Acute Children’s Nursing Services
Acute children’s Nursing Services are provided in Antrim Area Hospital, Causeway Hospital in Coleraine and Mid Ulster Hospital in Magherafelt.
Paediatric Ward, Antrim Area Hospital
The Paediatric Ward at Antrim Area Hospital has 26 beds which incorporate Paediatric Infectious Diseases, Acute Paediatric Medicine, Emergency Paediatric Surgery and Paediatric ENT Surgery. The ward ethos promotes family centred care and works closely with the CCN service providing an integrated children’s nursing service.
Neonatal Unit, Antrim Area Hospital
The Neonatal Unit has 16 cots:
- Four intensive care
- Two high dependency
- 10 special care
The Neonatal Unit is also part of the Regional Neonatal Network. Within the Unit there are advanced neonatal nurse practitioners, enhanced neonatal nurse practitioners and a team of highly skilled neonatal nurses. The Unit promotes family centred care and provides a high standard of care through latest research and technology. Education and development is a key priority.
Paediatric Ward, Causeway Hospital
The Paediatric Ward at Causeway Hospital incorporates a children’s inpatient ward and outpatient facility. The ward has thirteen beds and can accommodate acute medical and surgical inpatients. There are medical, surgical and specialist paediatric outpatient clinics, which include cardiac, neurology, diabetes and allergy clinics, held in a designated area of the Paediatric Ward. Family centred care is practiced and there is close working with the Community Children’s Nursing (CCN) service providing an integrated children’s nursing service. The CCN team is based within the Paediatric Ward in Causeway Hospital.
Children’s Unit – Mid Ulster Hospital
There is a 10 bed Children’s Day Unit at Mid Ulster Hospital which includes a Paediatric Ambulatory Medical Assessment Unit, ENT, day surgery, general paediatric, allergy, diabetic and dietetic clinics.
Referrals to the Ambulatory Unit are taken from GPs, Emergency Departments, Community Children’s Nurses, Midwives, Health Visitors and other hospitals. Several children with complex needs have direct consultation to the Unit.
The Unit is staffed with an Associate Specialist in Paediatrics, Monday – Friday, 9 am – 5 pm and a Consultant Paediatrician is available during clinic sessions.
The Unit also has a dedicated nursing team who have an ongoing programme of training and education. Several have gained recognised qualifications in various childhood diseases.
