Family Information and Services Hub
Local Offer

Portsmouth Hospitals NHS Trust

Offering services to:
  • Children 0-5
  • Secondary school aged children
  • Adults 19-25
  • Primary school aged children
  • Young people 16-18

Who to contact

Contact Name
Sarah Balchin – Head of Patient Experience
Telephone
02392 286000 Ext 6428 02392 286000 Ext 6428
E-mail
sarah.balchin@porthosp.nhs.uk
Website
www.porthosp.nhs.uk
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Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Portsmouth-Hospitals-NHS-Trust/1438168263090825

Where to go

Name
Portsmouth Hospitals NHS Trust
Address
Southwick Hill Road
Portsmouth
Postcode

PO3 6AD

View PO3 6AD on a map

Availability

Age Ranges
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Local Offer

What does your service do?
Portsmouth Hospitals NHS Trust is the local District General Hospital (Queen Alexandra Hospital site). We provide hospitals services to adults and children within the hospital and in the community. People can need care as an emergency, an outpatient or for planned treatment such as an operation. Most of the time people come to us after seeing their GP, by ambulance or occasionally they can refer them self to a service. The Paediatric Unit cares for children and young people (C&YP) aged 0-16 who require medical and surgical care. Children can be admitted as an emergency or for planned treatment including operations. Any child or young person referred to us as an emergency will either come to the Children’s Emergency Department (ED) or the Children’s Assessment Unit (CAU). When the child or young person arrives they will be assessed by a nurse on arrival and then a doctor. This is to see what care or treatment is needed and if a hospital stay is required. Young adults, aged 16 and over, would be referred from the Emergency Department or the child’s GP to the adult Medical or Surgical Assessment Unit unless there has been a prior agreement. There are teams of doctors, nurses, and a variety of therapists who make up a multidisciplinary team. These teams work closely with everyone involved in the care of children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities, to make sure they are discharged home as soon as is safe.
Who does your service provide for?
OurAs above. Self-referrals are only seen in the Emergency department. No-one can make a direct referral to the Paediatric Unit unless they hold a ‘Yellow/blue card’ and they have a problem associated with a long term condition. There is no charge for any hospital service. There is no waiting list for CYP for ENT, Max Fax, ophthalmology - squint surgery in ophthalmology is the only area but this would not be for urgent cases.
How can I start using the service?
OurAs above. Self-referrals are only seen in the Emergency department. No-one can make a direct referral to the Paediatric Unit unless they hold a ‘Yellow/blue card’ and they have a problem associated with a long term condition. There is no charge for any hospital service. There is no waiting list for CYP for ENT, Max Fax, ophthalmology - squint surgery in ophthalmology is the only area but this would not be for urgent cases.
Where is it located and what areas does it cover?
Portsmouth Hospitals NHS Trust - Queen Alexandra Hospital, is situated at: Southwick Hill Road Cosham Portsmouth PO6 3LY Details of how to get there can be found on the website. http://www.porthosp.nhs.uk
How are decisions made about who can use your service?
As Above.
How do you communicate with service users and how are they involved in decision making?
The ED and Childrens Unit provide written information leaflets on many conditions and give parents/carers written and verbal discharge advice. For young over 16 years there is a Family and Friends Test and these will be given out in ED, and if admitted they will be provided on the adult wards. From April 2015 this will be done in the Day Unit and in any outpatient setting. Parent and children and young people satisfaction surveys are sent out monthly for feedback from the Children’s Department. The senior team are always available for any parent/carer/young person who may have concerns or wants to share their good experience. In the Children’s Outpatient department young have their own waiting area and in this room is a suggestion box on how we can improve our service. Parents and young people can also access NHS choices to feedback or PALS. A leaflet providing information to parents/carers of how to raise concerns has been produced with parents. The Unit holds twice yearly parent/young people evenings and some of our specialist services hold support groups e.g. Diabetes service and Cystic Fibrosis team.
Is your service fully accessible?
The new building at Queen Alexandra Hospital and other satellite services are fully wheelchair accessible. The Paediatric Unit and ED have a child friendly environment and the space meets the needs of those with a disability. There are disabled changing and toilet facilities, and PHT have several changing rooms, in and outside the departments for children and visitors. In the paediatric outpatient department we have large waiting areas and clinic rooms and all provide wheelchair access and the Children’s Assessment Unit also offers a large waiting area. For any other disabilities i.e. visually impaired these needs can be met by staff, just ask for help if needed. Signage is good within the trust and there is reception just outside the Paediatric Unit. In the main entrance there are volunteers who would help any visitor to find the right department. The Trust has equipment for children and young people with disabilities including ceiling mounted hoists and disabled bathrooms. The Paediatric Unit has a ‘Sensory Room’ The Paediatric Unit can also offer support for on-going school education if they stay in the hospital for over 3 days. If children/young people are going to be admitted for more than a couple of days we liaise closely with parents/carers and may ask that equipment specific to that particular child/young person be brought in from home or with community colleagues who have equipment stores. We work closely with parents of children with autism to ensure that their admission goes as smoothly as possible.
What training are the staff supporting children and young people with SEN and Disabilities had or are having?
PHT staff are educated and trained to care for children and young people with disability or special educational needs, all our nursing staff are Paediatric trained. Specialist training takes place during nurse and medical training and once qualified, we ensure regular updates are provided for all our staff. The multidisciplinary team work closely with parent/carers to ensure we are providing the best possible care and meet the needs of the family. The team will also access help and support from other agencies/partners when required. Those who have epilepsy would have access to a specialist nurse (adult and child).
How will I know my child is safe?
Patient safety is a key priority for Portsmouth Hospitals NHS Trust. All staff working with C&YP including domestic staff/volunteers and will have an enhanced CRB check. The Paediatric and Emergency Department is a secure area with intercom facilities and department entrances to check-in all visitors. We have peer review inspections and our safety compliance is also closely monitored by senior executives, through service Performance reviews. We are subject to both announced and unannounced inspection by the Care Quality Commission.
How are parents involved in the setting/school/college? How can I be involved?
Contact details can be found on [http://www.porthosp.nhs.uk/ the website] as can details of our services.
Offering services to:
  • Children 0-5
  • Secondary school aged children
  • Adults 19-25
  • Primary school aged children
  • Young people 16-18

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Last Updated: 02 August 2017

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