It is one of only two units in the UK to carry out heart and lung transplants on children.
We are the only centre in the country to provide all cardiac care from conception, through birth, childhood and on to adulthood.
Most of our patients come from the north of England, but children are referred to us from all parts of the UK and Ireland for treatments such as:
- Heart and lung transplants
- Bridge to transplant and recovery programme
- ECMO life support
- Cardiac surgery
- Critical care (PICU)
- Anaesthesia
- Cardiology
- Heart rhythm treatment (for problems with the rhythm of the heart beat).
- Respiratory disease
Our adult congenital heart service also provides services for adults who were born with a heart defect.
Highly specialised services
- Mechanical support – The mechanical circulatory support service makes use of mechanical devices to do the heart’s job in seriously ill patients.
- Congenital heart disease – The unit cares for children waiting for congenital heart surgery and we treat children who are in the most at-risk group, who may also need mechanical support following surgery.
Play facilities
Play facilities include a dedicated playroom and outdoor play area with modern indoor and outdoor play equipment.
The play facility has special zones for all ages, including:
- messy areas
- ‘tech zones’ with video games and widescreen 3D TVs
- play kitchen
- arts and craft area
- a mini outdoor “city” with a railway station and painted train tracks and roads.
Facilities also include a sensory room with special lighting, sounds and equipment.
Fundraising
The play facilities were developed thanks to funding from the Seb4Chuf charity. You can find out more and donate at the Seb4Chuf website
Contact us
For more information on the children’s heart unit, please contact:
Telephone: 0191 244 8479
Parents’ group
The parents group for the children’s heart unit provides a forum for parents to share their views about the unit, and for the unit’s matron to provide information about what is happening on the unit.
You can follow the Facebook page here.
