How to prepare your child for surgery
The key to preparing your child for hospital is to tailor your explanations and activities to your child’s age and level of understanding. You know your child best, so you will be able to gauge what they will be able to understand and when.
Talk to your child about coming to hospital using simple, easy to understand language.
Giving too much information, especially to young children, can also be frightening.
Encourage your child to ask questions and ask them yourself. With older children, making a list of questions before an appointment or admission can help address any fears or worries.
Most importantly, let your child know it is okay to feel scared or upset. These are perfectly normal feelings and nothing to worry or be embarrassed about. Tell them It is alright to let you know if they’re worried or in pain.
Treated conditions
Abscesses
Appendicitis
Buried penis
Cancer surgery including insertion of chemo ports, biopsies and tumour excision
Circumcision for medical or religious reasons (Please note that circumcision performed on children under the age of 16, for any other reason, is a prosecutable offence as per section 12 of the children’s act 2008)
Congenital abnormalities (birth defects) e.g. Diaphragmatic hernia, Intestinal atresia, Gastroschisis, Omphalocoele, Oesophageal atresia, Anorectal malformations
Disorders of sexual differentiation
Gastrostomy insertion/PEG
Hirschsprung’s disease
Inguinal hernias and hydrocoeles
Insertion of dialysis devices
Intestinal polyps
Intussusceptions
Keyhole surgery
Liver and bile duct problems e.g. Biliary atresia, Choledochal cysts
Lumps and bumps
Malrotation and volvulus
Neck cysts and sinuses
Necrotising enterocolitis
Paediatric gynaecology
Pyloric stenosis
Removal of swallowed or inhaled foreign bodies
Trauma
Umbilical and epigastric hernias
Undescended testicles
Vascular tumors and malformations
I do not treat burns, bone disorders, heart abnormalities or brain disorders. My particular interest is neonatal surgery.