1) Opening 4th October 2010

Suffolk Hospital NHS Trust has embarked on a long term project to ensure sustainable and excellent care for children in the future.

We want the community to be heavily involved in this work from the earliest possible stage, and will engage fully with local children, parents, family carers, doctors and nurses to make sure their views are taken into account as we develop these plans.

We need to improve the patient experience by meeting the distinct needs of the child and their family and to improve access to care for all children with provision of care as close to home as possible.

"Towards the best together" is the East of England NHS Vision for the next decade and is based on the outcome of eight clinically lead groups. One of these groups examined children's health and a key proposal from the best clinical evidence available was the development of Children's Assessment Units ( CAU ).

Emergency attendance for children has increased by 18% in the last 10 years. The overall length of stay for paediatric hospital admissions has fallen with more than 80% of children now staying less than 24 hours. It is well recognised that children can benefit from a short period of observation to distinguish serious disorders from minor illness.

CAUs offer a "short stay" paediatric facility where observation and investigations can occur in a child-focused environment. It has been recognised that there is an opportunity to develop a CAU next to the Rainbow Paediatric ward to provide 24 hour urgent assessment , observation, diagnostics and treatment for those children who do not need an inpatient episode of care. The CAU will improve the quality and efficiency of the service provided for all children 0-16 years presenting as an emergency to the Trust.

We are all excited about the prospect of this project. The CAU will be located next to the Rainbow Paediatric Ward, directly above the Children's Outpatient clinic. The facilities include a new waiting area, playroom, nurse and doctors assessment room and space for 10 children to be observed and treated before a decision is made for discharge or admission to the beds on the Rainbow Ward. Children who require more sub-specialty care will continue to be transferred to larger centres such as Addenbrooke's Hospital in Cambridge.

There will be an open day with displays in the foyer area of Rainbow Ward on 16 and 17 August 2010

   

2 Under 18 - The New Young Person's Specialist Substance Misuse Service in Suffolk

From 1^st October 2010, Under18 (Suffolk) will provide a range of substance misuse interventions to young people under 18 years across Suffolk including assessments, one to one work, psychosocial interventions, clinical assessments and prescribing. Young people have helped us to develop this service by telling us what they want, contributing to the development of publicity and also by taking part in interviews for key posts including the Service Manager.

Please click on the Matthew Project link to find out how to be referred or call:

Under 18 Office ( for Professionals ): 01473 230299

Under 18 Helpline ( for Young People ): 0808 800 003

Under18 Young People’s Workers will be based at:

• 4YP in Ipswich
• Opportunity House in Lowestoft
• Caxton House in Bury St Edmunds