New A&E unit opens for children in Brighton (From The Argus)
Get involved: Send your news, views, pictures and video by texting SUPIC to 80360 or email us.
New A&E unit opens for children in Brighton
11:40am Wednesday 1st February 2012 in News
Comedian Steve Coogan helped open an accident and emergency department for children.
The new unit at the Royal Alexandra Children’s Hospital in Brighton is the first stand-alone paediatric emergency department in the region.
Coogan was joined by young patients Rosie and Alfie Jones for the official ceremony yesterday (January 31).
Previously children have been treated within the adult A&E at Royal Sussex County Hospital.
Duncan Selbie, chief executive of Brighton and Sussex University Hospitals NHS Trust, which runs both hospitals, said: “Having listened to parent stories about bringing their children to the adult department and the impossibility of protecting them from the sights and sounds of a busy adult A&E, which are definitely more than PG-rated, we decided to transfer our young patients to a more appropriate paediatric setting.”
Patients in the new A&E are assessed within 15 minutes of arrival by a paediatric nurse. There is a six-bed observation unit next door and a waiting and play area.
Brighton-based Rockinghorse children’s charity and Sussex restaurant chain the Gingerman Restaurant Group have been active in supporting the opening of the new A&E.
The charity has used more than £18,000 donated by Gingerman to provide equipment, furnishing and new staff uniforms.
Comments(3)
righton
says...
2:06pm Wed 1 Feb 12
Thumper Hove
says...
1:10pm Thu 2 Feb 12
righton wrote:But was your child successfully treated?? Surely having to wait but getting the right care is more important than you being 'inconvenienced'??
it has not made any difference to waiting time 5 hrs my son and i had to wait.
leobrighton says...
12:58pm Wed 1 Feb 12