Children and families

Coming to GOSH

Important information

GOSH is a very busy place and we all need to follow some guidelines when staying or visiting here.

Identification

All our members of staff should wear an identity badge at all times. If someone not wearing an identity badge approaches you or your child at any time, please check with ward staff. If you are at all worried, please ask ward staff to call security.

Security

The hospital has a security team on duty 24 hours a day, seven days a week. They are there to protect all staff and visitors to the hospital. If you see anything that looks out of the ordinary, please ask a member of staff to contact security.

Fire safety

The hospital has a very sensitive fire alarm system. If you are on the ward when a continuous fire alarm sounds, please remain calm and follow instructions from the nurse in charge. If you are elsewhere in the hospital, please remain where you are and follow instructions. If you feel you have to return to the ward, please do so calmly following any instructions from the fire team or nurse in charge.

Smoking

GOSH is now a smoke-free zone, which means that you cannot smoke anywhere inside hospital property and adjacent areas, such as entrances to hospital buildings.

Mobile phones

You can use your mobile phone inside the hospital but only within designated ‘mobile friendly zones’. Using your mobile elsewhere could cause interference with our medical equipment.

Please be considerate when using your mobile phone, turning it off during consultations and keeping the noise down when children are sleeping nearby. Remember that if you are also bringing in a phone charger, it will need to be checked by our electricians before you use it.

Respect for our staff and other families

We know that there may be times when families are frustrated, angry or upset, and we will help you find the right member of staff to discuss any concerns you have about your child’s care.

However, we have had to adopt a ‘zero tolerance’ approach to behaviour that is inappropriate or threatening to patients, families or staff, although this is rare at GOSH. We will not tolerate any kind of threatening behaviour - verbal, physical or psychological - and we have a policy to ensure that this is dealt with appropriately. This involves asking the person to come to an agreement about the behaviour we expect from them. In rare circumstances where this agreement is not kept, we can and will remove the person from the hospital.

Responsibility for children

Although this is a children’s hospital, you will still be responsible for the behaviour of your child and the safety and behaviour of any brothers or sisters coming to visit. Please arrange supervision of brothers and sisters at all times.

Visiting

Parents and carers are welcome at all times, as are brothers and sisters. Friends and other relatives should visit between 10am and 8pm. Visitors with colds, coughs or other infectious diseases should check with the ward first, and preferably not visit until they are well. Some wards have restrictions on the number of visitors and visiting times, so please check with the ward first.