Neptune Children's Ward
Our children's ward cares for around 3,000 children each year, aged from birth to 16 years.
Neptune Children's ward is a
general paediatric ward that treats patients typically from birth
to 16 years. Our highly-skilled and experienced
team aims to provide high quality care in a friendly
environment where the needs and rights of your child come
first.
Our children's ward is designed to
create a friendly, welcoming atmosphere, from the colourful
reception area to the spacious wards. When entering the ward you
will be greeted by a ward clerk who can answer any queries you may
have and direct you to the other areas of the ward as required.
There are 10 side rooms
(prioritised for those requiring isolation) and one six bedded bay
that caters for those children requiring emergency, elective or
high dependency care. Additionally there is a four bedded
nursery with cots. Neptune Ward has a play room, adolescent
room, parent's room, treatment rooms and a designated waiting
room.
The Playroom & Paediatric Assessment Unit (PAU) waiting
room
We understand that waiting for
treatment or as an inpatient can be an anxious time for your child,
so we actively encourage you to make use of the facilities within
our playroom (please note that children using the playroom must be
supervised by an adult to ensure their safety). Equipped with all
sorts of entertainment, from games consoles to Play-Doh; our
playroom is designed to make your child feel at home during their
time on the unit. Activities for children of all ages include
painting, creative model making and collage are set out every day
in the playroom; we also have a role play area which features a
shop, kitchen with play food and doll area.
Our Paediatric Assessment Unit
waiting room is an alternative waiting area if you are here for an
appointment; this area has a large television to watch films, a Wii
console with a selection of games as well as toys for younger
children.
Your child will be visited daily by
a member of the play team (Monday to Friday), if they are mobile we
will encourage a visit to the playroom or we can bring a selection
of activities suitable to your child, including, DVD players with a
choice of films from our collection and activities to the bedside
such as; arts and crafts, board games and handheld game
consoles. You are welcome to take any of the toys,
games, books or DVD's from the shelves outside the playroom to your
child's bedside at any point during the day or night.
For babies we have baby bags, cot
mobiles and age appropriate toys, as well as, bumbo seats,
bouncers, highchairs and walkers.
On Neptune ward we have a mobile
sensory trolley which we are able to move to patients bedsides
creating a calming engaging atmosphere. This experience helps your
child escape from the pressures of being in hospital, using lights,
textures and sounds to stimulate the senses.
The adolescent room is a separate room within the ward especially
for children aged between 12 and 16 years. They can play computer
games; listen to music and play instruments, complete craft
activities.
We have a school teacher who attends the ward regularly during term
time, who can work with children during their stay.
Visiting arrangements
The ward has an open visiting
policy for parents/carers and you are welcome to stay with your
child at all times throughout the day and one parent/carer is
welcome to stay overnight. Visiting times for relatives and
friends is between 07.00 and 20.00 with a protected meal times
between 07:30-08:30, 12:00 13:00 and 17:00-18:00. All
visitors should report to the front desk or nurse's station to
ensure it is a convenient time to visit. All visitors under
the age of 18 years must be accompanied by an adult over 18 years
at all times and is restricted to two people per bed space. The
only exception to this rule is for those children undergoing
day-stay surgery. In this instance only two people may accompany
the child, both of whom must be over 18 years of age and one of
whom must be a parent or legal guardian. Ideally children
under 5 years old should not visit the ward, however please discuss
any extenuating circumstances with the nurse in charge.
No crèche facilities are available
for siblings so we ask that you make childcare arrangements in
advance. We actively encourage you to stay with your child
throughout their stay and have a number of facilities available
within the parents' room to make things a little easier, including
a fridge, microwave and tea and coffee making facilities; please
note that hot drinks are only permitted on the ward if they are
made in a cup with a lid.
If your child is staying on the
ward overnight, a camp bed or a bed chair and linen will be
provided and there are bath and shower facilities available.
Contact us
Neptune children's unit:
01702 385180
Ward
Manager: Claire
Scott