Kingfisher Ward
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Advice for parents/carers on Kingfisher Ward during coronavirus is available here.
Kingfisher Ward is Dorset County Hospital's ward for children and young people aged 0 to 17 years. There are inpatient beds for a variety of specialties including General Medicine, ENT, Orthopaedic and Surgical.
The ward is located on Level 2 East Wing. When you enter the hospital by Entrance 1, take the stairs at the end of the corridor to the left or the lift just inside the door and the ward is opposite the lift.
The Paediatric Assessment Unit (PAU) located on the unit is for managing emergency referrals, ambulating patients, ward reviews and venepuncture. The unit aims to minimise the hospital stay and prevent admission wherever possible.
There is a busy Paediatric Day Surgery Unit located on the unit managing elective surgery for children, which usually operates Monday to Friday. Our day surgery team provide a pre-admission service to assess and prepare children and young people prior to their surgery.
We have a philosophy of family–centred care in which we see each child/young person as an individual as well as being part of a family. We aim to provide high standards of nursing care in partnership with parents/carers. Kingfisher Ward offers a friendly, safe and welcoming environment where young patients can relax and where they are able to trust their nurse.
We recognise that play and education are essential to meet a child's development needs. Our playroom has toys, books and games for all ages as well as a TV and DVD facilities, and our play team are here 7.30am to 6pm Monday to Friday and 9am to 4pm at the weekends.
A teenagers' sitting room with a TV, computer games, books and magazines is available for older children. There is a schoolroom on the ward where the Local Education Authority offers education to all school–aged children who stay in hospital for more than 24 hours, or who have repeated admissions.
In addition the Children's Centre located off Damers Road, also accessible by foot from the main hospital car park, is where multiple clinics are held. These run Monday to Friday 8.30am to 5.30pm. The services within the Children's Centre are evolving to prevent children/ young people needing to return to hospital for tests, with the aim of offering these during clinic appointments.
Visiting hours
We encourage one parent or carer to stay with their child overnight and there are no restrictions on visiting times. There are reclining chairs or folding beds so that you can sleep beside your child. In addition there is a parents room with tea and coffee facilities.