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East Kent Hospitals University NHS Foundation Trust
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Child health

Images representing child health services across East Kent Hospitals

East Kent Hospitals University NHS Foundation Trust offers a wide range of services for children.
 
We have dedicated children's teams staffed by Paediatricians and qualified children’s nurses at Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother Hospital (QEQM), Margate, and William Harvey Hospital (WHH), Ashford; Padua is the children’s ward at WHH and Rainbow is the ward at QEQM, both wards provide inpatient children's services, for example, when children need to stay in hospital overnight for their treatment as well as day assessment areas. Both hospitals also have a Special Care Baby Unit and hold outpatient clinics for children. William Harvey Hospital also has a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit.
 
At Kent and Canterbury Hospital, Canterbury, there is a unique Children's Assessment Centre, where children have outpatient appointments or day surgery. Unwell children can be referred by a doctor to the centre for observation and assessment. The centre also houses the Mary Sheridan Centre for children with special educational needs, physical disabilities and a range of neuro-developmental conditions including epilepsy and Autism.
 
At Buckland Hospital, Dover, children can attend Carousel Ward for outpatient appointments and treatment.
 
We also provide a range of services in different towns around east Kent for speech and language therapy, occupational therapy, physiotherapy and psychiatry.

Emergency care for children

Children needing emergency treatment can be treated at the Accident and Emergency (A and E) departments at William Harvey Hospital, Ashford, and Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother Hospital, Margate.
 
Children in the Canterbury area with minor injuries (e.g. suspected broken arm) can be treated at the Emergency Care Centre at Kent and Canterbury Hospital.
 
The Kent and Canterbury Hospital can see children requiring emergency care between 9:00am and 4:00pm Monday to Friday. Outside these hours and at weekends children should be taken to A and E departments at William Harvey Hospital, Ashford, or Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother Hospital, Margate.

Facilities

Rainbow Ward

Rainbow ward provides inpatient children’s services and day assessment areas at Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother Hospital in Margate.

  • Find us: Rainbow Ward is located on the St Peters Road side of the Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother Hospital (near Maternity)

  • Phone: 01843 234578

Visiting hours: The ward has no set visiting times and actively encourages parents/cares to participate in their child’s care. We do ask that visitors leave the ward at a reasonable time in the evening to allow for children’s sleep. Due to limited space/child’s safety only one parent/carer can stay overnight with their child.
  

Padua Ward

Padua Ward provides inpatient children’s services and day assessment areas at William Harvey Hospital in Ashford.

  • Find us: Padua Ward is located on the second floor of the William Harvey Hospital in the Blue Zone.

  • Phone: 01233 616296/7

Visiting hours: The ward has no set visiting times and actively encourages parents/cares to participate in their child’s care. We do ask that visitors leave the ward at a reasonable time in the evening to allow for children’s sleep. Due to limited space/child’s safety only one parent/carer can stay overnight with their child.
   

Dolphin Ward

Dolphin Ward is located in the Children’s Assessment Centre on the main drive of Kent and Canterbury Hospital in Canterbury.

  • Phone: 01227 864052. 

  • Opening times: 7:45am – 5:45pm with Doctors in attendance between the hours of 09:00am – 17:00pm.

Children’s Assessment Centre

At Kent and Canterbury Hospital, Canterbury, there is a unique Children's Assessment Centre, where children have outpatient appointments or day surgery. Unwell children can be referred by a doctor to the centre for observation and assessment. The centre also houses the Mary Sheridan Centre for children with special educational needs, physical disabilities and a range of neuro-developmental conditions including Epilepsy and Autism.

  • Phone: 01227 866482

Carousel Ward

Carousel Child Health Department provides paediatric services in Buckland Hospital, Dover.  There is an ambulatory children’s unit which can offer paediatric assessment, investigations and management from 9 to 5.  A comprehensive multidisciplinary team of therapists, clinical psychologists, specialist nurses / keyworkers and paediatricians provides assessment and management services for children with disabilities and complex needs from 0 to 19 years (e.g. cerebral palsy, autism, chromosomal and genetic disorders etc.)

