Wards L31 and L32
Wards L31 and L32 are our inpatient wards. They are located close together on the ground floor (A floor) of Clarendon wing.
The Wards
L31 is the main ward for children. It has a mixture of single rooms and 3 or 4 bedded bays and is for children up to 12 years of age.
L32 is a small ward with single ensuite rooms that looks after children and teenagers and specialises in stem cell transplants.
Across the corridor is the teenage unit – ward L33, which has 4 single ensuite rooms and a 4 bedded bay for teenagers aged 13 to 18 years.
All these wards work closely together; they have the same senior nursing and medical team responsible for treatment and care. Each of our wards has a manager who leads the team, and is responsible for care on the ward. If you have any questions or concerns you would like to raise, please ask to speak to them.
Who can stay on the ward?
Because of the limited space only one person can stay with children at night time. A fold down bed is provided. We encourage a parent or close family member to stay if possible, but we understand that sometimes this is difficult, and that some older children may be fine on their own. Please let staff know if no one will be staying with your child. More information for parents.
Visitors
Visitors are welcome at any time up until 8pm. After this we ask that only parents and close family members remain. If this is difficult please speak to a member of staff. Space is limited so please try not to have too many visitors at once, or too late in the day.
On Ward L32 visiting may be more restricted at certain times during your child’s treatment. The Nurse in charge will give you all the information you need to help you understand why this may be necessary.
Day to Day Life on the Ward
Every day your child will be looked after by one of the nurses, who will introduce themselves to you. Please ask us if you are not sure who it is. There is always a Nurse in Charge on each shift you can speak to if you cannot find your own nurse, or you want to ask specific questions or raise concerns.
Each morning your child will be reviewed by one of the doctors or advanced nurse practitioners (ANP) and their care will be discussed with the Consultant of the week, or with their own Consultant. You can ask the doctors or ANP’s any questions you have about your child’s treatment, or anything that you do not understand.
Meals
We have a ‘Dinner Lady’ who is here to help with meals in hospital. They will meet you when you first come to the ward and find out what sort of things your child likes to eat. They will try their best to find things to tempt their appetite. If you have not met them yet, ask us to introduce you!
If your child has a special diet, please let us know. The ‘Dinner lady’ works closely with our dietitians to make sure that your child’s nutritional needs are met. Menus are given out and collected in the morning and afternoon for every meal; please try and remember to fill these in for or with your child.
We also have a snacks facility, and the “Dinner Lady” will usually be around during the day offering small snacks & light meals.
The meal times are as follows:
- Breakfast: Between 8.00am and 10.00am
- Lunch: Between 12 noon and 12.45pm
- Evening Meal: Between 5.00pm and 5.45pm
Mothers who are breastfeeding are provided with meals on the ward, so please ensure that you inform staff or the dinnerlady so they can offer you a menu.
The Playroom
The playroom is open Monday to Friday from 9.00am until 6.30pm (subject to staff holidays and sickness) and weekend days 9am until 4.30pm. The playroom tries to cater for all ages, with a wide range of toys and games. Planned activities take place every day and there is a great selection of creative activities to choose from.
Children must be always supervised when in the playroom. The play team will supervise patients and their brothers and sisters while taking part in planned activities. At other times, you are responsible for supervising your children when in the playroom, unless you have agreed with the play team that they will do so for a short time.
If other children are visiting you or your child when you are on the ward, they are welcome to use the playroom, but must always be supervised.
Television and entertainment
Each bed has its own television; there are headphones which should be used wherever possible, and always when other children in a bay are trying to sleep.
If parents wish to watch television, there is a TV in the parents’ room. If you are watching TV or a DVD by the bed in the evening, please always use headphones and remember that this is a children’s ward; some adult viewing is unsuitable for children and we ask you not to watch such programmes on the ward.
Bed Times
There is no set bedtime on the ward, but as we have children of different ages, we ask that where possible you try to settle your child by 9pm at the latest. If there are very young children in a bay, this may need to be earlier. It is best to try where possible to keep to a similar routine that you would have at home. As older children may have later bedtimes and younger children earlier, we will try to turn down the lights, and keep down noise levels soon after 9pm. In the bays televisions must be switched off (or used with headphones) by 9pm at the latest. If you want to chat, think about a move to the parents’ room if children in the bay are trying to sleep.
Lights Out – please be considerate towards other children and families. We try to have the main lights off between 9.00pm and 9.30pm. Bedside lights should then be used but try and use the dimmer lights after this time.
