Please find a further update just received on Friday 19th July at 5.00 pm from Bedford Hospital
about the situation with regard to changes to Paediatric Services.
A&E FOR CHILDREN WITH MINOR INJURIES WILL
REMAIN OPEN
BEDFORD Hospital’s A&E department WILL continue to treat children for minor injuries that
cannot be dealt with by a GP after changes to other paediatric services come into force on 1
August 2013.
This will mean children can be seen and treated for minor injuries such as stitching a wound
or taking an x-ray.
The decision to keep A&E open for children who need treatment for minor injuries was made
as part of ongoing discussions around keeping safe services for patients on the hospital site,
with the situation under continuous review.
Bedford Hospital’s A&E department will now continue to provide a service for children with
minor injuries, who can be treated and discharged.
Any child who is brought to A&E and needs observation or admission to hospital, will be
stabilized (if necessary) and transferred by ambulance to Milton Keynes Hospital (or another
neighbouring hospital). Children will be assessed and treated by emergency medicine
consultants with the support of specialist paediatric nurses.
Ambulances will not bring sick children to Bedford Hospital’s A&E department (from 21 July),
but will instead take children directly to the next nearest hospital with a full paediatric service.
Bedford Hospital will have no short stay assessment or inpatient facility for children from 1
August 2013.
The hospital will continue to provide children’s outpatients services, a day unit facility and
nurse-led care for children with chronic or long-term conditions.
Around 50 children attend Bedford’s A&E department every day, with approximately five
needing to be admitted to hospital for further care.
Riverbank Ward admits around two patients each week for planned overnight care. Around
290 children use the open access system at Riverbank Ward for ongoing care. These
families are being contacted directly by the hospital to explain what changes to services
mean for them.
Acting Chief Executive, Stephen Conroy, said: “We are listening to local people and doing as
much as we possibly can to minimize the impact changes to children’s services will have on
families in Bedford while ensuring the safety of patients.
“We have today (Friday, 19 July) agreed with Bedfordshire Clinical Commissioning Group,
the NHS Trust Development Authority and NHS England, that we will continue to provide a
service for children with minor injuries in A&E after 1 August.
“This means children can be seen and treated for minor injuries that cannot be dealt with by
a GP - for example, stitching a wound or taking an x-ray.
“Children who need observation or admission to hospital will still be transferred to Milton
Keynes Hospital or another neighbouring hospital (after 1 August) as Bedford will not have a
children’s assessment unit or inpatient ward.
“The advice to parents is still to dial 999 if their child needs emergency care, and to use GP
surgeries or out of hours GP services for routine health care and as a first port of call for
minor injuries and illnesses.
“I am pleased we are now able to keep A&E open for children who need treatment for minor
injuries, although clearly the changes to children’s services at the hospital from 1 August
remain significant. We continue to work with health partners to find a sustainable solution for
delivering all paediatric services safely.
“We will continue to listen to and involve local people in what is happening, and will be doing
as much as possible to inform families about changes to children’s services at the hospital.”
For information about how changes to services may affect your child’s care call 01234
730500.
Notes to Editors
Minor illness or injuries
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Pharmacy
GP surgery
Walk-in centre (Putnoe)
A&E walk-in for minor injuries
Emergency care
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Dial 999 for an ambulance
Children brought to Bedford Hospital A&E who need observation or
admission will be stablised and transferred to a neighbouring hospital with a
full paediatric service
Planned and ongoing/ continuing care
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Parents with open access to Riverbank Ward will receive a letter with a
detailed care plan for their child
Parents with children who need specialist nurse-led care will continue to be
able to access that care at Bedford Hospital
Children who need ‘day case’ surgery or medical procedures will continue to
receive that care at Bedford Hospital
Children who need planned operations or medical procedures with an
overnight stay (as an inpatient) will receive that planned care at another
hospital
Outpatient appointments for children continue to run as normal at Bedford
Hospital