In the cleft service your care continues to be provided by the same members of staff, the only difference is if you have to come into hospital for surgery or other treatment. Sometimes you can go home on the day of surgery and sometimes an overnight stay is necessary. If you are a teenager under 18 years old you may stay on Apollo 35 in the Bristol Royal Hospital for Children, which is a ward designed specifically for young people. If you have to come into hospital and are 18 years old or older you will stay in the Bristol Royal Infirmary, which is next to the children's hospital. As part of our recovery from the covid-19 pandemic, the same cleft surgeons are undertaking some surgery at Derriford Hospital in Plymouth. Adult surgery is mostly provided at the Bristol Royal Infirmary, but we are also doing some NHS operating at private hospitals in the region

The main differences between the hospitals are the visiting times and facilities. You can find out more information on the hospital website here. Although usually family and friends can't stay overnight on wards in the adult hospital, staff know that it can be a bit of a daunting experience and so do ask if you feel that it would be helpful to have someone stay. You can talk about this with the cleft team or someone on the ward when you are admitted. A visit to wards can also be arranged by the cleft team if this would help you prepare for your inpatient stay.  

You will see the surgeon or one of the team on the day of surgery and after the surgery. You will also see the anaesthetist who is responsible for putting you to sleep. Very often one of our cleft dental nurses will come and talk to you about how to keep your mouth as clean as possible after surgery by using the contents of the dental pack they will give you. Sometimes you will come and see the cleft orthodontist in the Bristol Dental hospital before you go home.