Day surgery for children

Abstract

Many children are now admitted to day units for routine surgery. The key factor driving the change from in-patient care is financial, but there are other advantages and disadvantages (Figure 1). High-quality care requires careful planning and organization. More than a decade ago, a group of nurses, paediatricians, an anaesthetist and members of the National Association for the Welfare of Children in Hospital published a document listing 12 quality standards for children admitted as day cases; it remains a practical guide for services today (Figure 2).