Ward 3

Ward 3 is the Children’s Haematopoeitic Stem Cell Transplant Unit, based in the Great North Children’s Hospital.

The ward is divided into a day unit, and an in-patient service:

The day unit is where patients are cared for before transplant, and supported during their recovery following discharge
The in-patient service is where patients are cared for during transplant and recovery

Nationally designated service

This unit is one of two nationally-designated services which perform transplants for immune deficiencies and autoimmune disorders. We also treat haematological malignancies (cancers that affect blood, bone marrow and lymph nodes) and bone marrow failure.

We have 10 specialised rooms designed to protect patients from infection. The unit offers complex care for patients aged between infancy and adulthood.

Play team

Our play team work seven days a week, between 7.15am -7.45pm. This ensures that the children and young people in our care have access to essential play and recreation opportunities.

The team work with children and families before, during and after treatment, so you will meet them on the ward and the day unit. The team devise structured play plans for each individual child or young person. The identify how families, staff and the play team can support the specific needs of the child/young person.

They will negotiate the time of the sessions with to fit into their daily routine and care needs.

During these sessions parents are welcome to stay with their child. Then once the child is more comfortable on the unit, parents and carers will often use the session to get some time-out of the cubicle.

Play facilities

The play team has a supply of toys, equipment and activities. They will provide a selection in the room on admission day and throughout the stay.

The ward also has;

iPads
Wii consoles and games
Nintendo DS and PSP consoles games
board games
Sky TV
DVDs

Toys to bring from home

We would encourage you to bring toys and activities from home. These items will be permitted in the cubicle once they have been cleaned. This will complement the supply on the unit and having familiar things will help your cubicle to feel more comfortable. You can also bring your own electrical equipment.

We’d advise that you bring items which the unit will not have in large supply, such as books and jigsaw puzzles, anything which cannot be cleaned for use between children.

Fabric toys must be boil washed, which may damage them so favourite and precious toys may be safer at home. If your child does have a fabric toy as a comforter then consider purchasing more than one, so your child will not miss their toy while it is being laundered.

Storage in the cubicle is limited and items need to be cleaned each day. So we would advise that you bring a small amount to the unit, and maybe keep other items at the parent’s accommodation. This means that you can rotate activities, helping to maintain your child’s interest and stimulation.

Things to avoid

There are some items which should be avoided while your child is a patient in ward 3, as they are a potential source of infection. Items to avoid are –

Old or dirty toys
Toys with fabric attached, that cannot be removed to go in the washing machine. Consider cot mobiles, tactile fabric included in board books, plastic baby and toddler toys with fabric attached, soft bodied baby dolls, and talking/dancing soft toys with internal mechanisms which cannot be removed.
Toys filled with water or that trap water inside, such as baby teething toys, squirting bath toys, as you must be able to wash and dry all of the surfaces of a toy.
Clay
Sand
Unpainted or unvarnished wood.
Plaster of Paris activities.

The staff on the unit help to encourage a regular bed time for your child and support parents to use bed time activities to allow the child to prepare for bed to help them achieve restful sleep.

Charity

The Bubble Foundation UK supports the work of ward 3 at the Great North Children’s Hospital find out more here.

Ward visiting times

Please contact the ward manager to arrange visiting

Location of ward

Ward 3 is based on level 4 of the Great North Children’s Hospital in the New Victoria Wing at the RVI.