Paediatric Unit - listening and acting on your feedback

Jim,

As we begin 2019, all the staff in the Paediatric Unit at University Hospital Wishaw send our best wishes to all the children, young people and their families who accessed our services during 2018.

We made some changes and improvements during the year as a result of the feedback you shared with us; some of which are outlined below:

Bedside tables – are old and tired. We have purchased new ones

Recliner Chairs – we trialled a number of bedside fold down beds and recliner chairs in the past with parents who were staying in the Unit overnight. We have looked at the latest recliner chairs and the endowments committee have agreed to fund these, with the hope that these can be replaced early in the New Year.

Quiet Room - We have developed a small room near the entrance of Ward 20 for staff and families to meet. This allows for discrete conversations and provides privacy for families when difficult issues are being discussed. We intend to dedicate the room in memory of a nursing colleague who worked on the ward and in the children’s community nursing team. Fiona Lomas died suddenly a few years ago and is missed by the children and young people she cared for and colleagues alike.

Activities for children - we have been in discussion with a hospital employee who is also a scout leader. We hope to run some Scout themed activity evenings in the ward. These have proved popular at Great Ormond Street and the Royal Hospital for Children.

“Play leaders” support children and young people to pass the time constructively in hospital during the day.

Day case and ambulatory care – is provided in Ward 19. Since the introduction of the National Development Plan for children over the last decade we are seeing more children who previously would have had to attend the Glasgow Hospital. The unit can be very busy but we have made it as welcoming and relaxing as possible with painted wall murals, toys, games and a TV.

The paediatric service is also involved in a number of national quality initiatives including; the Maternity and Children Quality Improvement Collaborative (MCQIC) which is part of the Scottish Patient Safety Programme.

Be prepared - at this time of year there are lots of coughs and sneezes around and parents want to ensure that they care for their child safely. Parents can access practical support from their GP, Pharmacist, NHS 24 and the NHS inform web site in the first instance https://www.nhsinform.scot/self-help-guides

If you have an experience of Paediatric Services Wishaw you would like to share, please speak to a member of staff, respond on Care Opinion, or visit the “Your Feedback” Section of the NHS Lanarkshire website to see the other ways to get in touch www.nhslanarkshire.scot.nhs.uk