Inpatient paediatric infectious diseases service
Our infectious diseases service looks after children admitted to the hospital with severe infections.
Together with the microbiologists and virologists, we also advise other regional teams looking after children with serious infections such as bone and joint infections, brain abscess, sepsis, neonatal/perinatal infections and tropical infections..
We advise on:
- diagnostic tests
- which antibiotics to use – either by cannula or oral medicine – and for how long.
With this advice we aim to get the best results with as few side-effects as possible.
Outpatient paediatric infectious diseases service
We provide outpatient clinics where we follow-up patients after admission, or see children with recurrent infections.
We also have a children’s new entrant clinic, and specialist clinics for children with tuberculosis, congenital infections, HIV and other blood-borne viruses (see table below).
Clinics
- Monday morning and afternoon – TB/BCG (weekly)
- Monday afternoon – Paediatric infectious diseases (once a month)
- Tuesday morning – Paediatric immunology and infectious diseases (weekly) Congenital infection (once every fortnight)
- Thursday morning – TB (weekly)
Research
The paediatric infectious diseases department at GNCH is actively involved in research aimed at improving the care of children with infections. Current research for children with infections focuses on improving:
- diagnostics for children with infection/inflammation, including with a special interest in high-risk patients
- diagnosis and care for children with congenital infections
- treatment of infections
- inequality in healthcare with a focus on febrile illness in children
- care of children and families with ‘high-consequence infectious diseases’ and during outbreaks
Patients and their families may be asked to consent to participate in research studies whilst under our care. This might involve sharing clinical data with collaborators around the world or giving extra blood or tissue samples for further tests. Sometimes we ask for permission to store samples for use in future projects.
Research studies are always explained to patients and families in full and written information provided before consent is sought. Participation in research is completely optional and whether or not patients participate does not impact clinical care in any way.
Training
Our department, working closely with Newcastle University, frequently hosts regional, national and international courses, meetings and conferences.
We deliver educational sessions for various medical and nursing professionals and students. We also offer training opportunities such as observerships for up to 3 months, and fellowships in paediatric infectious diseases, subject to availability. GNCH is a centre for national subspecialty clinical training in the fields of paediatric infectious diseases and immunology, and many other paediatric subspecialties.
We can also accommodate overseas self-funded clinical fellows who wish to improve their knowledge and experience in paediatric infectious diseases, immunology and haematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT).
Useful websites for patients and families
- https://www.healthiertogether.nhs.uk/
- https://www.medicinesforchildren.org.uk/
- Green Book UK Immunisations
- https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/the-complete-routine-immunisation-schedule
- Oxford vaccine knowledge http://vk.ovg.ox.ac.uk/
- Paediatric Infectious Diseases Fund (https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/gnchpidfund)
Contact for patients and parents/carer
Only available in hours (8.30am-4.30pm) on weekdays
Contact for professionals
If you are a medical professional who wants to make a referral, please write to the department using this address:
Paediatric Infectious Diseases Queen Victoria Road Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 4LP
Medical professional who wants urgent medical advice (including out-of-hours advice) please contact the GNCH switchboard and ask for the on-call paediatric infectious diseases consultant.
