Children’s observation unit to remain closed

The Children’s Observation and Assessment Unit at Fairfield General Hospital is to remain temporarily closed until the end of February 2013 when the situation will be reviewed.

The children’s unit, which normally operates between 9am and 11pm, has been closed to inpatients since mid December 2012 due to the necessary transfer of a number of the hospital’s children’s nurses to assist in the two children’s units at North Manchester General Hospital and The Royal Oldham Hospital.

Importantly, a paediatric doctor continues to be based within Fairfield General’s A&E department and is available to treat sick children during the hours the assessment unit would normally operate.

The low numbers of children who have attended Fairfield General Hospital and have subsequently needed to be admitted for further care and treatment have been cared for at North Manchester General Hospital, or The Royal Oldham Hospitals, which are fully staffed 24/7.

Local GPs continue to refer sick children directly to North Manchester General Hospital in Crumpsall if appropriate.

Cathy Trinick, interim divisional director of Women & Children’s Services at The Pennine Acute Hospitals NHS Trust which runs Fairfield General Hospital, said: “In common with many hospitals we have been experiencing high numbers of sick children attending our Paediatric Units over the winter period, especially over the last few weeks. This has meant that more children have needed to be admitted to a bed than we would normally expect. To accommodate this increase in admissions, last month we opened 11 additional children’s beds at our hospitals at The Royal Oldham Hospital and North Manchester General Hospital to help ensure that we can provide care for local children by specialist staff. Of course these extra beds are in place to accommodate Bury children who will benefit from the specialist care in place at our hospitals.

“Due to the continuing winter pressures facing the paediatric service, it has been decided that the current arrangements will remain in place until the end of February. As patient safety is of paramount importance, this decision is supported by the NHS Bury Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) who we are working closely with.”

The public are reminded that A&E departments are for those people who are extremely unwell and need urgent medical attention.

Minor illnesses such as colds and flu are fairly self-limiting; get plenty of rest, drink plenty of fluids and take painkillers such as paracetamol or ibuprofen. As colds and flu are caused by viruses, antibiotics will not help get rid of them.

Those patients with minor injuries and ailments are encouraged to seek help from their local pharmacist or GP, attend a walk-in centre or contact NHS Direct on 0845 46 47 or online at www.nhs.uk.

A series of short animated films are available on YouTube at ‘Choosewell Manchester’ covering everything from sprains and strains, how to take your child’s temperature, to what you should have in your medicine cabinet. The Choose Well Manchester website can be found at www.manchester.nhs.uk/choosewell and you can find the animations on YouTube at http://www.youtube.com/user/ChooseWellManchester