The Paediatric & Young Adults SCI
Group Information Leaflet
Alice Ward and the MCSI
Paediatrics
Contents
1
Introduction
1
Contents
1
2
Introduction
2
3
Doctor
3
4
Psychology
4
5
Resettlement Coordinator
5
6
Occupational Therapy
6
7
Physiotherapist
7
8
O.R.L.A.U.
8
9
SIU Nurse
9
10
Alice Nurse
10
11
Teacher
11
12
Play Specialist
12
13
General Information
13
14
Useful Phone numbers
14
The paediatric group is based at the Robert Jones & Agnes Hunt Orthopaedic
Hospital NHS Foundation Trust in Oswestry. The group is made up of members
of the multidisciplinary team based on Alice ward and the Spinal Injury Unit.
A child with spinal cord injury (SCI) is a rare event, so many children and their
Families find themselves rehabilitating following SCI on their own away from
other children like themselves. They are also away from adults with SCI, as their
needs as children, (under 16) means staying on Alice ward (the children’s ward
in the hospital), rather than on the MCSI.
Following an injury or trauma to the spinal cord it is important to be treated at a
specialist spinal centre so that all care and rehabilitative needs can be addressed by
experienced professionals.
Spinal cord injury centres are highly specialised in their care and management and
practice a realistic, holistic approach to both rehabilitation and resettlement.
Although MCSI & Alice Ward staff don’t very often deal with children with SCI,
our aim is to ensure that we are always geared up to meet the needs of such children.
We all need to keep abreast of developments in the paediatric world that would help
us as we want to ensure proper monitoring of the physical and psychological
development of the children in our care.
Everyone is involved from Doctor to play therapist, and this pamphlet will
outline the role of each member of the group.
By meeting together regularly we can also keep an eye on individual children’s
progress and monitor their physical health and well being. To this end the Paediatric
Group organise joint events for children and their families throughout the year.
These include Kids week, Teen Weekend and joint Outpatient Days.
The aim of our ‘kids’ week and teen weekend events is to bring together children
with SCI aged 0-19years and their families to give them a chance to get to know
each other and support one another through their shared experience of spinal cord
injury. Every summer we have a Kids Week, and a Teenager weekend which you
will be invited to (depending on your age!) You will get to meet other people your
age who have had spinal injuries, have time to talk together, and appointments for
parents to talk with each other. You may have some educational talks, some fun
trips out, but also some work to do!
2
Doctors
Dr Deborah Short
Psychology
You will meet and get to know the Doctors
involved in your care when you are admitted
to the hospital as an inpatient and throughout
your rehabilitation. You may at first be
admitted onto the adult Spinal Injury ward
and then move to Alice ward or admitted
directly onto Alice ward. The doctors based
on the spinal injury ward will come and see
you on Alice ward at least once a week. They
work with the nurses and all the team who
look after you on Alice ward and on the spinal
injury team. They will talk to you and your
family about your care and progress and
you can arrange to meet with the doctor if
you have any questions you want to ask.
Doctors are part of the paediatric team that are
involved in out patient review days, Kids week
and teenager weekends. When you come to the
unit for your appointment you will be seen by a
consultant on the spinal unit who will check your
progress, discuss any problems or issues you or
your family might have. They will explain your
X-rays to you and any other procedures that you
might have had. They will discuss your medication
and give you the opportunity to ask any questions
you want to ask.
Psychologists are involved in the initial
inpatients stays and rehabilitation; you will
probably meet one of us during your stay in
hospital. We are available to offer emotional
support to you and your families. You can
arrange to meet with us individually or as a
family.
Chris Wilson - Consultant Psychologist
Psychologists work as part of the team that are
involved in organising the children’s weeks and
teenager weekends. We are involved in some of
the educational bits of the children’s week and
teenage weekend and cover such topics as
growing up, personal relationships and
adjustment to Spinal cord Injury.These sessions
can be in groups or individually if you prefer.
Psychologists plan, arrange and organise goal
planning meetings. Goal planning helps to
maintain links between the spinal injuries centre
and children staying on Alice ward.
Mr Joy Roy Chowdhury
3
The psychology team are:Chris Wilson - Consultant Clinical Psychologist
Sally Kaiser - Clinical Psychologist
Mary Watkins - Assistant Psychologist
Steve McCormack - Peer counsellor
The psychology team also gather your views and
those of the staff who make up the paediatric
team about what you like best and don’t like
about the children’s weeks and teenage
weekends. We use this information to help us
improve and develop the service we offer.
Mary Watkins - Assistant Psychologist
4
Resettlement and Community Liaison
Occupational Therapy at the Midlands Centre for Spinal Injuries
My name is Julie Smith and I am one of the
Occupational Therapists working here at the
Midlands Centre for Spinal Injuries. As part of
the Paediatric Group, I work with many of the
children who become patients here at the unit.
