REVIEW OF THE YEAR BY THE CHAIRMAN

Women’ S and Children’ s DivisionChildren’ sAssessment UnitWe were delighted to open a newChildren’s Assessment Area on theChildren’s Ward at Blackpool VictoriaHospital in January 2007. The area hasbeen created for children who needurgent assessment and comprises athree-bedded observation bay, threetreatment cubicles and an open playarea.The unit is staffed by specialistpaediatric nurses and doctors who cancarry out any necessary tests, such asx-rays and blood tests andobservations. As well as providing amore child-friendly environment foryoung patients, the assessment areaaims to reduce any unnecessaryadmissions to hospital.The unit is open from 8.30 am - 9.00pm, Monday to Friday. Children whoneed medical investigations can bereferred directly to the unit by theirGP, via the admitting Senior HouseOfficer, or from the Accident andEmergency Department.Dr Kate Goldberg, ConsultantPaediatrician, said: “Being in hospitalcan be distressing, particularly forchildren and their parents. We wantto make sure that their visit to25