After booking your child in reception, you will be greeted by a nurse who will ask questions and make a short assessment of your child. This is to enable us to estimate how urgently your child needs to be seen. If you are worried about your child’s condition while you are waiting, please let one of the nurses know.
As an Emergency Department we must see severely injured or ill children first, children are not seen in order of arrival. We try to see everyone as quickly as possible, but we do have to share the Emergency doctors with the Adult Emergency Department, so less urgent problems may have a longer waiting time.
When an Emergency Nurse Practitioner is on duty they are able to treat patients with minor injuries; therefore patients within this category may be called before others who need to see a doctor.
Please ask before giving your child anything to eat or drink as in some cases this could delay the treatment.
There are several clinics held in the Children’s Emergency Department, so at times it may appear that children are being seen as soon as they arrive. These children have been given specific appointment times and the doctors try their best to keep those times.
The toilet, with nappy changing facilities, is situated behind the nurses’ station (opposite cubicle 2). If your child needs to go to the toilet, please check with a nurse if a urine sample is required as this could save time when your child needs to see the doctor.
The waiting area/fenced play area is in front of the nurses’ station. This is provided for your comfort and safety and enables children to be observed whilst they are playing.
There is a pay phone in the waiting area to the right of the door. There is a free phone for taxis in the adult waiting area. We ask that mobile phones are only used outside the building – thank you.
Water, squash, infant formula and baby food are available on request for children attending Children’s A&E. There are vending machines inside the A&E entrance doors and WRVS shop opposite the Emergency reception desk. There is also a shop in the main entrance to the hospital, which is open daily from 8 am–8 pm.
We have advice and information leaflets available. When your child is ready to go, you may be given written information about the treatment and condition of your child.
Children’s ED is open from 8 am–10.30 pm. Any children that are in the department at 10.30 pm will be transferred to the care of the Adult Emergency Department.
Some children are seen by their General Practitioners and referred to speciality doctors who see them in the Emergency Department. These children are not seen by Emergency doctors.
All the nurses in Children’s Emergency are qualified sick children’s nurses. Some of the senior nurses are trained in both Adult and Children’s Accident and Emergency nursing, with many years of experience in delivering quality care.
Receptionist: Patterned blouse and navy skirt/trousers
Sister: Navy tunic and trousers
Junior Sister: Royal blue tunic and navy trousers
Staff Nurse: Blue and white striped tunic and navy trousers
HCA: Grey striped tunic and navy trousers
Student Nurse: Pale blue tunic and navy trousers
Doctor: Their own clothes
Porter: Pale blue shirt and navy trousers
EMT: Burgundy polo shirt and navy trousers
ENP: Green polo shirt and navy trousers
You may also see, on occasions, trainees such as paramedics, voluntary workers and medical students who will all have name badges.
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