The Resettlement and Community Liaison Service at the Midlands centre for Spinal
Injuries is a patient centred service which has been in operation for over 40 years.
At present it is co-ordinated by:
Sue Nassar RGN Cert Obs (Nurse)
Pam Tarkenter Dip COT (Occupational Therapist)
Barbie Simmons RGN,Bsc honours Nursing Studies Nurse)
During your admission you will be allocated a Resettlement Officer (RO) and their
specific job is, with the help of your family and community team, to return you home
or if not home to somewhere safe and suitable once you no longer need to be in
hospital.
It important that you are able to access your discharge venue and are provided with
the correct care and equipment.
The Resettlement Officer will also assist your OT to help get you back to school/
college or work. We can help to put you in touch with the community OT, Social
worker etc. in your area.Once you have been discharged from hospital the R/O
will visit you at home to check that you are managing and coping. If you have any
problems she will try and help or direct you to help find a solution. This support is
offered for evermore and you will be encouraged to keep in touch with your R/O.
Depending on your needs, rehabilitation potential and personal goals, your OT
treatment may include:
- Hand therapy, including provision of hand splints for correct hand positioning.
- Assessment and practice of your Activities of Daily Living (ADLs), i.e. dressing,
feeding, writing, etc.
- Transfer practice, e.g. getting in/out of bed, wheelchair, car, toilet.
- A home and school visit (along with your Resettlement Co-ordinator) to plan your
return to home and school life.
The link person for the SCI Paediatric Group is
Barbie Simmons so when you visit for your
outpatient appointment, Children’s Week
or Teen Weekend whether you have met or
not before if she can be of help with any
community issues please do not hesitate to ask.
She is also a qualified nurse with over 20 years
experience working with people with a spinal
cord injury.
5
Julie Smith - Occupational Therapist
Occupational Therapists work with a variety
of people with a variety of needs. They aim
to enhance people’s ability to engage in
meaningful everyday activities, recognising
that each person is individual and will have
individual goals to achieve.
- The opportunity to access the internet and to have advice on and assistance with
identifying specialist equipment to assist and the funding of it.
- Involvement in any other issue which may be important to you. Ask, and we will
always try and help you.
As patients of the Midlands Centre for Spinal Injuries, you are patients for life.
Following your discharge from the Centre, your OT is available for advice whenever it
is needed.
Barbie Simmons - Resettlement Officer
6
Physiotherapy - MCSI
Hi, I’m Emma Fosbrook, and I’m one of the
physiotherapists (physio for short) who will
help look after you when you are with us, and
afterwards! We have a big team of physios
& assistants who you may meet on different
occasions.
Emma Fosbrook - Physiotherapist
What do physios wear?
- Physios wear navy trousers and white tops – sometimes with a blue line around the
collar and sleeves.
- We also work with some physio assistants – they wear royal blue tops and navy trousers.
What do physios do?
- Physios teach you how to strengthen muscles that are working, stretch muscles to
stop them getting tight, and teach you different ways to do things if some of your
muscles don’t work.
- We also try and make sure that you get the best wheelchair and cushion for you
everyone is different.
What will I do in physio?
- In physio we will play games to help you relearn how to balance, so you don’t feel
as wobbly, and to try and make you stronger.
- We will provide you with equipment to help you stand, and work closely with
Jenny Broadbent (another physio) who measures you for and looks after your walkers.
7
- We will teach you how to move around the bed – rolling onto your side and
tummy, and how to sit up from lying.
- When you are old enough, and strong enough, we will teach you how to get into
and out of your wheelchair by yourself (transferring).
- We will make sure your wheelchair and cushion are the right size for you, and teach
you how to look after it.
- If you have a wheelchair you can push yourself, we will teach you how to do wheelchair
skills like doing kerbs and slopes, and even popping wheelies safely when you are ready!
- We will show you lots of different sports that you can play.
- We will take you into the hydrotherapy pool and do exercises and stretches, and
have fun and swim!
What if I’m too little to do some things?
- We will help and encourage you to try everything when you are with us. - If you
are too little or not strong enough, we will try again once you have grown or got
stronger.
-We will check every time we see you in outpatients – at least twice a year once you
have gone home – including Kid’s week/ Teen weekend.
- We will try and take you in the pool at least once during your stay, as long as you
are well enough.
- In the physio sessions you can practice anything you need to practice/ learn how to
do: rolling, transferring, wheelchair skills etc.
- We check to make sure no muscles or joints are tight, nothing is sore and that you
are growing properly.
- We also check that your wheelchair/ standing equipment is ok.
Can I go swimming at any other time?
- There may be the opportunity to swim in the evenings on a Monday, Wednesday
or Friday, as long as there is a responsible adult present.
- Speak to the physio about organising this (there are some forms to fill in!).
8
O.R.L.A.U.
