Nottingham Children's Hospital

If your child is admitted for an overnight stay, catering staff will come round to take their order for breakfast, lunch and evening meal. Please be aware we are unable to order hot meals from catering after 17:30 but can offer a small selection of snacks after this time. For children/young people attending day case surgeries, we can provide a packed lunch and snacks. There is limited fridge space available in the parent’s kitchens for you to bring your own food in, and are further food outlets in the wider hospital, some of which are open 24 hours.
 

We offer a wide variety of multi-faith services. Please do not hesitate to ask for pastoral support.

You will notice curtains around your child's bed space. These are used to respect your child's privacy during doctor reviews and nursing cares. They must remain open and can be secured back at all other times (including overnight) to ensure the safety of each and every patient.

Please be mindful of the privacy and dignity of patients, of the need for courtesy and quiet, and of the potential that mobile devices have for interfering with sensitive medical devices. With this in mind, we ask that all mobile phones are set to silent/vibrate mode to reduce disturbance for others, phone calls are taken in the designated areas and that headphones are used to watch TV or listen to music. Mobile devices must be not be used to take photographs, videos or voice recordings of patients, staff or the environment. This includes mobile/smart phones, tablets, laptops etc.

During term time week days, our hospital school teachers will come to see your child if they are well enough to participate in educational activities. This can be delivered at the bed side or in the hospital school (link to hospital school section). We can arrange for exams to be taken for those who are well enough to do so.

There is a youth service available for young people aged 11 years and above (click here for more information on our Youth Services).  We also have a play and development team (click here for more information) who provide age-related activities for your child and deliver distraction when needed. There are playrooms on each ward which children can utilise; however please note that they should be accompanied at all times and food/drinks are not permitted in these areas.

We actively encourage parents/carers to stay overnight with their child but we are only able to provide one parent bed per patient if available. There is a parent toilet/shower room on each ward and towels can be provided upon request. A small selection of toiletries can be provided for unplanned stays if available; alternatively there is a pharmacy near the main entrance to buy toiletries from.

Lyrebird is an Ambient Artificial Intelligence (AI) medical scribe used in some appointments at Nottingham Children’s Hospital. Its main purpose is simple: to listen during the appointment and create written notes, allowing clinicians to spend more time focusing on children and families rather than typing or dictating.

What Lyrebird Does During an Appointment

• Lyrebird listens to the conversation between the clinician, the patient, and their family and converts it into written notes.
• It does not make decisions or replace clinical judgment; it simply helps record information more efficiently.
• The clinician will always tell families if AI is being used and ask for consent. Not choosing not to use Lyrebird will not affect the quality of care received.

What Happens With the Data

The leaflet emphasises strong data protection and privacy measures:

• No audio is stored — the sound is processed live and immediately discarded.
• A written transcript is stored temporarily for 2–4 weeks, then securely deleted. Only the clinical team and their admin staff can see it.  
• All information is private, never shared or sold, and protected with military‑grade encryption and UK‑GDPR/NHS compliance.

How Lyrebird Might Affect Patients and Families

1. More focused and personal appointments

Research and the trust’s evidence show that AVT tools allow clinicians to spend more time looking at and talking to patients, not at a screen. Families often notice appointments feel less rushed and more personable.

2. Faster letters and clearer care plans

Because the notes are produced in real time, families may receive letters much more quickly—potentially even immediately after the appointment. This helps parents understand the care plan and reduces the need to chase.

3. Improved safety and communication

Delayed letters sometimes mean GPs or shared‑care hospitals receive outdated information about medications or treatment plans. Using AI transcription can help ensure accurate, up‑to‑date information is not delayed.

4. Choice and transparency

Patients and families retain full control:

• They are told in advance if Lyrebird is being used.
• They can opt out at any time without affecting their care.
• Clear written materials and translations are available to support understanding and consent.

The Children’s Hospital hopes that by using Lyrebird, children and families will experience smoother, clearer, and more efficient care, supported by strong privacy safeguards and patient choice.