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A VIGIL will be held outside Stafford's County Hospital on Friday as paediatric services make the move to Stoke.
Support Stafford Hospital campaigners are asking children and families to gather on the hospital field from 6pm on Friday May 15 to mark the loss of the children's ward from the hospital.
"It is a sad day for Stafford and this is our opportunity to applaud the nurses and other staff who have cared so well for our children," said campaigner Cheryl Porter, from Brocton.
"Unfortunately staff who have served this community devotedly for a very long time are now being moved and displaced, but this is our opportunity to say thank you to them."
Mrs Porter said the group would continue to campaign for a full range of hospital services to be returned to Stafford.
"We will continue to scrutinise what is happening and keep up the pressure on the CCG and hospital bosses, and on our politicians," she said.
"Support Stafford Hospital is a cross-party group and we will carry on being a voice for everyone who wants a thriving hospital in the county town."
But the University Hospitals of North Midlands Trust say the move, which takes effect on Monday, will see a new Children's Emergency Centre opening at County Hospital - providing urgent medical care from a team specialising in both emergency medicine and child health.The centre has a separate entrance from adult patients and is open between 8am and 10pm.
Meanwhile, rapid access clinics will provide next-day appointments with specialist children's doctors. This means when families visit their GP with an unwell baby, child or teenager, the GP can refer them to see a specialist quickly and locally. The appointment-only clinics will run seven days a week at County Hospital - between 2pm and 6pm (Monday-Friday) and between 3pm and 6pm (Saturdays and Sundays).
Kim Woolliscroft, paediatric clinical manager and nurse, said: "I would like to recognise all the fantastic work done by our staff at County children's unit. They will continue to deliver great care across both sites.
"Our new services will all provide a modern, up-to-date environment for the children of Stafford and surrounds. We are all looking forward to working closely with the emergency department to provide the best care as near to home as possible."
Meanwhile, a brand new 28-bed ward will be available at Cheetham's Children's Centre at Royal Stoke University Hospital.
From Monday May 18 young patients requiring an overnight stay be cared for at either Cheetham's Children Centre at the Royal Stoke University Hospital or the Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust, depending on which site is nearer to their home.
The trust says this is in line with national good practice, this means their inpatient care will be provided by clinical teams who see larger numbers of children with similar conditions and can share that expertise. Based in the main building of the new £370m Royal Stoke University Hospital, the centre has play areas, classrooms and facilities for parents to stay overnight close to their child.
Children's outpatient services will continue at County Hospital with consultant-led clinics for general paediatrics and specialist conditions, as well as expanded and improved services in gastroenterology, diabetes, cardiology, respiratory, allergy and neonatology and a new outpatient cardiology service.
The Hospital@Home service which sees children cared for in their own homes wherever possible rather than being admitted to hospital is also being expanded.
Janet Hagan, Matron for Child Services at University Hospitals of North Midlands NHS Trust, said: "These changes will make sure children see a specialist consultant quickly and locally for diagnosis and immediate care. For those with conditions requiring overnight stays, we're ensuring they are in the best place possible to benefit from a wider clinical team who care for large numbers of patients with similar conditions on a daily basis and can share that expertise. This is in line with national good practice."
"One of the major benefits of the new arrangements is for children in Stafford in the surrounding area diagnosed with cancer who currently have to travel to Birmingham for care and treatment.
"In future, children will go to Birmingham for their diagnosis but they will be able to receive treatment in Stoke, ensuring they are closer to home and to their families during a time that can be frightening and when they are at their most vulnerable."
Read more: http://www.staffordshirenewsletter....tory-26494754-detail/story.html#ixzz3a2Ularu4
Follow us: @StaffsNews on Twitter | StaffordshireNewsletter on Facebook
Support Stafford Hospital campaigners are asking children and families to gather on the hospital field from 6pm on Friday May 15 to mark the loss of the children's ward from the hospital.
"It is a sad day for Stafford and this is our opportunity to applaud the nurses and other staff who have cared so well for our children," said campaigner Cheryl Porter, from Brocton.
"Unfortunately staff who have served this community devotedly for a very long time are now being moved and displaced, but this is our opportunity to say thank you to them."
Mrs Porter said the group would continue to campaign for a full range of hospital services to be returned to Stafford.
"We will continue to scrutinise what is happening and keep up the pressure on the CCG and hospital bosses, and on our politicians," she said.
"Support Stafford Hospital is a cross-party group and we will carry on being a voice for everyone who wants a thriving hospital in the county town."
But the University Hospitals of North Midlands Trust say the move, which takes effect on Monday, will see a new Children's Emergency Centre opening at County Hospital - providing urgent medical care from a team specialising in both emergency medicine and child health.The centre has a separate entrance from adult patients and is open between 8am and 10pm.
Meanwhile, rapid access clinics will provide next-day appointments with specialist children's doctors. This means when families visit their GP with an unwell baby, child or teenager, the GP can refer them to see a specialist quickly and locally. The appointment-only clinics will run seven days a week at County Hospital - between 2pm and 6pm (Monday-Friday) and between 3pm and 6pm (Saturdays and Sundays).
Kim Woolliscroft, paediatric clinical manager and nurse, said: "I would like to recognise all the fantastic work done by our staff at County children's unit. They will continue to deliver great care across both sites.
"Our new services will all provide a modern, up-to-date environment for the children of Stafford and surrounds. We are all looking forward to working closely with the emergency department to provide the best care as near to home as possible."
Meanwhile, a brand new 28-bed ward will be available at Cheetham's Children's Centre at Royal Stoke University Hospital.
From Monday May 18 young patients requiring an overnight stay be cared for at either Cheetham's Children Centre at the Royal Stoke University Hospital or the Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust, depending on which site is nearer to their home.
The trust says this is in line with national good practice, this means their inpatient care will be provided by clinical teams who see larger numbers of children with similar conditions and can share that expertise. Based in the main building of the new £370m Royal Stoke University Hospital, the centre has play areas, classrooms and facilities for parents to stay overnight close to their child.
Children's outpatient services will continue at County Hospital with consultant-led clinics for general paediatrics and specialist conditions, as well as expanded and improved services in gastroenterology, diabetes, cardiology, respiratory, allergy and neonatology and a new outpatient cardiology service.
The Hospital@Home service which sees children cared for in their own homes wherever possible rather than being admitted to hospital is also being expanded.
Janet Hagan, Matron for Child Services at University Hospitals of North Midlands NHS Trust, said: "These changes will make sure children see a specialist consultant quickly and locally for diagnosis and immediate care. For those with conditions requiring overnight stays, we're ensuring they are in the best place possible to benefit from a wider clinical team who care for large numbers of patients with similar conditions on a daily basis and can share that expertise. This is in line with national good practice."
"One of the major benefits of the new arrangements is for children in Stafford in the surrounding area diagnosed with cancer who currently have to travel to Birmingham for care and treatment.
"In future, children will go to Birmingham for their diagnosis but they will be able to receive treatment in Stoke, ensuring they are closer to home and to their families during a time that can be frightening and when they are at their most vulnerable."
Read more: http://www.staffordshirenewsletter....tory-26494754-detail/story.html#ixzz3a2Ularu4
Follow us: @StaffsNews on Twitter | StaffordshireNewsletter on Facebook
