With a commitment to continuous improvement, lean working practices and innovation, our ultimate vision is to advance the health and wellbeing of all children.
We look after all children who either come into the hospital in an emergency or those children and young people who have longer term health problems.
The service includes the emergency assessment and short stay (PEAPOD) in the Emergency Care Centre, a children’s day unit based on ward 20 and children’s outpatients. Some children need to stay in the hospital for a short length of time for further observation. Parents are encouraged to stay with them.
As we are a training unit our team includes doctors in training and also nursing and medical students. Critically ill children can be treated immediately at the QE Gateshead but sometimes it may be necessary to transfer children to the GNCH (Great North Children’s Hospital) in Newcastle. There is a specialist retrieval team to transfer children to the children’s intensive care unit there if necessary.
We have a nursery nurse who works on the unit. She will provide play activities and distraction for your child during their stay and when undergoing investigations and procedures. We have play areas both within the PEAPOD, on The Children’s Outpatients and Day Unit which are well equipped and cater for all ages.
We work closely with the local community and value their opinions and suggestions. The local Youth Council have been involved in a number of projects including a competition to help with the design of the theme for the PEAPOD.
The service we received this evening was fantastic