Isolation

Infection Prevention and Control Department

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Why is it necessary to isolate children?

Children in hospital may be more vulnerable to infection than other children because of their illness or the treatment they are receiving. If a patient has an infection we may need to care for them in isolation in a cubicle. We do this because isolation is a way to stop infection being spread to other patients who are not infected. Infections can be difficult to contain and can be spread in different ways. For example:

Direct contact, usually by hands, with someone else.
Indirectly from someone else by means of the environment or contaminated equipment.
Carried in the air and spread in dust, aerosol or droplets of moisture.

Precautions needed if a child is placed in isolation

Everybody must wash their hands each time they enter or leave the cubicle.
Toys must remain in the cubicle during the isolation period.
If the child has a bath, it should be cleaned thoroughly afterwards.

Isolation can be hard for children as they won’t see other children outside of the cubicle. Remaining inside the cubicle is really important to stop infection spreading or to ensure the child doesn’t get an infection.

Visiting

Parents and carers can visit their child and may be asked to wear plastic aprons and gloves if helping with their child’s care.
The number of visitors may need to be restricted.
Visitors should not sit on the child’s bed.

We ask that no children visit the patient unless there are exceptional circumstances. The reasons should be discussed and agreed with the Ward Sister/Manager before the visit takes place.

Other precautions that will be taken

The child’s cubicle will have a notice on it to inform anyone before entering that a patient is in isolation.
This notice will not identify the patient so confidentiality will be maintained.
All hospital staff will wear gloves and aprons when any physical contact is required with a patient in isolation.
All hospital staff will carry out good hand hygiene practices when entering or leaving the cubicle and when carrying out certain procedures.
The cubicle door needs to remain shut at all times to help reduce the spreading of infection.

If you have any questions or concerns about isolation please speak to a member of the ward staff

This leaflet only gives general information. You must always discuss the individual treatment of your child with the appropriate member of staff. Do not rely on this leaflet alone for information about your child’s treatment.

This information can be made available in other languages and formats if requested.