We provide many types of routine and emergency surgery for children of all ages in the Great North Children’s Hospital at the Royal Victoria Infirmary.
Our team see children from across the North of England, from Leeds to Edinburgh, and Whitehaven to Tynemouth.
Conditions we treat
We treat children who have a range of conditions including;
- cancer
- urological and gastrointestinal problems
- chest wall deformities
- hernias
- undescended testicles
- foreskin issues.
Specialist services
Children are referred to us by GPs and hospitals from all over the region. We carry out elective (planned) and emergency surgery for children, offering a 24/7, 365 days a year service to patients and their families.
Our range of services includes:
- surgery for cancer
- surgery for solid tumours
- neonatal surgery
- children’s urology surgery
- gastro and intestinal surgery
- emergency surgery for children with complex problems
- keyhole surgery.
We are also a specialist surgical centre for colitis, ileo-anal pouch and laparoscopic surgery.
The surgery process
We know that it can be difficult for families and carers if their child needs to have surgery. That’s why all our staff are specially-trained to make sure that your time in hospital is as comfortable as possible.
Before you come to us, you will see a doctor or nurse in the Children’s Outpatients Department. They will talk about what will happen on the day of the operation. You can also arrange to see the ward before the surgery date if you’d prefer.
Staying with your child
Parents or carers can stay with their children almost every step of the way through their surgery.
Parents can accompany their child while our children’s anaesthetist prepares them for surgery. You can also stay with them until they go to theatre. Our hospital play specialist will also stay with you. You can also be there as soon as your child wakes after surgery.
Depending on the type of surgery, in many cases children can be taken into hospital and be free to go home on the same day.
Follow-up
After your surgery, you will have a follow-up appointment. We will send you a letter with more details about this after the surgery.
Your follow-up appointment will be at the Great North Children’s Hospital. However we also hold clinics at Whitehaven, Carlisle and Stockton if these would be more convenient for you.
See our wards
Our young patients stay on special children’s wards at the Great North Children’s Hospital. You can find out more about each ward:
- Ward 8
- Ward 9
More information
Weblinks
- Information for parents on the British Association for Paediatric Surgeons website
- Information about children in hospital on NHS Choices
Contact
For more details about Children’s Surgery at the Great North Children’s Hospital, please contact us on 0191 292 5275
