Welcome to the Children and Young People’s Emergency Department

We recognise that attending hospital can be a stressful time, so we hope it will be helpful to understand how the department works. This leaflet aims to provide information explaining your journey.

What is the Children and Young People’s Emergency Department (CYPED)?

CYPED is a 24 hour, 7-day a week service providing same day assessment and emergency care; on average, we see 20 – 30 children and young people per day under the age of 16 years old.

Within the department, you may see children’s nurses, paediatric nurse practitioners, healthcare assistants and paediatric and emergency doctors. Staff are trained and experienced in treatment of all kinds of paediatric emergencies and nursing care including; resuscitation, minor injuries and various medical conditions.

How does CYPED work?

We are currently operating two separate services from the Children and Young People’s Emergency Department:

• Paediatric Assessment Unit
• Paediatric Emergency Department

Paediatric Assessment Unit (PAU)

If your child is seen in the Paediatric Assessment Unit, they will have been referred here for further assessment by a medical professional such as a general practitioner or nurse practitioner or a community midwife or nurse.

On admission to the unit, a member of the nursing team who will carry out an assessment will see your child. They will be asking about the reason for attending checking personal details and then taking observations and giving pain relief or any other medication needed. Your child will then be reviewed by a nurse practitioner or a member of the paediatric medical team.

Paediatric Emergency Department (PED)

The Paediatric Emergency Department is a walk in service for parents/carers to bring their child if they feel they need assessment for an accident or emergency. In some cases, your child may be brought here by ambulance.

On admission to the unit, a member of the nursing team who will carry out an assessment will see your child. They will be asking about the reason for attending checking personal details and then taking observations and giving pain relief or any other medication needed. A nurse practitioner or a member of the Emergency Department (ED) medical team will then review your child.

The department is separated from but works alongside our adult ED. The ED medical team work across both Adults and Paeds ED.

How long will I have to wait to be seen by a member of the ED or Paediatric team?

It is very difficult to predict how long you will have to wait but we aim to ensure that all patients are seen as soon as possible.  Patients are generally seen in time order but our most seriously ill and injured patients will be seen first. Waiting time can increase at any time but staff will keep you informed of this at regular intervals.

The length of your wait will depend on how busy the department is and the priority you have been assessed as being.

Please be mindful that because we are running two separate services, there may be children who have arrived in the department after your child who may be seen more urgently due to their condition.

At times, it can appear quiet in the waiting room but this does not reflect the activity within the department.

If while you are waiting you feel your child’s condition has deteriorated or your child requires pain relief then please inform a member of the team immediately.

Your child may be seen by a nurse practitioner or doctor in training initially and may be discharged home. Depending on your child’s requirements, your child might require a further review from a senior doctor, a period of observation and/or additional investigations/tests.

These investigations/tests may include a urine sample, blood tests, X-ray or scans.  Some of these investigations can take time to arrange and get the results.

Your child then might be referred to a specialist team such as Orthopaedics, Surgery, Urology or Gynaecology. These teams are not based within CYPED and cover the whole hospital so please be patient while waiting for these to attend the department to see your child.

A decision will then be made if we are able to discharge your child or if your child needs to be admitted onto our children’s ward for further care and overnight observation. Our medical and nursing teams will discuss this with you and your child.

Refreshments and other services

There are vending machines located in the adult ED waiting area. 

During the day there is a canteen, shop, and coffee kiosk and Costa coffee open for you to access. Sandwiches and snacks are available for your child.

Books, colouring pencils and paper is available in the waiting area and we have other toys/activities available if your child is in a room.

We offer free Wi-Fi – register to “NHS Wi-Fi”.

Please ask a member of staff if you require any assistance with any of the above.

What we ask from you

Maximum of two adults only to accompany a child. Children are still the responsibility of their parents/carers whilst in the department.

During busy periods, please arrange for well siblings to be taken home.

We are a secure unit so leaving and re-entering the department should be limited where possible.

Going home

Your child may be prescribed medication to take home. During daytime hours, you will be given a prescription and asked to pick up your medication from Panacea pharmacy located in the main entrance. Out of hours, we are able to dispense certain medications; if the medication you require is not available, you will be asked to return the following day to the pharmacy.

Your GP will be sent an electronic discharge letter with details of your visit to CYPED and information may also be shared with your health visitor, social services or school nurse if needed.

On discharge from CYPED, you will be given advice on how to care for your child’s condition at home.

What are my rights?

You have the right to be treated:

• By highly skilled and experienced nurses and doctors.
• With privacy and dignity.
• In a clean and safe environment.

Patients, carers and families have a right to be treated with courtesy and respect from all staff, we ask that staff be treated in the same way.

What rights do NHS staff have?

North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust will not tolerate violence and aggression, including verbal and racial abuse towards staff.

How can I help improve healthcare?

If you are given a feedback form, please fill it in to help us. We need the form to understand what you think of us and how we can improve our department.

Comments, concerns, compliments or complaints

Patient Experience Team (PET)

We are continually trying to improve the services we provide. We want to know what we’re doing well or if there’s anything which we can improve, that’s why the Patient Experience Team (PET) is here to help. Our Patient Experience Team is here to try to resolve your concerns as quickly as possible. The office is based on the ground floor at the University Hospital of North Tees if you wish to discuss concerns in person. If you would like to contact or request a copy of our PET leaflet, please contact:

Telephone: 01642 624719

Freephone: 0800 092 0084

Opening hours: Monday to Friday, 9:30am to 4:00pm

Email: [email protected]

Out of hours

Out of hours if you wish to speak to a senior member of Trust staff, please contact the hospital switchboard who will bleep the appropriate person.

Telephone: 01642 617617

Data protection and use of patient information

The Trust has developed Data Protection policies in accordance with Data Protection Legislation (UK General Data Protection Regulations and Data Protection Act 2018) and the Freedom of Information Act 2000. All of our staff respect these policies and confidentiality is adhered to at all times. If you require further information on how we process your information please see our Privacy Notices.

Telephone: 01642 383551

Email: [email protected]

Leaflet feedback

This leaflet has been produced in partnership with patients and carers. All patient leaflets are regularly reviewed, and any suggestions you have as to how it may be improved are extremely valuable. Please write to the Clinical Governance team, North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust, University Hospital of North Tees, TS19 8PE or:

Email: [email protected]