1. We are incredibly devoted to your child, even though we don’t know you yet and we’ve just met…. When we got up for work today, it was solely to care for you and your child.

2. You are safe here with us. Your child’s illness is incredibly frightening … there is safety in our hands.

3. Many illnesses of childhood take time to reveal themselves. Observation is a form of treatment. Let us do it and we will allay your worries. On occasion this means disturbing a child while they sleep.

4. Watching your child become unconscious under general anaesthesia is an unexpectedly emotional experience for most parent’s … we will walk you through it.

5. It’s often easy to get admitted to hospital but very difficult to get out! Be patient while we ensure your discharge is thorough.

6. Ice blocks for breakfast, hot chips for lunch and gummy bears for dinner are important food groups …. Things will get back to normal when the family is well. 

7. Please keep your room tidy. If a child is sick enough to be admitted to hospital then they are sick enough to need expert help fast. Make sure we can get to your child quickly if needed. 

8. While your child is the patient you will be amazed at how much care you need. Caring for children means caring for the entire family. This part will be the most profound for you during your stay.

9. Your child’s physical safety is as important as their clinical needs. Please do not co-sleep with your infant, keep the cot sides up, place hot drinks out of reach and inform us of any individual who is not permitted to visit. 

10. The knowledge to be found within the team caring for you is unimaginable, respect it and the years of study and experience required to obtain it. You won’t find better information looking elsewhere.