhs.uk/parents-and-visitors/coming-to-hospital/ward-and-admissions-information/ here]

I hope your friends baby makes a quick recovery

Sorry, rubbish link... not sure how you find out which ward he is on. If you know what they are in for you could probably work it out, it tells you [http://www.gosh.nhs.uk/parents-and-visitors/coming-to-hospital/ward-and-admissions-information/ here

Last try! here

Magazines. Food vouchers. Second hand cream suggestion. I don't think flowers are a good plan.

Certainly these were the things my friends needed when they were in. The nearest supermarket is a waitrose. Most parents seem to life off ready meals. Although there are nice restaurants nearby it tends to be too anxiety inducing to leave your little ill person for long enough to go and eat.

magazines/fruit-nice soft drinks like bottle green as you get sick of tea etc treaty things as the food is ok but you may want to snack, if shes staying then nice shower gel/cream also face mask as your hanging about in the room a lot- second the dvds suggested as well..

At this time of year you can often get gift sets with minatures of things like shower gel/deodorant/lip balm in which are very handy as they don't take up much space. I have a nieva set which lives in my hospital bag.

If she is staying over with him something like batise dry shampoo is a godsend!