Childrens hospital service
Since May 2007, the management of Acute Paediatric Services has been transferred from Newham PCT to Newham University Hospital Trust. This transition has been beneficial to our teams and patients in many ways as we now provide fully integrated and highly responsive hospital-based services to meet the health needs of children and their families.
Patient care is provided by a multi-professional team of paediatricians, general and registered children’s nurses, play specialists as well as a dedicated paediatric pharmacist.
Emergency service
In 2008, Emergency care provided for children at Newham University Hospital NHS Trust was rated ‘excellent’ in a report published by the Healthcare Commission.
The Trust was one of only four Trusts awarded this rating for A&E services in London and is amongst the top 25% overall for children’s services nationally.
Inpatient services
Children aged up to 16 years are cared for in Rainbow Ward. There is accommodation for parents to stay overnight with their child during hospitalisation which is strongly advocated by our team.
Rainbow ward is a purpose-built paediatric ward with two six bedded bays and nine cubicles as well as a fully staffed playroom and schoolroom.
Ambulatory care
We have a dedicated six bedded observation area for children requiring brief overnight admission. In addition, we have an adjacent day case area, where children come for day case surgery, medical treatment or investigations. Various other treatments are also given such as neonates assessment and observation for prolonged jaundice, follow up after ward admissions or an A&E attendance.
Additionally, we offer a phlebotomy service for very young children (under 2 years old) in the ambulatory unit. However, this requires prior arrangement and you will need to call us on 020 7363 8914 to book an appointment. Children 2 years and older can be seen in the Health Central Department and those over 4 years old can be seen in the Appleby Centre, West Ham Lane or Shrewsbury clinics for their blood tests.
Outpatient clinics
Children are seen in a designated paediatric area including play facilities. We provide over six general paediatrics clinics weekly. We also provide a wide-range of specialist clinics which include: Neonatal Follow up, Haematology & Oncology, Diabetes & Endocrine, Asthma, Epilepsy, Neurology, Thoracic and Cardiology.
In addition, Children’s Tuberculosis (TB) and HIV clinics run alongside adult services in the Shrewsbury Road clinic and Greenway centre respectively.
Neonatal services
Our neonatal unit is a Level 2 Unit which provides intensive care for babies born at 27 weeks gestation and above who require varying levels of support. We have up to 4 intensive/high dependency care cots equipped for long-term ventilation and 16 special care cots and 2 transitional care beds. With recent extension work in progress, we will have 30 beds including 2-3 transitional beds, expected to be completed in approximately 18 months time.
Dr Vimala Gopinathan and Dr Imdad Ali provide specialist consultant supervision and we now have a full SHO and middle grade rota to cover the unit 24 hrs a day. We also work closely the Royal London Hospital as part of a neonatal network.
We provide a consultant led antenatal counselling services to pregnant mothers whose unborn baby have congenital or other medical problems. Babies with possible congenital heart problem will get echocardiography by a consultant Neonatologist before discharge, in order to ascertain diagnosis and timely management.
All premature babies(less than 32 weeks gestation at birth) have their eyes tested to rule out retinopathy of prematurity, by a consultant ophthalmologist. We also provide newborn hearing screening before discharge. We have 7 days a week cover of neonatal hearing testing specialist.
GP hotline
We offer a dedicated GP hotline service. If a GP wishes to discuss a clinical problem with a Consultant Paediatrician, seek advice on management, or to arrange for the child to be seen rapidly, the details are as follows:
All calls are dealt with by a Consultant Paediatrician on a weekly rotational basis between the hours of 9.30am-12.00am every weekday on 020 7363 8018
This can often avoid unnecessary A&E attendances and admissions. Children who are acutely or severely ill should be always be referred directly via the Paediatric Registrar.
Contact numbers
- GP hotline: 020 7363 8018
- Ambulatory Unit: 020 7363 8913
- Rainbow ward: 020 7363 8119 / 8912
Consultant paediatricians:
- Dr Vimala Gopinathan - Special interests in Neonates and Asthma - 020 7363 8082
- Dr Satheesh Mathew - Special interests in Ambulatory care and Epilepsy - 020 7363 3274
- Dr Imdad Ali - Special interests in Neonates and Neonatal Cardiology - 020 7363 8792
- Dr Susan Liebeschuetz - Special interests in Infectious Disease and Child Protection - 020 7363 8462
- Dr Nimze Gadong - Special interests in Haematology and Oncology - 020 7363 8003
- Dr Abdul Moodambail - Special interests in Diabetes and Endocrinology -020 7363 8462
Other contacts:
- Children’s Services Business Manager : Lorraine Mattis – 020 7055 5702
- Children’s Services Matron : Julie Quintin - 020 7363 8970