FAQs

It is important that you tell us. Please telephone the number shown on your appointment letter.

If you have lost your letter, contact our appointments line on 0114 305 3691 and tell them you wish to change your appointment.

Call our appointments number on 0114 305 3691.

Our Outpatients area has information about preparing for an appointment and coming for an appointment that should tell you everything you need to know.

A parent or legal guardian must accompany children to their appointment, but please limit the number of other family members in attendance wherever possible.

A chaperone can also be present for examinations on request. Examinations are performed by trained members of staff and will always be explained to you beforehand. The role of the chaperone is to provide practical assistance with the examination and to provide support to the patient and family member/carer, as well as to the person carrying out the examination.

Older children who are making the transition to adult services will have a discussion about this process and will have the chaperone policy explained to them.

Please ask a member of staff if you have any questions.

You should contact your consultant’s secretary. Contact details for many departments are available in our A-Z of Services.

If you’re not sure of the number call our switchboard on 0114 271 7000 and they should be able to put you through to the right place.

If you have concerns about your child then you should see your GP. If your child is already a patient here you can contact your consultant’s secretary – contact details for many departments are available in our A-Z of Services.

As we have no parking facilities at the main hospital site and limited parking facilities at our other sites, public transport is the best way to travel.

Parking spaces are extremely limited. There is a Q Park across the road from the main hospital site and some on-street metred parking. Our other sites have some parking facilities.

Find out more about parking at our sites.

Disabled parking is available in the Durham Road Q Park opposite the hospital and for blue badge holders there are opportunities for on-street parking nearby. We have some disabled parking spaces at our other sites.

Charges will vary depending on the site you visit. Parking is available at the Q Park across the road from the main hospital site.

All car parking charges at our sites are used to fund improvements in patient care.

Please bring spare change with you to your appointment if you need to park.

Each child can have two visitors plus one parent.

Do you have set visiting hours?

No, but we do ask visitors to leave by 9pm to help our patients get to sleep at bedtime.

Can I bring siblings to the ward?

Under-5s can only visit with permission of the nurse in charge. Please limit the number of older siblings to ensure that there are no more than two visitors plus one parent.

What about hand washing?

Please remember to use the handwash gel prior to entering the ward (the gel is situated on the wall in a dispenser by the door to each ward and in the bed area).

If you or family have a cold, sickness bug or other illness please consider visiting another day.

Can I bring my child’s pet?

No pets are allowed. Please speak to our Patient Advice and Liaison Service about your individual circumstances.

Many of our sites are large and complex buildings.

We often have a volunteer available at the main reception desk to help guide families to their destination.

There are various maps around the sites to help you find your way and colour codes for you to follow to your destination.

Any suggestions about how we can improve this are welcome – use our suggestion boxes on site to share your ideas.

We have shops, a cafe, a restaurant and there is a cash machine nearby. Find out more about our facilities.

Where can I breastfeed my baby?

Please ask a member of staff to direct you to the nearest breastfeeding facility on site. You are also welcome to breastfeed in the cafe areas.

Where can I change my child’s nappy?  

Please ask a member of staff to direct you to the nearest facility to change nappies.

Please get in touch with a member of our team by calling the number shown on your appointment letter.

If you have lost your letter contact our switchboard on 0114 271 7000 and tell them you wish to change your appointment. They will then direct you to the relevant team.

You can donate money through The Children’s Hospital Charity. Thank you!

Visit the careers and opportunities area to find out more about various opportunities for getting involved with the Trust.

Please call 0114 226 0678 or email scn-tr.communications@nhs.net.

We will resolve complaints through an accessible, personal and flexible approach, treating each complaint according to its individual nature and your wishes.

If you have a concern about any aspect of your visit please speak to a member of staff as soon as possible; we will try to resolve your concerns as they arise. Alternatively, speak to our Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS) representative, either in person in the main entrance at the Western Bank site, by telephone on 0114 271 7594 or by emailing be scn-tr.pals@nhs.net.

If your concerns have not been resolved informally, you can make a formal complaint. Information about how to do this is available on the PALS page.

Let us know as soon as possible by calling the appointments number 0114 305 3691.

All NHS sites are smoke free areas. This includes the buildings and the grounds of all of our sites.

For the safety and comfort of our patients, visitors and staff smokers are requested to smoke away from our premises and to dispose of their litter responsibly.

We care about the health and wellbeing of our patients and family members, so our Tobacco Treatment Team aims to contact those who smoke. It’s easier to quit when you get the right help. We can signpost you to lots of support options. We also offer free advice and support on vaping.

Smoking harms you and those around you.

Visit our referrals page to find out more about the different referral process for each service. 

Email: scn-tr.schsars@nhs.net – please do not send any personal information via email. Contacting this address will allow you access forms which detail which data should be provided in a given format.