Parents/Guardians have no restrictions with regard to visiting their child however a maximum of two other visitors per patient are allowed on the ward. Visitors should be over 18 years or accompanied by someone who is. Visiting restrictions may apply in some circumstances, nursing staff will advise you if these are in place. If restrictions are in place they are there in the best interest of the child or parent, for confidentiality reasons we may not be able to explain the exact purpose of these restrictions so we ask for your support and understanding
Important Information
- If your child has had recent contact with or had any infectious diseases such as chickenpox, measles or the mumps, or has diarrhoea and vomiting please contact the ward.
- Due to the limited space, it is requested that only Parents/Guardians and the child bring their child in for admission.
Puffin Ward - 5A fifth floor
We are currently in temporary accommodation in 5A-Puffin on the 5th Floor whilst our ward is being renovated on the ground floor. We care for children from 18 months – 16 years, with a diverse range of medical and surgical conditions. Medical conditions include respiratory, neurology, endocrine, immunology/allergy, dermatology, infectious diseases and more. Surgical conditions include general surgery, orthopaedic, neurosurgery, plastic surgery, urology, dental and more. Our patients are a mixture of elective and emergency admissions with patients admitted from the Emergency Department, Outpatient Department, Paediatric Assessment Unit and from their GP.
The ward is a mix of 6, 4 and 2 bedded rooms, with 5 single rooms. Our facilities are a little limited in our temporary home but do include a playroom facilitated by a play specialist and a schoolroom managed by a principal and a teacher. Unfortunately, we don’t have a Parents Room on Puffin Ward at the moment, it is something that we are striving to replace due to the renovation work but there is a Parents Room on 1C that we can guide parents to. There is free Wi-Fi that can be accessed via a guest password – just ask a staff member.
Ladybird Ward - 1C first floor
Ladybird Ward accepts admissions of infants and babies up to 2 years of age. Along with Seahorse Ward (Childrens Day Unit) and the Paediatric Assessment Unit (PAU), Ladybird Ward is temporarily located on Ward 1C.
Ladybird Ward has 13 single rooms, and 2 six-bedded rooms. Each single room consists of a cot, a reclining chair, a wardrobe, changing mat, a locker, a baby bath and a bed table. It is fitted with oxygen and suction points, and electrical points. Each room has an en-suite shower & toilet. Parents are welcome to use the shower, if you need a towel, we are happy to assist. We do not provide toiletries.
The six cot rooms are also spacious. Each cot space contains a wardrobe, locker, reclining chair, changing mat, overhead oxygen and suction points. Each room also contains an ensuite room with facilities as above. We can supply a bath if you would like to bathe your baby.
For further information on Ladybird Ward please click here.
Seahorse OPD and Day Ward & - 1C first floor via the hospital main entrance
Seahorse OPD/Day Ward is on the first floor via the hospital main entrance.
The Paediatric OPD: The OPD operates from Monday to Friday . 8.30am to 5pm, it consists of 11 consultation rooms with general Paediatric outpatients, cardiology, respiratory, cystic fibrosis, endocrine, neurology, allergy, developmental Paediatrics, urology and dermatology. The cystic fibrosis outpatients consists of 4 consultation rooms and is based within the seahorse OPD. The Paediatric nurse specialists attached to these services are also based in the seahorse department. Allied health, speech and language, occupational therapy, dietician and physiotherapy provide consults within the outpatient facility.
The Day ward: It's a day-case ward, where patients following procedures do not need to stay overnight. Seahorse day ward is a 10 bed Paediatric ward caring for children from infant to 16 years of age. The ward admits both medical and surgical day cases. Specialties include minor surgery (general, plastic, Orthopaedic’s, Urology and Dental).Children requiring sedation for various radiological and investigative procedures are admitted to Seahorse day ward.
Paediatric Assessment Unit
The Paediatric Assessment Unit is situated in Seahorse Ward – 1C.
It is a 6 bedded non acute GP referral unit which operates from 11.30-19.30 hours. Your GP can refer your child to the unit and they are assessed and treated by Paediatric doctors and nurses. They may be allowed home after treatment or they may have to be admitted to hospital if they require further treatment or surgery. If they require admission to hospital they will then be transferred to either Ladybird (under 18months old) or Puffin ward.
Emergency Department
You might have to visit our Emergency Department if you have had an accident or are very sick and you need urgent treatment. It can be a busy noise place but you will be in the special children’s/young people area where there are toys/books and a television to watch while you are waiting.
The nurse will call you and your parent in to the examination room to find out what the problem is – You can ask any questions you may have. You might have to have some tests and x-rays and they may want to examine the part of your body that isn't working as it should be. The doctor will come and speak to you and your parent to tell what is causing you to feel sick/in pain and what they will do to try and help you get better. If you don’t understand what the doctor is saying you can ask any questions you may have. This may mean that you can go home, or you might have to be admitted to hospital.
