Development of a paediatric short-stay observation and assessment unit
Intended for healthcare professionals
Evidence and practice    

Development of a paediatric short-stay observation and assessment unit

Tracey Jones Lecturer in nursing, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, England
Helen Russell-Fisher Lead nurse, Paediatric short-stay observation and assessment unit, Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust, England

In recent years children’s emergency admissions have risen by 18%. In 2011 a team at a city district general hospital in England recognised that children were being admitted to the general children’s ward and often only staying for short periods of time. After a review of the service a plan was put forward for the development of a paediatric short-stay observation and assessment unit. The unit has led to a reduction in ward admissions and offered opportunities for children’s nurses to extend their roles in assessment and treatment. This article explores the planning, delivery and audit of this unit and offers an exemplar for other trusts considering a similar change to service delivery.

Nursing Children and Young People. doi: 10.7748/ncyp.2018.e1025

Citation

Jones T, Russell-Fisher H (2018) Development of a paediatric short-stay observation and assessment unit. Nursing Children and Young People. doi: 10.7748/ncyp.2018.e1025

Peer review

This article has been subject to open peer review and has been checked for plagiarism using automated software

Correspondence

tracey.m.jones@manchester.ac.uk

Conflict of interest

None declared

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to acknowledge the contribution of data by Dr Clare Wilkins and the paediatric team who have been integral to the success of the service development

Published online: 08 May 2018

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