new.gif){kind=small}
The Child Health Service aims to provide a high standard of service which recognises the special needs of families and children. The department supports the principals of the Regional Health Authorities Strategy for Child Health “Growing Up in the South West” (May 1990), which incorporates the Charter of the National Association for the Welfare of Children in Hospital.
The in-patient facilities for child health are at Wonford Hospital and consist of: the Neonatal Unit, Maternity Services and the Paediatric Unit for babies and older children. Wonford is the main hospital and includes the Emergency Department and intensive care unit. There are 14 Consultant Paediatricians.
In the Paediatric Unit there are 43 beds. There is an adolescent bay (6 beds) and a busy day-case unit. There is a 4 bedded High Dependency Unit.
Out-patients are seen at Wonford Hospital. Paediatric surgical emergency and elective in-patients are cared for on Bramble Ward.
Children sometimes need to be cared for on the main Intensive Care Unit (staffed/equipped for 7 patients, including 1 paediatric cubicle).
Each consultant has a special interest and takes lead responsibility in one or more aspects of the service, e.g. neonatology, childhood disability, oncology, child abuse, endocrinology, respiratory disease, gastroenterology, cardiology, nephrology, cystic fibrosis, diabetes, and juvenile arthritis.
The department provides a specialist referral service for children with suspected child abuse. It also contributes to the work of a multi-agency team which supports the victims of child abuse and those caring for them (JACAT). Paediatricians Paediatricians Paediatricians Paediatricians Paediatricians Paediatricians
Centre for Women's Health