Last year the standards for children’s surgery were reviewed and raised in the UK. Not many private hospitals are able to offer paediatric surgery because of the high standards required, so I have been asked to give a guide as to what you as a parent should ask and might expect from the best.

It came as a bit of a surprise when my son injured his face recently and I experienced the Nuffield Health approach first hand. We perform amongst the largest number of cases in the UK outside the NHS, so we obviously require extra special effort to deliver care to this very special patient group. Our in-house expert, Nuffy (our 'Very Important Bear') is assisted by an expert paediatrician, children’s anaesthetist and nurse in every hospital.

The first thing for any parent is preparation. Kids (and parents for that matter) of all ages cope much better if they have a good idea of what's going to happen and why it's necessary. Think about any worries or questions you have in advance, writing them down so you have a prompt during your outpatient appointment when it is easy for your mind to go blank. Ask questions of the surgeon or nursing staff in outpatients.

It is really critical to give information at your child's level of understanding, and to get rid of any fears or worries. Help your child understand why the surgery is needed and become familiar with the hospital and some of the treatment he or she will undergo. Kids may fear that their parents aren't telling them everything, so don’t mislead them - building trust is important to help them through the experience. A good book, appropriate to your child's level of understanding, about what to expect at the hospital works well. Reading together and discussing the surgery will make the hospital seem less threatening, you should try to discuss each idea and encourage your child's own questions.

We have specially trained children’s nurses in every hospital and we like to arrange for you to meet them in advance to see our play areas, children’s bedroom and where any treatment will be given. When you arrive on the day of surgery, bring plenty of toys. There is no substitute for familiarity and naturally parents are accommodated and welcome to stay. You will meet the team of nurses and doctors on the day to run through things again before any treatment or operation. You can accompany your child to the anaesthetic room but won't be allowed to stay in the operating room during the surgery. Afterwards, you'll be escorted to the recovery room to be with your child as he or she wakes up and we’ll explain how everything went before you all go back to the ward. Upon discharge, you'll receive instructions for further recuperation at home and for a follow-up visit to the consultant.

I’ve experienced children’s surgery on both sides of the treatment room, you could call it quality assurance, or rather quality reassurance in my case.

• Dr. Andrew Jones is Group Medical Director of Nuffield Health, the leading not for profit group of hospitals, corporate health, fitness and wellbeing centres in the UK, including the Nuffield Health Bournemouth Hospital on Lansdowne Road. For more information on children’s surgery call 01202 702830 or visit link below.