Child in GOSH

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I don't know if anyone can help. My nephew will soon be going into GOSH for a bone marrow transplant, it's unsure how long he'll be in. Thing is his family (he has siblings) live 3 hours from London so his parents will be staying with him for prob about 3 months and grandparents will have responsibility for the siblings. We will also help out there as much as we can.

My sister and dil haven't much spare cash, even less when they will be in London and not working. They are very proud and will not accept cash but I was wondering if anyone with experience of GOSH could tell me if there's anything that we could do to make the stay there any easier. I'm thinking about getting some vouchers for Costa & things like that so they can have a cuppa & cake and not have to worry about the cost.

Is there anywhere else nearby? Tesco, Sainsbury?

Can anyone tell me what the facilities are liked in the parents kitchen, will they have much storage/fridge space (I.e. Can I send them with things?)

I so desperately want to help in anyway I can, so any info would be much appreciated.

I work there but not on the wards so am not sure about the parents kitchen. There is a waitrose about 10 mins awayin the Brunswick centre. Also within a 5 min walk to Southwark Road there is a tesco express, starbucks, costa, cafe Nero, pret, Gregs and subway.

The coffee in great ormond steet opposite the hospital is extortionate and very small sizes. There's a nice park just round the corner which is good for stretching their legs and getting some fresh air. Also queen's square is nice if you just have 5 mins to get outside.

Also if your nephew is coming in early in the morning they will be entitled the stay in the patient's hotel Weston House the night before. It's pretty basic but will save them either getting up at the crack if dawn or paying for a hotel.

some OK kind of pubs and cafes in Lambs Conduit st, just around the corner.
Coram's Fields a bit of a park with some history around the other corner.
All the standard kind of places like costa etc nearish on the main road.

although i am pretty sure the main road is not Southwark St - isnt that in Southwark?

Nigella's right. It's Southampton Row. Sorry, that's what happens when you have multiple tabs open reading different bits

brilliant, thanks for you help. I'll look at getting some Waitrose, Tesco etc vouchers too. They've been in before but for nowhere as long as this stay is going to be and if I can ease anything at all for them I will do what I can!

Russell Square and Gordon Square are good places to sit for a while nearby,

It's fairly near Bloomsbury where many of the University of London Student Unions are - there are lots of places for cheap and often nice comfort food there. The SU Cafe and Bar at the Institute of Education is a bit grotty but cheap as chips and you can get a home made, massive plate of chilli or Shepherd's Pie for about 3.50.

I think vouchers are an excellent idea.

The Quaker Meeting House opposite Euston Station on Euston Road is a little further even but the cafe there is absolutely lovely and friendly. It has a really nice, kind, personal feel to it if they're feeling tender.

Hope everything goes well for your nephew.

hope all goes well op

yy to Russell square and agree cafe at gosh v pricey and not much choice

such a nice thought from you

When we were there with DS2 recently (just day admission) the parents' kitchen was great, tea, coffee, toast and cereal available, will make it cheaper than using local coffee shops.

You can only go into Coram's fields with a child, so it will depend how isolated your nephew is.

The British museum is free and a walkable distance, so if they have a few hours while they are waiting I really recommend it. And we used to do it with a pushchair.

It sounds silly, but I would give them a couple of smallish thermoses and some instant coffee and chocolate so they don't have to spend a fortune in gosh or the local cafes. And even dried milk....

I work there and if he's having a BMT it's worth knowing that in the initial stages when his neutrophils are stripped (when they totally suppress his immune system) they will generally suggest one parent only in the room. The child doesn't get to leave the special air locked room for between 6-12 weeks and even after this they have to be careful about infections. Will depend on the type of BMT though so difficult to be specific. Parents will need some entertainment so of they don't have a tablet then clubbing together with lots of friends would be a fab idea. There is a Starbucks on Southampton Row so a pre-loaded card if they drink coffee would also help. The BMT ward has a parent kitchen but I think it's pretty basic. They will get vouchers for parent meals I think for long term patients. These work in the canteen. There is a small independent supermarket called the Peoples Supermarket in Lambs Conduit and a great cafe called Sid's that most long stay parents get pretty familiar with-good reasonable sandwiches and a proper fry up for those days with they need! If you want to help with food - a regular drop off of home made microwaveable food would be the bees knees for most long stay BMT parents I think! If I think of any more I shall add. Good luck to them and fingers crossed for a successful transplant.

If they haven't got a London a to z, get them one. Invaluable.

Again, it sounds silly, but they may have evenings on their hands when they feel they gave to get out. There is SN excellent cinema, the Renoir? In Bloomsbury.

Also Skoob, for second hand books.

Every best wish.

It is a fabulous hospital, thanks to Joules and all who work there.

Agree the tablet idea. Hours and hours of waiting around.

Which is why an A to Z plus a guide to free London plus thermos for the free parent might be a good idea.

Sorry to be multiple posting, but have you thought if hand cream? Again for the not on duty parent. Your hands become v chapped with the constant cleansing, or mine do.

There is quite a big Sainsburys on Southampton Row, at the junction with High Holborn. It's also walking distance to Oxford Street and even Hyde Park.

Your poor family.

I used to work near there, there's a Nando's and Wagamamas nr Holborn station. The wagamama is on Kingsway very nr the Sainsbury and the Nando's on Southampton Place.

When someone receives a BMT the home they return to must be very very clean.

Why not offer to do a really deep clean of the house before they return?

DS2 has Leukaemia and we spent a lot of time in hospital though none in strict isolation.

Hand cream
Lip salve
Books or kindle books
Food and drink (or vouchers for same)
iTunes vouchers or similar
Pyjamas (for both child and parents)

I hope everything goes well xxxx

a supply of 'clean' snacks that they can tempt their child with - cannot remember but my mum had leukaemia and there were certain things like small cartons of uht milk and orange juice and individually wrapped items that you could bring in - you would have to check with someone more in the know.

Food vouchers are a good idea but they need to be able to get out to get it so maybe when you visit bring some snacky things for the room. Thermos, teabags and milk powder are a good idea for tea. If you're allowed to visit, then do so as much as you are allowed or the parents are comfortable with. When my dss is in hospital visits start off regular then I dunno seem to tail off after the first week. Show an interest in proceedings but don't pester them. Emotional support is as useful as practical. Maybe you could take their laundry away and wash it for them? Maybe you could be the conduit for information for the rest of the family/friends who want to know what is happening and how he is-parents may not want to give the same details to everyone so you could set up a mailing group email to tell everyone any news. Best of luck to your nephew and to your whole family as it's tough on everyone.

Is there a 'McDonald's house' there? I know they have one at St Georges hospital in Tooting... Maybe OP can Google it