Before you start
ANZCA’s position statement on informed consent (PS26(A)) sets out what you are entitled to:
- information about the material risks of the proposed anaesthetic
- the chance to discuss its nature, its risks and the alternatives, and to have questions answered honestly and accurately
- a discussion of any financial implications as part of consent
- a qualified interpreter, rather than a family member, wherever one is needed.
It also says written information “can help understanding but [is] not a substitute for any discussion” with the person giving consent. Use this page to prepare for that conversation, not to replace it.
Ask the hospital or the surgeon’s rooms whether the anaesthetist can phone you, or see your child at a pre-admission visit, before the day. If not, you will meet them on the morning.
Going to sleep
- Will my child go to sleep breathing gas through a mask, or with a drip? Can they choose?
- Can I, or another adult, stay until my child is asleep?
- Will numbing cream be used? When should it go on?
- Would a calming medicine beforehand help my child? What are its effects?
- My child is frightened of one particular thing. Can the plan avoid it?
My child’s health
- My child has had a cough or cold recently. Does that change anything? Who do I call if they get sick before the day?
- My child snores loudly or stops breathing in their sleep. Does that change the plan or the length of stay?
- Which of my child’s usual medicines should they take on the morning?
- My child, or someone in our family, has had a problem with an anaesthetic before. What does that mean for this one?
Eating and drinking
- What are the exact clock times for the last food, milk and clear drinks?
- Can my child keep sipping water until they are called?
- What should I do if the list runs late? Can they have another drink?
Risks
healthdirect says risk rates come from studies of large groups, and that the anaesthetist can tell you whether your child’s risk is higher or lower than usual.
- What are the most common side effects for a child having this procedure?
- Are there any less common but serious risks that apply to my child?
- Is there anything about my child that makes the anaesthetic more complicated?
- What can we do at home beforehand to make things go more smoothly?
After the procedure
- How long will my child be in recovery, and when will I be called?
- Is pain relief part of the anaesthetic plan, such as a nerve block or local anaesthetic? How long will it last?
- What pain relief should I give at home, how often, and for how long?
- Will my child go home today? If they stay overnight, can a parent stay too?
- What should I watch for at home, and who do I call, day or night?
ANZCA’s guideline on anaesthesia for children (PG29(A)) says arrangements should be in place for at least one parent or carer to stay with a child who is admitted overnight.
Costs
ANZCA’s consent statement says financial implications should be discussed as part of consent. The anaesthetist’s fee may be separate from the surgeon’s and the hospital’s, so ask:
- Will I receive a written estimate of the anaesthetist’s fee before the day?
- What will Medicare and our health fund cover, and what will we pay ourselves?
The Australian Government’s Medical Costs Finder shows typical costs for many procedures and specialists. It is a guide only, not a quote.
If your child is a teenager
Encourage your teenager to ask their own questions, and to ask for a few minutes with the anaesthetist on their own if they want. ANZCA’s consent statement says a young person who understands the nature, purpose and possible consequences of a treatment may be able to consent to it themselves, depending on the treatment and the law.
In another language
Ask the hospital to book a professional interpreter for the conversation. The Australian Society of Anaesthetists publishes its pamphlet on anaesthesia for children in English, Arabic, Simplified Chinese, Punjabi and Vietnamese, though some of its fasting times are older than ANZCA’s latest guideline.
Sources
- ANZCA. PS26(A) Position statement on informed consent for anaesthesia or sedation (sections 5.2, 5.3, 8.2). April 2021.
- ANZCA. Anaesthesia and children (patient information). Page modified 26 Oct 2026.
- healthdirect Australia. General anaesthetic (child). Last reviewed Jan 2026.
- ANZCA. PG29(A) Guideline for the provision of anaesthesia care to children (sections 9.1.1, 9.4.3, 10.1.4, 10.1.6, 10.1.8). November 2020; links reviewed March 2025.
- Australian Government Department of Health, Disability and Ageing. Medical Costs Finder. Accessed 2 Nov 2026.
- Australian Society of Anaesthetists. Anaesthesia for children (pamphlets in English, Arabic, Chinese, Punjabi and Vietnamese). Pamphlet last reviewed 12 Mar 2024; page modified 22 May 2026.
- Written by
- Altitude Creative, health content team, on behalf of Dr Walid Aly
- Clinical reviewer
- In progress
- Review date
- Clinical review in progress
- Next review due
- Set at clinical review
How this guide is written, sourced, reviewed and corrected: editorial policy.
In an emergency, call 000. This information is general and does not replace advice from your treating practitioner. Your child's anaesthetist, surgeon, dentist or hospital knows your child, and their instructions come first.