Facilities

Telephones and mobile phones

There are a number of payphones around hospital.

Mobile phones are permitted in all areas except the Paediatric Critical Care Unit and theatres.

WiFi

Free NHS WiFi is available at all Trust sites for patients, parents and visitors. To connect follow these simple steps:

1. Select ‘NHS WiFi’ on the WiFi network list on your phone, tablet or laptop and enter the password when prompted. You can get the current password from any reception desk on site.
2. You will then have to authenticate using one of the required methods (Google, Facebook, Twitter or text message). If the authentication page doesn’t appear automatically you may need to open your browser.
3. Once you have signed up, you will be redirected to an NHS landing page and your WiFi connection will be active.

Shops

• Costa Coffee serves hot drinks and snacks.
• WHSmith provides refreshments, reading material and stationery.
• The Friends of the Children’s Hospital shop is in the Main Entrance by the Outpatients pharmacy.
• A number of vending machines serving drinks, snacks, hot and cold food can be found across the hospital.
• A pharmacy is available near the main entrance which dispenses some medicines and sells a range of useful items such as toiletries, creams, pain killers and plasters.

Hot food

The Parkside Restaurant, which serves freshly-prepared food seven days a week, is near the Blue lifts on B Floor of the Western Park acute site.

It’s open from 7.30am to 6pm, Monday to Friday, and from 8am to 6pm on Saturday, Sunday and Bank holidays.

Breakfast is served until 11.30am. After that time the menu offers a wide range of affordable hot and cold sit-down or takeaway meals, snacks and drinks to visitors and our staff. There’s also a great value children’s menu.

We recently introduced a budget-friendly £1.50 Meal of the Day – a different tasty main course every day including weekends.

Vegetarian, vegan, halal and gluten-free options are available and allergy information is displayed. If you are unsure please ask a member of the restaurant staff.

Cash machines

The nearest cash machines to the Children’s Hospital are located in the Glossop Road Co-op on the corner of Clarkson Street and at the University of Sheffield Students Union on Western Bank.

Cashback is available with a debit card from the Parkside Restaurant if you spend £5 or more.

Breastfeeding and nappy changing facilities

We have a dedicated breastfeeding room in the main Outpatients area and are able to provide space for breastfeeding in most wards and departments. Staff can direct you to the nearest suitable facility.

You will need to provide your own nappies and feeds for your baby.

Nappy changing facilities are available in many toilets around the Trust.

Play and distractions while you wait

Our wards have play specialists who are able to provide toys and games for children and young people of all ages.

We also have several adolescent rooms around the Trust with games appropriate for their age group.

Portable games systems can be used around the Trust except in intensive care, the neonatal ward and theatres. Please check with our play specialists before plugging any electrical items into the wall sockets.

The Trust accepts no responsibility for the loss or damage of valuables.

Accommodation

Parents/carers are encouraged to stay overnight with their child. The wards have sofa beds, pull down beds or fold-away beds by the side of the patient beds for one parent to stay overnight.

A limited number of rooms are available in Treetop House and Magnolia House which are run by The Sick Children’s Trust. These offer a total of 24 bedrooms and each has a kitchen, communal dining area, living room, play room and laundry facilities. Both properties are located very close to the main hospital buildings.

Parents with children receiving treatment on Ward 6 may also be able to stay in PACT House, a five bedroom house on Western Bank.

Rooms in these houses cannot be booked in advance and are given based on priority. Ward staff can make enquiries for you on admission.

Information on nearby guest houses and hotels is kept by the wards and the Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS).

Ward security

All ward areas are secured all of the time and only staff can access them using a security card. Parents and visitors are asked to press a call button and wait for staff to answer and let them in.

Religious needs

The Chaplaincy Centre is available for all who wish to spend some time in prayer or quiet reflection. The hospital has Chaplains of all denominations with access to leaders of all faiths.

The Chapel and Prayer room is open 24 hours a day and can be found on D Floor, next to the Cystic Fibrosis Centre, accessed via the blue lifts. You can contact the Chaplaincy team on 0114 271 17338 or you can speak to any member of the nursing staff.