South East’s first stand-alone children’s A&E opens at Royal Alexandra Children’s Hospital in Brighton & Hove
Children in Brighton & Hove who need emergency hospital treatment now have their own dedicated A&E within the Royal Alexandra Children’s Hospital, the first stand-alone children’s emergency department in the South East. The unit will be officially opened on 31 January by Rosie and Alfie Jones, young patients at the Alex.
Previously, children have been treated within the adult A&E at the Royal Sussex County Hospital. Thanks to support from children’s charity Rockinghorse and local business Gingerman Restaurant Group, the new child-friendly A&E at The Royal Alex will bring huge benefits to young patients and their families. Both the County and The Royal Alex are run by Brighton and Sussex University Hospitals (BSUH).
BSUH Chief Executive Duncan Selbie said: “Each day around 50 children come into our A&E. 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.”
Young patients in the new A&E are assessed and cared for within 15 minutes of arrival by a paediatric nurse. With a six-bedded observation unit adjacent to the new A&E and comfortable waiting and play areas, the Alex is fully equipped to treat emergency conditions and provide a fast response to injuries or illnesses that are not appropriate for care by a GP. The new department’s 39 highly-trained staff includes six consultants, one nurse consultant and ten paediatric nurses.
Brighton-based Rockinghorse Children’s Charity and Sussex restaurant chain Gingerman Restaurant Group have been active in supporting the opening of the new A&E. A donation of £18,250 by Gingerman allowed the charity to provide a 3D pain distraction unit, suitable child seating in the main waiting areas, a separate area for young people, and new staff uniforms. Restaurant co-owner Pamela McKellar said: “We are delighted to have made the commitment to support Rockinghorse and the Alex. The new children’s A&E will be of huge benefit to so many children.”
From its high quality paediatric medical and nursing care to the iconic, child-centred design and facilities of its building, the Alex is dedicated to providing the very best specialist treatment in a comfortable, welcoming, safe and secure environment. From the beginning of January, its new paediatric A&E now sees children and young people in need of emergency care 24 hours a day, seven days a week. It is a significant move for the Alex, which continues to strengthen its position as a leading UK specialist healthcare centre for children.