Mobile phones
Mobile phones should be used with consideration for those around you. Please make sure that they are switched to silent mode and that if you are making or receiving calls at night you leave the bay to do so, to avoid disturbing others.
Eckersley House
and is a ‘home from home’ provided as additional accommodation for parents who live outside ĢtvƵ. It is close by, across the road from the main Clarendon Wing entrance and could be an alternative to you staying on the ward. Parents and carers of children can stay here and there are some larger rooms which mean that brothers and sisters can stay too. Sometimes there is a waiting list for rooms. This accommodation is for the use of all families with children in hospital at the LGI. It costs around £20 per day to maintain each room and whilst there is no charge for your stay a donation towards the ‘Sick Children’s Trust’ who provide and mange this accommodation is always welcome.
The Cottage (Candlelighters)
Is a home from home accommodation for families with a child as an inpatient being treated for Cancer at ĢtvƵ Children’s Hospital.
Candlelighters say “Some of our families must travel great distances to receive treatment for their child which can mean that one parent is either away from the child with cancer or away from the sibling(s) for extended periods of time. The Cottage is just a short walk away from the children’s ward allowing families to stay together at a time when they need it the most. Since opening the cottage has been in use every single night highlighting the need for this support to our families”.
The Cottage has 4 en-suite bedrooms, a shared living room, kitchen and dining area and garden. Bookings for the cottage is managed through Eckersley House.
Teenage Cancer Trust Unit
The teenage unit provides care for teenagers 13 years to 18 years of age with cancer and its related illness. It’s one of the UK’s Teenage Cancer Trusts Units, providing specialist care and facilities for this age group.
The unit has been sponsored by Teenage Cancer Trust Unit, and it has been designed with the help of patients and their parents and carers; its aim is to provide patient care in a friendly uplifting environment, with other patients of the same age as you, making your hospital stay as enjoyable as possible.
You will be able to recognise the staff by their uniforms:
- Matron (navy with red trim)
- Advanced Nurse Practitioner (navy, turquoise trim)
- Clinical nurse specialist (purple)
- Ward Manager (navy with white trim)
- Sister/Charge nurse (royal blue)
- Staff nurse (light blue)
- Ward clerk (turquoise)
- Ward domestics (grey)
- Doctors (non-uniform)
- Youth Support Coordinator (non-uniform)
… but, all members of staff can be identified by their official name badges.
You will quickly find that there are many professionals on the unit who will be looking after you. Each member of staff has a specific role and many skills. This is called a multidisciplinary team! Here are some of those people:
Doctors – you will have your own named consultant. This person is the expert in treating your disease and will lead your care. There are other grades of doctors that you will see, they are specialist registrars and seniors house officers, these are the doctors who you will see on a day-to-day basis.
ܰ– the majority of the nurses who look after you on the unit have a lot of experience of looking after young people just like you! They are also expert in caring for people with cancer. You will soon get to know the nurses, and you can tell who’s who by the colour of their uniform!
The ward clerk is very important! They answer the phone, organise your appointments, transport, parking, accommodation and make endless cups of tea for anyone who wants one!
The housekeepers…keep us in check and stop us from being too messy. They also help with giving out the meals.
The dietician…is the person who gives us advise about nutrition. You all need the right nutrients to help you get better.
Physiotherapist…is someone who specialises in joints, bones and mobility. They are also experts in problems with ‘breathing’ and can be of huge help in the event of a chest infection.
Pharmacist…expert in the drugs that you will be given. They are a valuable source of advice and help and will help to ensure that you are given the correct drug at the right time.
Youth Support Coordinator…provides you with entertainment, projects, and activities to help your stay a little more bearable while you are on the unit and also provides social support away from the unit.
Learning mentor…helps you to maintain your education while you are having treatment.
Children’s Haematology & Oncology Outreach/TYA clinical nurse specialists….. will come and meet you and will keep in contact with you throughout your treatment, and often beyond. They will come and visit you at home and will be able to help and advice about any aspect of your illness and its treatment. They will also work with your GP, district nurse, community nurse, health visitor and our school, wherever needed, in order to help make your experience the best it can be.
Social worker…will be able to offer advice and support throughout your treatment on the unit, and even when you have completed it.
Outpatient and Day Care Unit
The Children and Teenage Haematology and Oncology Day unit can be found on the third floor (C Floor) of Clarendon Wing. View our page on the Day Care Unit.