Paediatric Link Nurse for the Midland Centre for Spinal Injuries.
My name is Jenny Broadbent I’m a
physiotherapist who works in O.R.L.A.U.
(Orthotic research and Locomotor assessment unit).
Here I meet children and adults who have
problems walking or cannot walk.
I look at them measure how much their arms
and legs move and how strong their muscles
are. After doing this and some other tests I try
and find equipment to help you walk or get
about on your feet so that you can strengthen
your bones, be as tall as everyone else and get
out of your wheelchairs for a short period of time.
Roles and Responsibilities
As part of the Paediatric Team our role is to
make the child and family’s hospital
experience, whether they are inpatients or
outpatients, as comfortable as possible.
Our aim is to enhance the communication
between the nursing staff on Alice ward, and
members of the Midland Centre for Spinal
Injuries Paediatric Team.
Jenny Broadbent - Physiotherapist
Sister Glenna Hardy
We also play games and make being on your feet fun. I’m part of the paediatric
group and can see all the young people together with the team and sort out any
problems that you may have, either as an outpatient or during the week/weekend
activities. Here you can meet up with children and young people who are like
yourselves and understand how you feel.
We aim to enhance the communication
between children, adolescents and parents on
Alice Ward, with members of the Midland
Centre for Spinal Injuries Paediatric Team. We
act as advocates for the children, adolescents
and families to help them voice any issues they
may be uncomfortable with. We are responsible
for providing patient information and education
appropriate to the child’s developmental age as
part of the rehabilitation process. We are
responsible for providing education to parents
on the effects of spinal cord injury and how
Staff nurse Julie Ferguson
to prevent potential complications.
We are available from Monday to Friday to provide advice and information over the
telephone to children, adolescents and parents in the community.
Play
Chrissie Maciver - Hospital Play Specialist
9
We are Registered General Nurses qualified in
Spinal Cord Injury Nursing and Rehabilitation
Nursing (Sister Glenna also has qualification in
Children’s Nursing).
I am a Hospital Play Specialist otherwise known
as Chrissie, and Ann is a play leader.
Our work is fun because we provide play and
companionship which helps you and your
family to get to know people in an informal
and friendly manner. When possible we may
lend you boxed games, crafts, DVD’s and PS2’.
We try to fit play into what might be a busy
day full of physio, school, and doctors visits.
So if you want quiet play or more engaging play
we are there for you, ready to listen and provide
the means to help you play and have some fun.
Tel: 01691 404643
As part of the team we co-ordinate
• Children’s Outpatient Clinics
• Children’s Week
• Teenager Weekend
10
Ward Manager for the Paediatric ward, Alice
Education
My name is Suzanne Marsden and I am the
ward manager on Alice ward.
Alice ward is a children’s orthopaedic and
rehabilitation ward and once children
with spinal injuries have been assessed on the
spinal centre they are usually
transferred down to our ward for their
inpatient care.
Suzanne Marsden - Ward Manager
You will also come to
our ward if you attend a “Kid week.”
Within our nursing team we have mainly children’s trained nurses; some of
our nurses have also undertaken further training in Spinal injuries, Orthopaedics,
Child and Adolescent Mental Health, Child Protection & Infection control.
Within my role, I am the named nurse for Safeguarding children.
This means that my aim is to ensure that children using our service
are protected from harm and are cared for effectively. If you would
like to speak to me, please contact me on Alice ward Tel no 01691 404444.
The Alice Ward team are here to help and support you during your stay in
the Trust, please let us know if you have any problems that we can help you with.
Maggie Barnes - Teacher on Alice Ward
I am Maggie Barnes, the teacher on Alice
ward. My role in the team is to help the
children to continue with their education while
they are in the hospital. Parents are
often understandably anxious about their
children falling behind with the school work.
I try to ensure that each child is up to date
with their class when they return to school.
Liaison is made with the school, patients and
parents to plan individual programmes of
work for each child, depending upon their
age, health needs and length of hospital stay.
Children can follow the National Curriculum during their stay in hospital, where they
can access computers, CDs, DVDs, tapes, books and creative materials. They are able
to do almost everything they can do at mainstream school, including taking GCSE
examinations. Teaching takes place in the multi-purpose day room on Alice Ward
sometimes while the child is in a standing frame, or at the bedside.
I liaise with play specialists, occupational therapists and physiotherapists.
During Kids week an entertainer from the POD charity is organised. I also arrange an
educational visit to a local attraction, such as Chirk Castle or Park Hall Farm, which
is an enjoyable day for everyone.
Dietitian
The Dietitian, Tony Twist will chat to you about healthy eating and spinal injury.
You will see him when you are first admitted, before you go and as needed between times.
He will talk to you about things like how to increase the fibre in your diet or how to
gain weight or even how to stop gaining too much weight. He will see you if you
need a special diet and is happy to answer your questions on nutrition.
