• Reference Number: HEY1078/2022
• Departments: Day Surgery (DSU), Paediatrics
• Last Updated: 31 October 2022

Introduction

This advice sheet has been produced to give information and advice to parents of children having had a procedure for release of tongue tie. It is not meant to replace discussion between you and your child’s doctor. If after reading it, you require further explanation please discuss this with the relevant person who has been caring for your child.

Your child’s consultant is _________________________

Surgery performed by ____________________________

Should you need any further help or advice, please telephone:

Paediatric Day Surgery Unit, CHH – tel: 01482 624780 – Monday to Wednesday 08:00 to 18:00

Acorn Ward, Women and Children’s Hospital HRI – tel: 01482 382703 or tel: 01482 382679

Follow-up

There is usually no follow up required after this procedure.

Eating & Drinking

Your child can eat their normal diet.

School / Nursery

Your child will need to be off school or nursery for one to two days, it is important the school / nursery staff understand which foods your child can and cannot have (see after the surgery advice below).

After the Surgery

• Your child may spit out a little blood stained saliva, please do not be alarmed as this is not unusual.
• It is important for your child to drink plenty of water or juice after eating to clear food from the mouth. Drinks of milk should be followed by a drink of water.
• If your child uses a ‘dummy’ or drinks from a bottle they can continue to use them.
• Your child should continue with their usual teeth brushing routine as dental hygiene is very important in the healing process

Pain relief

There may be a certain amount of discomfort after the procedure. This should settle within a couple of days and resolve completely within a couple of weeks. We recommend that for the first 24 to 48 hrs you have a supply of paracetamol syrup and / or Ibuprofen available.  (Ibuprofen may not be suitable for asthmatics)

Information about your child

We collect and use your child’s information to provide your child with care and treatment. As part of your child’s care, your child’s information will be shared between members of the healthcare team, some of whom you may not meet. Your child’s information may also be used to help train staff, to check the quality of our care, to manage and plan the health service and to help with research.  Wherever possible we use anonymous data.

We may pass on relevant information to other health or social organisations that provide your child with care. All information is treated as strictly confidential and is not given to anyone who does not need it. If you have any concerns please ask your doctor, or the person caring for your child.

Under the General Data Protection Regulation and the Data Protection Act 2018 we are responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of any information we hold about your child. For further information visit the following page: Confidential Information about You. www.hey.nhs.uk/privacy/data-protection

If you or your child’s carer needs information about your child’s health and well-being and about your child’s care and treatment in a different format, such as large print, braille or audio, due to disability, impairment or sensory loss, please advise a member of staff and this can be arranged.

General Advice and Consent

Most of your questions should have been answered by this leaflet, but remember that this is only a starting point for discussion with the healthcare team.

Consent to treatment

Before any doctor, nurse or therapist examines or treats your child, they must seek your consent or permission. In order to make a decision, you need to have information from health professionals about the treatment or investigation which is being offered to your child. You should always ask them more questions if you do not understand or if you want more information.

The information you receive should be about your child’s condition, the alternatives available for your child, and whether it carries risks as well as the benefits. What is important is that your consent is genuine or valid. That means:

• you must be able to give your consent
• you must be given enough information to enable you to make a decision
• you must be acting under your own free will and not under the strong influence of another person

Information about your child

We collect and use your child’s information to provide your child with care and treatment. As part of your child’s care, information about your child will be shared between members of a healthcare team, some of whom you may not meet. Your child’s information may also be used to help train staff, to check the quality of our care, to manage and plan the health service, and to help with research. Wherever possible we use anonymous data.

We may pass on relevant information to other health organisations that provide your child with care. All information is treated as strictly confidential and is not given to anyone who does not need it. If you have any concerns please ask your child’s doctor, or the person caring for your child.

Under the General Data Protection Regulation and the Data Protection Act 2018 we are responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of any information we hold about your child. For further information visit the following page: Confidential Information about You.

If you need information about your child’s (or a child you care for) health and wellbeing and their care and treatment in a different format, such as large print, braille or audio, due to disability, impairment or sensory loss, please advise a member of staff and this can be arranged.