Opening hours and contact telephone numbers
The unit is open from 8:00am until 6:00pm Monday – Friday excluding Bank holidays.
Appointment
You will have been given a time to arrive. This is not an appointment time as we book in several children for each hour of clinic to accommodate any tests or investigations they may require before seeing the doctor. This might include x-rays, blood tests, heart tests, eye tests etc.
On Arrival
When you arrive in the department please book in with the receptionist.
If your child is unwell or has a recent history of vomiting, diarrhoea, rash, cough, cold or contact with anyone who has chicken pox or measles it is important that you tell a member of staff as soon as you arrive. It is possible that your child may need to be isolated.
Investigations
Before seeing the doctor, your child will have their height and weight measured and if needed a small blood sample taken from their thumb “thumb prick” or central line.
If your child requires other investigations such as x-rays or ultrasound scans the receptionist will give you the appropriate cards when you arrive and point you in the right direction.
Seeing the Doctor or Nurse
Once the blood count result is ready and any other investigations are completed, the doctor or nurse will see you and your child in the consulting rooms, give him/her a physical examination, discuss management or treatment plans and prescribe any medicines needed. If you have any queries or worries – please do ask the doctors or nurses.
Return appointments
Before leaving, the doctor will give you a prescription sheet if medicines are needed and an appointment slip. Please give this slip to reception. Do ask if there is specific information you wish to know about any investigations before next attending clinic, for example, fasting before an anaesthetic, attending for scans etc.
Pharmacy
If you need any medication, the clinic has its own pharmacists who will give the medications out and explain how they should be taken.
If you have any queries or worries about the medicines, please do not hesitate to ask the pharmacy staff or the nurses.
Supplies
Supplies for dressings, tape, feeding bottles and lines, syringes, needles etc can be obtained from the unit for your child. Please ask the nurses for the items you need. The supply of these items from the unit will be limited, however, any ongoing supplies can be provided by your GP or community nurse.
Day Care
Some children may visit the unit for the day to have chemotherapy treatment by an infusion over a few hours, or may come to have a blood transfusion, platelets or a series of tests or investigations for the day. We have several beds in the department for children to use whilst receiving day care. Each area has TV’s, DVD players, videos, computers and lots of games and toys available to use. If you wish to bring in your own DVD’s etc please do.
For children who are staying all day, a light lunch is provided but you also may bring in your own food if you prefer. You may also want to bring something to eat if you are using hospital transport as there can sometimes be a wait for this.
Facilities
There is a parent’s kitchen where tea, coffee and soft drinks are available next to the playroom. There is also a microwave for your use.
On Wednesday and Thursday mornings no eating or drinking is allowed in the waiting area. This is because several children and young people will be fasting for anaesthetic procedures.
Toilets and baby changing facilities are situated outside the waiting room and on the ground floor entrance to Clarendon wing. If you need baby changing facilities or somewhere quiet to feed your baby, please ask the receptionist or the nurses.
Having a Central Line
A central line is a long thin flexible rubber tube which is inserted into your child’s chest. The end of the central line sits in the large blood vessel near to the heart or in part of the heart. Depending on which central line your child has depends on what the other end of the line looks like. There are two main types of central line which look very different – external and internal lines.
Central lines are usually inserted when a child needs long term access to a vein during their treatment. This might be for:
- Medication
- Special intravenous feeding
- Fluids
- Blood and blood product transfusions
- Blood tests.
Having a central line may mean your child will not need as many needles over the course of their treatment. However not all blood tests can be taken from a central line, so it is important not to promise your child that they will never have another needle. Sometimes finger pricks or taking blood from a vein in the hand or arm is still necessary.
Side effects of Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy means to treat with drugs, and most of the drugs that are used to treat cancer are very powerful.
Chemotherapy is very effective at ‘killing’ cancer cells, which are cells that divide quickly. However, it can’t tell the difference between cancer cells and the ‘normal’ healthy cells that we all have in our bodies. Cancer cells are very similar to normal cells, and some of those normal cells get damaged during treatment.
During treatment we monitor children and young people closely, we watch for any side effects, and we do tests to check whether any damage is taking place. If we find any problems what we do next depends on how serious those problems are. We may change a drug, reduce the dose or sometimes we may decide we have to accept some side effects as the cost of curing the cancer. We will always explain this to you and agree any actions with you.