There should be a policy in place for pregnancy testing for young female patients under the age of 16 years. This policy should adhere to Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health guidance.218
Where designated separate areas for children are not available, discrete segregated areas in the pre and postoperative pathways should be available. They should be made as child friendly as possible.117
Children should never be left unattended in the recovery area.220
Children have an increased incidence of postoperative delirium. Recovery staff should have an increased awareness and there should be local protocols for the management of this condition.209
Children with learning disabilities should ideally be recovered in an area with lower levels of noise and lighting and a familiar presence, such as a parent or their carer.209
The presence of learning disability practitioners in recovery when a patient with learning disability is being recovered should be considered.209
All staff working in paediatric recovery should be trained and competent in protocols, and should be familiar with the relevant procedures and personnel if there are safeguarding or child protection concerns that arise while the child is in theatre.217
There should be a minimum of one member of the recovery staff, or an anaesthetist with advanced training in paediatric life support on duty. All members of recovery staff should have up-to-date paediatric competencies including resuscitation.201
Paediatric equipment to cover all ages should be available in recovery, including a full range of sizes of facemasks, breathing systems, airway adjuncts and tracheal tubes. Essential monitoring equipment includes a full range of paediatric non-invasive blood pressure cuffs and small pulse oximeter probes. Capnography should also be available.201
