Paediatrics

We are a general children’s unit providing care for children and young people from 0 to 18 years, as well as children with complex health needs up to 19 years.

We care for children and young people with a wide variety of severe and long-term physical health problems and mental health issues. Some of the conditions we treat include respiratory conditions, diabetes, epilepsy and other neurological conditions, cancer, mental health, cystic fibrosis, sepsis, and metabolic conditions.

We also care for children who are admitted for the following surgery: orthopaedic, ophthalmology, ear, nose and throat, maxillofacial, dental, general surgical, urology. and spinal surgery.

Our teams are made up of registered children’s nurses, consultants, and trainee paediatricians (including paediatricians with specialist interests), supported by healthcare assistants, psychologists, play specialists and allied health professionals.

We work collaboratively with our on-site SCBU (Special Care Baby Unit) and adult ITU to provide a shared care service for patients who may require intensive support. We are also supported by the WATCh service who support in reviewing and transferring critically unwell patients to available paediatric intensive care units across the Southwest.

We are also fortunate to work closely with our CAMHS service, we have a dedicated CAMHS liaison service who sit within the ward, this team reviews and supports any CAMHS patients either in the emergency department to avoid admission or once admitted to the ward to help ensure a safe discharge into the community.

Our unit at Musgrove Park Hospital has 31 beds. 11 beds on acorn ward which includes a two bedded high dependency unit (HDU), and 20 beds on Oak Ward.

Our unit at Yeovil Hospital has 24 beds. 16 ward beds, seven cubicles and one rainbow room for our oncology patients.

Yeovil child health services are provided from Yeovil Hospital and include inpatient, outpatient and community services for children and young adults from birth to 18 years of age.

We have bright, family friendly environments across both Yeovil and Musgrove hospital sites, with some accommodation available for parents.  The ward and clinic areas on both sites have been designed to provide both a child and family-friendly environment to improve the patient experience. We have a dedicated parent room on both units to allow parents to have quiet time away from the ward.  There are no children allowed in this room. Facilities are available for parents to make a hot and cold drink, a fridge to store food and a microwave to heat up any food.

The department has a range of activities to help in the education and development of the children. These include, during term time, a school and teaching assistants.

We have a wide range of visiting medical teams who support the care of children as close to home as possible. We have excellent links working collaboratively with local Social Services, public health, and education organisations.

The ward area has benefited from the kind donations of the local community and has a dedicated cancer care suite which has been designed to support the needs of the children undergoing cancer-related treatments.

Specialist children’s nurses are working with the medical teams to provide support to children attending the A&E department through the Children and Young Persons Area.