There are strong links to the local CAMHs service (Castleside clinic) and local special schools.

Outpatient clinics are run in the department on a regular basis. 

  • Find us: Carousel Ward is located on the third floor of Buckland Hospital in Dover.

  • Phone: 01304 222557

  • Opening times: It is open from 08:30am – 5:30pm with Doctors in attendance between the hours of 09:00am – 5:00pm

Shepway School and Child Health services based at Seabrook Children’s Centre

A comprehensive multidisciplinary team of therapists, clinical psychologists, specialist nurses / key workers and paediatricians provides assessment and management services for children with disabilities and complex needs from 0 to 19 years (e.g. cerebral palsy, autism, chromosomal and genetic disorders etc.) Outpatient clinics are run in the department on a regular basis. 

Community Clinic’s are currently held at Seabrook Children’s centre, Baker Road Clinic and Folkestone Health Centre.

There are strong links to the local CAMHs service (Cherry Tree House) and local special schools.

  • Phone: 01303 262225

Ashford School and Child Health Service based at Kent House

A comprehensive multidisciplinary team of therapists, clinical psychologists, specialist nurses / keyworkers and paediatricians provides assessment and management services for children with disabilities and complex needs from 0 to 19 years (e.g. cerebral palsy, autism, chromosomal and genetic disorders etc.) Outpatient clinics are run in the department on a regular basis. 

Community Clinic’s are currently held on Padua Ward William Harvey Hospital and at Vicarage lane clinic, a new build in conjunction with Kent County Council Education and Social services is on stream for completion in September 2011.

There are strong links to the local CAMHs service (Lenworth clinic) and local special schools.

Our staff

Child Health has three full time Matrons:

  • Mrs Karen Griffiths
  • Mrs Linda Sanders - Her area of responsibility is for Children’s services at Padua Ward WHH, Dolphin Ward at WHH and Carousel Ward at BHD. She can be contacted on 01233 616298 (office) or 01233 616296/7 (Padua Ward).
  • Mrs Lizzie Worthen, Her area of responsibility is for Children’s services at QEQM which include Rainbow ward, SCBU and Broadstairs suite (children’s out- patient area) She can be contacted on 01843 23 4590 or ext 62828.

Please contact any of the Matrons if you have concerns or would like advice about any Children’s services.

Di Cobb
Lead Nurse & Deputy General Manager
 
Her responsibilities are nursing across all sites for paediatrics, line manager for therapies, audiology and neonatal hearing screening. She is based at Children’s Assessment Centre K&C. Tel: 01227 866486

Our consultants

0-9 | A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z | Show All
NameJob titleSpecialty
Ahmad Bhatti, Dr NoreenConsultant Community Paediatrician and...Community Child Health
Abdel-Magid, Dr El-Hasa Consultant PaediatricianChild Health

Getting to our hospitals

For information of getting to our hospitals by car, public transport or NHS transport, plus details of car parking availability - please see the link below:
 

Find your way around our hospitals
 

Click the links below to view and download maps of our hospitals:

Contact us

Rainbow Ward

Padua Ward

Children’s Assessment Centre

Dolphin Ward

Carousel Ward

Frequently Asked Questions

What should I bring into Hospital with my child?

Hospitals can be a frightening place for children and although the ward staff make every attempt to overcome this it is vital that your child has some familiar objects from home - comforters, toys, own clothes, toiletries etc. If your child wears nappies we ask that you provide these although baby milk and all food will be provided by the hospital for your child.

Remember that if a parent/carer is going to stay with the child you will also need supplies! We do allow the use of mobile phones on the wards although ask that you respect everyone’s privacy by using them respectively.

Does my child need to be referred to Rainbow or Padua or can I just turn up if I am concerned about their health?

No, both wards (Padua and Rainbow) admit children directly from GP’s, Accident and Emergency departments, day assessment areas and other health professionals (i.e. health visitors, midwifes, community nurses). For the safety of your child it is vital that they are seem by the most appropriate person in the correct environment. If you are uncertain about where that may be please telephone the ward for advice and we will attempt to guide you–note that all phone calls for advice are documented.