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Changes to the special care baby unit and children’s and maternity services at the Friarage Hospital FROM the beginning of October, the way we provide children’s and maternity services at the Friarage Hospital will change. From 1 October 2014, there will no longer be an inpatient (overnight) children’s ward at the Northallerton hospital. Instead a short-stay paediatric assessment unit (SSPAU) will operate which will only assess and treat children who have been referred by their GP or who have open access arrangements. Any child who is likely to need an overnight stay in hospital will be treated elsewhere but planned day case surgery for children will continue to be provided at the Friarage. On 6 October, the Friarage maternity centre – a midwifery-led unit – will officially open, where women who have been assessed as low risk can give birth. Mums-to-be who have been assessed as high risk (and need consultant-led obstetric and neonatal services including the special care baby unit) will now deliver at another hospital of their choice such as The James Cook University Hospital in Middlesbrough or Darlington Memorial Hospital. The special care baby unit will also close on Monday 6 October, although the unit stopped taking patients from outside the trust at the end of September. As there will be no children’s doctors or
inpatient facilities in the Friarage overnight, the hospital’s accident and emergency department is no longer the right place to bring children who are unwell, although staff will continue to treat children with minor injuries. As is the case now, if a child is unwell and needs medical attention there are a number of options available such as ringing your GP, NHS 111 (out-of-hours) or getting advice from the local pharmacy. In an emergency, if a child needs urgent and immediate attention ring 999 and call an ambulance. Dr Ruth Roberts, a consultant paediatrician at the Friarage Hospital, said: “Our philosophy in children’s services has, for many years, been to keep children out of hospital where possible.
use our services frequently to explain how this will impact on them.” Head of midwifery and gynaecology Yvonne Regan added: “These changes are being made purely on the grounds of safety and the future long-term sustainability of services – the safety of our women and babies has to be our number one priority. “We’ve discussed the changes with all pregnant women who were planning to give birth at the Friarage and what it will mean for them and we are now discussing all the birth options available to women who are pregnant.” The changes do NOT affect any of the following women and children’s services at the Friarage Hospital: • Outpatient gynaecology
“The main change is that children from Hambleton and Richmondshire who need an overnight stay in hospital will now be treated at another hospital such as James Cook or Darlington, or one closer to their home.
• Inpatient gynaecology for elective surgery
“The rest of our services remain unchanged and through the short-stay paediatric assessment unit, our consultants and nursing teams will provide assessment, care and observation for children and young people who are referred by their GP.
• Community midwifery services
“We’re also working closely with the parents of children with long-term conditions who
• Children’s outpatients • Children’s planned day surgery • Outpatient antenatal clinics • Early pregnancy services • Community paediatric nursing services A dedicated section about the changes has been set up the trust’s website and includes downloadable materials such as posters, factsheets and leaflets. For more information visit www.southtees.nhs.uk/ hospitals/friarage/changes
Summary of key changes • There will be no inpatient (overnight) children’s facilities at the Friarage Hospital but a short-stay paediatric assessment unit (SSPAU) will be open from 10am to 10pm. • The SSPAU will assess and treat children and young people referred by their GP or who have open access arrangements. As there will be no inpatient care, children who are very sick will be referred to the nearest major centre for specialist inpatient care. • Children’s outpatient services, all planned day surgery and community paediatric nursing services at the Friarage remain unchanged.
• The special care baby unit at the Friarage Hospital will close. • Pregnant women who are at low risk of complications will have the option to give birth in a new midwifery-led unit (which is part of the maternity centre) at the Friarage Hospital, supported by specialist midwives. • Pregnant women at higher risk of complications during labour will need to choose an alternative hospital to give birth (such as The James Cook University Hospital or Darlington Memorial Hospital), ensuring they receive the most appropriate care from specialist teams with the most advanced facilities and expertise onsite.
• Antenatal care, such as ultrasound scans and assessments, will still take place at the Friarage, as will postnatal care and support. • All community-based maternity services such as clinics and home visiting will continue, offering care as close to home as possible. • As there will be no children’s doctors or inpatient facilities in the Friarage Hospital overnight, the accident and emergency department at the Friarage is no longer the right place to bring children who are unwell, although it will still treat children with minor injuries.
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