Children's Assessment Unit (CAU)

Child health team

Karen Fernley - Senior Matron for Child Health

David Hannington - Child Health Manager

Mark Tighe - Clinical Director for Child Health

Jo Milton - Sister for children’s assessment unit and children’s emergency department

Patient Journey

• We are a children’s assessment unit, where children can be referred by GPs, midwives or the emergency department.
• An initial assessment will be made by the nurses.
• Children will then have an initial doctors clinical examination.
• There will be a period of observation following any treatment.
• Then the children will then have a review by a senior medical doctor before being discharged home or admitted to an inpatient ward.
• Please be aware the doctors based on CAU are paediatric medical doctors and if you have been referred by surgical, ENT, orthopaedic or max fax teams, your doctors will be coming from other departments to see your child.

Staff

• A variety of staff work on the wards on a daily basis. See our photos boards in the corridor.
• Nursing and medical students can also be found on the wards helping you care for you/your child.

Play team

We are lucky to have a team of play specialists based across the children’s unit. They will come and introduce themselves to you whilst you are admitted. We have a play room full of games and activities for you to enjoy located in B1.

School room

We have our own school room here at the hospital based on A1. All school aged children will be encouraged to attend with medical staff agreement.

Food and drink

• Breakfast is provided from the ward kitchens. Please feel free to ask your nurse to help you, or look in the kitchen and help yourself to cereal or toast for your child if they are allowed to eat.
• Parents/carers are welcome to help themselves to drinks (hot/cold) and breakfast in return for a donation placed in the black box on the wall.
• The kitchen has a fridge which we can store your own food in for you/your child but make sure it is labelled. Freezer facilities are available on neighbouring wards.
• Menus for lunch and supper are provided for patients and breast feeding mothers of babies less than 6 months of age. Please make us aware of any allergies/intolerances or cultural preferences.

Visiting times

• Parents/named carers are welcome on the ward at all times but we do request that only one parent/carer is resident overnight on the ward.
• Children/siblings may only visit the ward in exceptional circumstances.
• If you would like any other visitors during your stay, please discuss this with the nurse looking after you.

Facilities

Costa Coffee - Costa Coffee is located in the main hospital entrance. Open Monday - Friday 7am - 8pm, Saturday and Sunday 9am - 6pm

WHSmith - WHSmith is located also in the main entrance offering a range of drinks, snacks, toiletries and magazines. M&S Food can also be purchased here. Open 7am - 8pm daily. Weekend times may vary.

Dolphin Restaurant - Dolphin Restaurant on the lower ground floor is the hospitals main restaurant serving a large selection of food and drinks. Open 7am - 7:30pm except between 12pm - 1:30pm which is for staff only.

Observations

• Many different types of observations may be needed to care for you/your child effectively.
• They are likely to be needed both day and night and sometimes very frequently so bedside lights may be required to be left on low overnight, and/or doors/curtains left open so we can do these checks effectively.

Infection control

• If you or your child is infectious, please remain in your cubicle and follow the infection control guidelines.
• Parents to ensure strict hand hygiene measures are followed when entering/leaving cubicle.
• If you or your child develops any symptoms of diarrhoea or vomiting throughout the admission, please inform the nurse caring for you immediately.

Parking

Parking is available at the hospital car park. If you are in overnight with your child or for an extended stay, please speak to your nurse who will be able to provide you with a discounted car parking form to take to the car park office on exit.

Feedback

We truly value your feedback.

Please click here to complete our Friends and Family feedback form.

If you have any compliments/concern/complaints please speak to a senior member of the nursing team.

Click here to take you to the patient advice and liaison service for UHD hospitals.

For useful information please click here which will take you to the recommended healthier together website.