Children's meals
Children's meal times are usually at the following times:- Breakfast 7.30am
- Lunch 12.15pm
- Dinner 5.45pm
Your child will be given a menu card for each of the following day's meals. We ask that you complete the card on behalf of your child and place the completed menu on the tray at the nurse's desk. The Hospital aims to provide a variety of meals for children. However, if there is nothing suitable on the menu, or you require a menu specific to your religion, the kitchen can provide other alternatives. Just write your requests on the menu or discuss your requests with the nursing staff.
For children under 12 months of age, we provide a special "purple menu" which is a choice of mashed/pureed/minced food. These meals are supplied earlier than the meal times stated above and are stored in the fridge in the kitchen area. This ensures that your child can have their meal at a time more suited to their normal home routine. Please request your child's meal from the staff. During your child’s stay, he/she may be required to not eat for a test or procedure. If this is the case, please follow your nurse's instructions. Under these circumstances no food or drinks should be given to your child unless stipulated by nursing staff.
This is to ensure that your child's test/procedure is conducted appropriately and to better assist your child in their recovery. Whilst in hospital your child may be placed on a "fluid balance chart”. This is for medical purposes so it’s important that it be completed as accurately as possible. Please tell the nurse when your child has something to eat or drink and when they go to the toilet so that it can be accurately recorded. Alternatively, if you are participating in "shared care" you can ask the nurse to show you how to complete the chart yourself.