Cystic Fibrosis Wellington Branch |
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Children's Hospital In-Patients - What to Expect? |
Wellington Children's Hospital is split into 3 areas:
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Doctors/ Consultants Your child will be seen by a doctor every day. The consultant/ specialist will typically do rounds twice a week. However, the doctors are able to discuss serious issues with the consultants as they are usually in the hospital, but carrying out other duties. |
Picc lines/ Canulas Typically a picc line will be inserted under general anaesthetic for a child with CF to allow IV antibiotics to be administered. Canulas do not require a general anaesthetic but are really only suitable for short term use, eg 2 or 3 days. Picc lines are less likely to become infected and can remain in place for 2-3 weeks. |
Sputum Test |
A sputum test will be carried out prior to hospital admission to establish which organisms are growing and causing the infection. In young children who find it difficult to produce sputum, this may have to be carried out using hypertonic saline to first loosen the mucus, then a sample is taken through a narrow plastic tube inserted into the nose. If this fails, a bronchoscopy under general anaesthetic may be necessary. These are only carried out at Starship Hospital. |
IV Antibiotics Antibiotics used will depend on which organisms have been found to have grown in the sputum culture. Nursing staff prefer to administer the antibiotics via an IV machine overnight, but during the day they can be pushed in using a syringe, giving your child more freedom to move around. |
| Physiotherapy |
Even if you do physio yourself this is an invaluable time to learn new techniques and ask questions. If the same physio sees your child for most sessions throughout the hospital stay, the physio will be able to track how your child's cough is progressing, supporting physician's decisions. |
| Nutrition |
A trolley is brought round on the children's ward for most in-patient meals, however CF children will be offered the option of a high energy diet or children's menu plus extras which comes on a separate tray. |
Play Specialist (Ward 19) There are books. games, videos etc. available for your child. Play Specialist is available weekdays to provide fun activities for children. Siblings are welcome, but must be supervised. A marvellous non-medical support for your child. Can help with therapies, etc. motivation, morale. |
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Teacher (Ward 18) A teacher is available to support long-term patients over 6 years old. Although CF patients are often in hospital for shorter periods of around 2 weeks, frequent hospitalisations may mean cumulative school absences, and time with the teacher becomes necessary. |
Student Doctors Wellington Hospital is a teaching hospital and you may be asked if your child is willing to be examined by students. You are entitled to refuse. The hospital day can be busy with physio, IV, nebulisers, dressings being changed and generally feeling unwell so it may not be appropriate timing, especially when your child is first admitted. |
Meals
Please don't offer food to other children. |
| Staying Ovenight One parent is welcome to stay overnight. At approximately 8.00am each morning fold-down beds and fold-away beds are stored. This is so the rooms can be cleaned. Please ask your nurse if you require your bed to be put back down during the day. This may be particularly helpful to parents of small babies. |
Leaving the Ward If you wish to take your child out of the ward please discuss with the nurse who has been specifically allocated to look after your child. Children with IV machines running are not allowed to leave the ward without a nurse. Please don't take your children out of the ward if they are awaiting surgery. Please inform the staff if you leave the ward. Physios, doctors may be looking for you. |
Outdoor Play Area Designed by physios for tots to teens. Really does cover the age ranges. Just be aware of other cf patients and consider cross-infection issues. |
Ronald McDonald Room Open 10.00am to 10.00pm. This parents room is situated outside Ward 18 (upstairs)., behind the rainbow door. This is staffed by volunteers. There are tea and coffee making facilities, as well as a lightly stocked kitchen, for your use. Please do not leave children unaccompanied. The room is for parents to have a break, patients are not permitted in the room. A washing machine, dryer and shower are also available for your use. |
Visiting Parent are welcome at any time. Visitors are welcome during the day until 7.30pm. Parents only after lights. Visiting children are to be supervised at all times. If your child is in isolation, it is requested that no other children visit. The door to the ward is locked overnight from 7.30pm to 6.30am. During these hours the ward can be accessed by using the intercom system and the doors will be opened at the discretion of staff. |
Hot Drinks There are to be no uncovered hot drinks to be brought on to the ward (to avoid the risk of burns and spillage). |
Valuables There are no lockable facilities available on the wards. |
Videos, Games and TV programmes These need to be suitable for all age groups if brought onto the ward. |
Useful to Know!
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Wellington Branch email: contact@cfwellington.org.nz