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Theatre Admissions Unit
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Welcome to our Theatre Admissions Unit (TAU) where children having surgery or a procedure that requires a general anaesthetic are admitted.
We generally see patients between three months and 16 years old.
Nearly all children who go to theatre come to TAU before their operation. Patients who need an inpatient bed will go straight to a ward after theatre. Day cases return to TAU to recover before discharge home.
If your child is coming in for a quick medical procedure or an infusion, this normally takes place in Medical Daycare.
Visitor information
We ask that children coming to TAU are accompanied by a maximum of two parents/carers only.
Unfortunately, we cannot accommodate any other children unless they are breastfed babies due to limited space and the need to prevent infections being brought in from outside the hospital. If this causes any problems, please call TAU on 0114 271 7343 / 0114 271 7393.
We also ask you not to eat any food in the waiting area, as children are starved for theatre and this would be unfair to them. We allow children to sip a clear fluid drink (water or diluted cordial) while they are waiting to go to theatre and you are welcome to do the same. However, we do not allow hot drinks in the waiting area for safety reasons. A parent/visitor room with a free drinks machine is situated next to the Theatre Admissions Unit. Thank you for your cooperation with this.
Please try not to bring valuables with you. The Trust cannot accept any liability for loss or damage of valuables.
Planning your visit
We know that having an operation can be scary and we want children and their families to feel as confident as possible before coming to hospital. We have created a guide for patients and families to download which explains what happens when a child comes to hospital for an operation.
Free app to help prepare
You can also watch a video that talks through the process of coming to the Theatre Admissions Unit, including Widgit symbols and Makaton.
There is lots of extra information for you to read below to find out how we can help you prepare and make your visit as comfortable as possible:
Visiting hospital can be a daunting experience for adults and children alike. We want to reduce any anxieties and help make your visit as stress free as possible.
Many people worry about how to prepare their child for a general anaesthetic and an operation. There are some useful ideas in our anaesthetic area.
Our Play Team can help distract children by providing activities, toys and games.
For children with additional needs, we have a symbol communication scheme (WIDGIT) which can help plan your child’s journey through TAU. This gives them some control and helps to reduce any stress they may be feeling.
My Daycase Operation is a leaflet illustrated with WIDGIT symbols explaining the steps in the journey from arrival at Theatre Admissions Unit to going home again. Flashcards are also included to allow a timeline to be created for individual children.
If you feel this approach would be useful for your child, please contact the TAU Nursing Team on 0114 271 7343 / 0114 271 7393, who will be able to help you prepare your child before coming to hospital and on the day of surgery.
If your child is particularly anxious about coming to hospital, it may be possible to arrange a pre-admission visit to help familiarise them with TAU. Please contact our team on 0114 271 7343 / 0114 271 7393 for further information or to arrange a visit.
Chris uses Makaton and Widgit symbols to show us what happens when Rory come to Sheffield Children’s Hospital for an operation.
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