If you want to talk to Tony about your diet ask a member of the paediatric team to
contact him for you or you can contact him at the hospital by telephoning
TEL: 01691 404536 or 404000
11
12
Services
Services
DENBIGHS RESTAURANT OPENING TIMES
TOILETS
MON – THURS 8.15 – 19.30PM
SITUATED ALONG THE MAIN CORRIDOR
POST OFFICE
MONDAY – FRIDAY 8.30 – 17.30
LUNCH 12.30 – 13.30
BREAKFAST 8.15 – 10.30,
LUNCH 12.00 – 14.00,
SUPPER 17.00 – 19.30
FRIDAY 8.15 – 19.00
BREAKFAST 8.15 – 10.30,
LUNCH 12MD – 14.00,
CASHPOINT - Next to post office
PHARMACY - OPEN 8.30 – 17.00
LUNCH 12MD – 14.00
HAIRDRESSERS
• MON 9.00 -13.00
• TUESDAY 9.00 – 17.00
• WEDNESDAY 9.00 – 16.00
• THURSDAY 9.00 – 16.30
• FRIDAY 9.00 – 19.00
• SATURDAY 9.00 – 15.00
TAKE AWAYS
CAR PARKING - £2.00 PER DAY PAY AND DISPLAY
SUPPER 17.00 – 19.00
WEEKENDS 9.00 – 10.30,
LUNCH 12MD – 14.00
CLOSE 16.45
BANK HOLIDAYS 9.00 – 10.30
DRAGON BOAT CANTONESE 01691 661844
GOBOWEN KEBAB CENTRE 01691 679459
TAJ TANDORI TAKE AWAY 01691 662666
GOBOWEN FISH AND CHIPS 661307
DRINKS AND SNACKS
VENDING MACHINE SITUATED IN THE
DINING AREA (MCSI)
LEAGUE OF FRIENDS SHOP
MONDAY – FRIDAY 8.30 – 16.30
WEEKENDS 9.30 – 15.30
LEAGUE OF FRIENDS COFFEE SHOP
MONDAY – FRIDAY 9.00 – 16.00
PALS OFFICE
MONDAY, WEDNESDAY AND FRIDAY
9.30 – 14.30
TELEPHONE NUMBER 01691404606
HELP DESK
SITUATED ALONG THE MAIN CORRIDOR
13
NEAREST TOWN - OSWESTRY 3miles
NEAREST SHOP
LEAGUE OF FRIENDS OR THE CO-OP IN
GOBOWEN 1 mile
MOBILITY SHOP
Situated along the main corridor opposite the
hairdressers
OPEN MONDAY – SATURDAY 9.00 – 17.30
PLACES OF INTEREST
DERWEN
PARK HALL COUNTRYSIDE EXPERIENCE 01691 671123
THE VENUE 01691 684840
DRIVING DISTANCE
TECHNIQUEST 01978 293400
WHITTINGTON CASTLE 01691 662397
THE LION QUAYS 01691 684300
THE LORD MORETON Restaurant and Garden Centre 01691 778888
THE QUEENS HEAD 01691 610255
LEISURE CENTRES
CHIRK 01691 778666
OSWESTRY 01691 659349
ACCOMMODATION
There is some on site accommodation facility on Alice ward available to parents,
and provision for a parent to sleep on a camp bed in the patients room on MCSI.
Resident carer are entitled to staff discounts at Denbighs restaurant for breakfast,
lunch or dinner. See refreshments and services.
For an extensive list of Bed & Breakfast Accommodation please ask
your resettlement coordinator or a member of the paediatric team.
BUS STATION
TRAVELINE 08712002233
RAILWAY STATION
GOBOWEN 01691 681010
NATIONAL RAIL ENQUIRIES 08457 484950
TAXI SERVICE
A –B 01691679911
BURGESS TAXIS 01691 656363/652080
CHAPEL LANE TAXIS (CHIRK) 770043
GOBOWEN TAXIS (OSWESTRY) 01691 670888
PRESTEIGE TAXIS 01691 679966/671163
14
If you require a special edition of this leaflet
This leaflet is available in large print. Arrangements can also be made on request
for it to be explained in your preferred language. Please contact the Patient
Advice and Liaison Service (PALS) email: [email protected] / 01691 404606
Date of publication: June 2011
Date of review: June 2012
Author: Mary Watkins Midland Centre for Spinal Injury
© RJAH Trust 2011
Hospital Stop Smoking Service
For advice and information on
quitting smoking, or for an
informal chat, please contact
the Hospital Stop Smoking
Sister on:
01691 404114
The Robert Jones and Agnes Hunt
Orthopaedic Hospital NHS Foundation Trust,
Oswestry, Shropshire SY10 7AG
Tel: 01691 404000
www.rjah.nhs.uk
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