Download mother`s and children`s directorate

Paediatrics
Children’s Services;
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Willow Ward
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Paediatric Assessment Unit
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Walnut Ward
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Community Children’s Nursing Team
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Children’s Resource Centre
Willow Ward
Willow Ward is the inpatient paediatric ward at Darent Valley Hospital. The ward has
22 beds and admits children from the age of 0-16yrs; occasionally up to 18years of
age.
Children are admitted to Willow ward with a wide range of medical, surgical and
orthopaedic complaints.
Children are admitted from the accident and emergency department; direct from
home (via the Community Children’s Nursing Team); via outpatients or via GP
referral.
Willow Ward is staffed by a team of children’s nurses who are supported by health
care assistants; a team of play specialists, an outreach hospital teacher and clerical
staff.
The ward has a wide range of facilities to care for children of all ages including
adolescent facilities and the ball pool, children’s garden, play room and a computer
den.
The ward also has a wide range of facilities for parents to stay by the bedside with
their child during their stay in the hospital and separate facilities for parents to enable
them to have some time out. These include a sitting room and kitchen.
Continuing professional development is actively encouraged on Willow ward with
members of staff currently undertaking diplomas, degrees and mentor development
courses.
Paediatric Assessment Unit
In autumn 2009 the Paediatric Assessment Unit was opened. This is attached to
Willow Ward. The unit consists of 4 beds and 1 cubicle and will have its own waiting
area and assessment room.
The unit is dual function with nurse led services provided by experienced paediatric
nurses and nursing assistants, supported by middle and junior grade doctors to
facilitate both ward attendances and rapid transfer of children requiring further
assessment or paediatric observation from A&E, the UCC and primary care settings.
It also operates a GP referral system whereby children can come directly to the unit
for Paediatric review.
The unit is currently open 7 days per week from 0830 - 2100.
Children referred to the unit for further assessment or observations are assessed by
a senior Paediatrician and Paediatric Nurse in the clinical assessment room. A
clinical decision is then made to observe and/or treat for a maximum of 4 hours in
PAU or to discharge. If assessment and/or treatment is deemed to require a longer
period of admission, the child is transferred to an in-patient bed on Willow for ongoing management.
Walnut Ward
Walnut ward has 24 cots of which 14 are open. It is a level 1 neonatal unit which
cares for newborn babies who are either born pre term, or require an enhanced level
of medical and nursing care following birth. The ward has 11 special care cots and 3
high dependency cots.
Babies are cared for by a team of midwives, nurses, children’s nurses, nursery
nurses and neonatal support workers, along with the medical team.
There are parent’s facilities on the ward which enable parents to room in with their
babies prior to taking them home.
We admit preterm babies; sick term babies and referrals from tertiary units of babies
who have required long term intensive care.
Continuing professional development is encouraged with members of staff currently
undertaking mentor development and neonatal intensive care courses.
Staff on the unit are also committed to exploring extended roles including neonatal IV
cannulation together with formulation of policies and guidelines.
The Children’s Resource Centre
The children’s resource centre is unique in that it merges paediatric community
services and acute outpatients to form a combined child health service for children.
Within the Centre, we aim to offer high standards of service to families with
acceptance and support without discrimination.
Our philosophy is an all
encompassing framework of support for parents, carers and children while providing
easy access to information. This philosophy incorporates families, professionals,
volunteers and community groups.
Any family with children from any background or culture, with any problem of
additional need can access information and support in finding those who can.
The centre includes acute and community services
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Six acute Paediatric Consultants and medical secretaries
Team of Community Paediatricians and medical secretaries
A Sister, two Health Care Assistants, Receptionist and Volunteers for activity
sessions in Outpatients
Children’s Community Nursing Team
Children’s Physiotherapists
Children’s Occupational Therapists
Speech and Language Therapists for preschool children
Specialist nursery for children with additional needs
Portage (Home visiting educational services)
Dieticians clinic
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Specialist clinics for visiting consultants e.g. surgery, cardiac, Respiratory,
endocrine, epilepsy, genetics and neurology
Joint clinics with dieticians, Nurses, Therapists and Consultants, such as
diabetes, cystic fibrosis and dysphagia/feeding clinics
Joint developmental assessment clinics
Hearing tests
Nurse Led Clinics
Support groups and information services
Special Needs advisor
The children’s outpatient teams see approximately 100 children per week and
support the community team who see approximately 360 children from 0-16yrs of
age.
Community Children’s Nursing Team
The CCNT are based in the Children’s Resource Centre. The team of children’s
nurses offer a five day community service to children, and adolescents, who have
recently been discharged from Willow Ward or Walnut, or if they require nursing care,
support or education at home.
The team look after more than 360 children annually. The team have a caseload of
over 120 diabetic children who are cared for largely at home. Regular diabetic clinics
are held in conjunction with the paediatric consultants and dieticians, along with
nurse led annual review clinics.
The CCNT are also involved in other joint clinics in the children’s resource centre
including, asthma, constipation and allergy clinics.
Continuing professional development is encouraged, with the team currently
undertaking degree and diploma studies.