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Anyone who has watched a young child being taken into an operating theatre will know just how distressing that moment can be, for the child and for the parent standing helplessly outside. A hospital in Cartagena is changing that experience in a way that is both simple and significant.

 

Santa Lucía University General Hospital has launched a new initiative allowing one parent or legal guardian to accompany their child into the operating room right up until the point of anaesthetic induction. Once the child is asleep, the accompanying parent leaves the surgical area with a member of staff. It is a small change in procedure, but the difference it makes is considerable.

 

Clinical studies back up what most parents would intuitively feel. The presence of a familiar face during this critical moment has been shown to reduce anxiety in the child, lower the need for preoperative sedation, speed up recovery afterwards and give families a greater sense of reassurance throughout the process. In 2025, 518 children underwent surgery at Santa Lucía, making the potential reach of this scheme meaningful from day one.

 

The process is carefully managed to ensure safety is never compromised. Parents who wish to accompany their child must first go through a medical assessment to confirm the scheme is appropriate for their particular case. They then receive detailed information, sign an informed consent form and a confidentiality agreement, and are given basic safety instructions before entering the surgical area. Standard protective clothing, including a gown, cap and disposable shoe covers, is provided by the hospital, and hands must be sanitised with disinfectant before entering the operating room.

 

Participation is always subject to the approval of the medical team responsible for the surgery and anaesthesia, ensuring that clinical judgement remains central to every decision.

 

For families facing the anxiety of a child's operation, the knowledge that they do not have to say goodbye at the door is likely to make a real and lasting difference. It is the kind of quietly thoughtful initiative that reminds you what patient-centred care can look like when it is done well.

 

 

Image: Lemniscate L/Pexels