CHANGES to Ealing Hospital’s children’s services last year were ‘made safely and resulted in improvements to care’ says a new report.

Children’s care across NW London has improved, it added, with more specialist services available.

The report, published by the NHS, evaluated the changes to services over the past year following the introduction of a new way of caring for children and the move from six hospitals with children’s wards to five. 

The changes included the closure of the children’s in-patient ward and children’s A&E at Ealing Hospital and the addition of extra capacity to other major hospital sites across NW London. 

The changes, seen as key improvements, were:

Four new Paediatric Assessment Units (PAUs) opened which saw and treated almost 9,000 children

More than 90 extra nurses specialising in children’s care recruited

The 41,000 children who visited A&E following the changes had access to a senior children’s doctor until 10pm every day

The number of children who needed to be moved to a hospital outside North West London for care almost halved

All five children’s A&E departments in NW London have been refurbished or expanded.

The GP-led urgent care centre at Ealing Hospital continues to be open 24/7 and treat the majority of children who need to be seen straight away.

Dr Mohini Parmar, Chair of Ealing Clinical Commissioning Group, said:  “This report shows that Ealing families should carry on bringing their children to the urgent care centre at Ealing Hospital and be confident there is more specialist help on hand now across NW London if their child needs it.

"I would also remind residents that adults can continue to use Ealing Hospital’s A&E as normal. ”

The report also sets out key recommendations where further work is needed and where lessons should be shared with the wider NHS.

The report can be found online here: (http://www.ealingccg.nhs.uk/media/131855/06a-Paediatric-Transition-Review.pdf)