Dolphin Ward and Penguin Assessment Unit
Green Zone
Level 2
Dolphin Ward: 01634 825063
Penguin Assessment Unit: 01634 825065
Children’s Outreach and Specialist Team (COaST)
Green Zone
Level 2
Call: 01634 825135
Email: met-tr.COAST@nhs.net
We provide a wide range of services for children in Medway and Swale from birth to 18 years of age.
At Medway Maritime Hospital we have two wards dedicated to providing medical treatment for children, along with a specialist baby care unit for babies born prematurely or who are sick and require specialist treatment. We also have a dedicated Children’s Emergency Department, which works alongside our Emergency Department.
In addition, we offer a range of specialist services in the community.
Services are provided by teams of professionals that include paediatricians, neonatologists, specialist nurses and midwives and allied health professionals in children’s health.
Our children’s wards and units
Dolphin Ward
A medical, orthopaedic, surgical and ear, nose and throat (ENT) ward caring for babies, children and young people.
Penguin Assessment Unit
A medical and nursing assessment unit for babies, children and young people.
Oliver Fisher Neonatal Unit
A special care unit for babies born prematurely or who are sick and require specialist treatment.
Children’s Outreach and Specialist Team
The Children’s Outreach and Specialist Team (COaST) are a hospital-based team providing a service to children outside of Medway Maritime Hospital who have life-threatening and life-limiting illnesses, aiming to keep them out of hospital as much as possible.
The Paediatric Oncology nurses are partially funded by the children’s cancer charity, Young Live vs Cancer.
Children’s Oncology Service
Our Children’s Oncology and Haematology Community Team are part of COaST.
The team cares for all children and young people with oncological conditions within the Medway and Swale area. They also offer shared care for children and young people in the Dartford and Gravesend community with the Ellenor Community Team.
Made up of specialist paediatric nurses, the team works in partnership with parents, carers, specialist treatment centres, dietitians, schools and other health professionals to offer highly skilled nursing care within the child’s home and other community settings. The team’s aim is for families to be able to spend as much time as possible at home together, whenever it is safe to do so, and to avoid hospital admission where possible. Patients can access community care throughout their treatment and beyond if required.
The service operates Monday to Friday from 8am to 6pm (not including bank holidays).
Children’s Community Learning Disabilities Services
Special School Nurses (based at Meadowfield School in Sittingbourne) – The nurses in the team provide nursing assessments, training and support to enable children and young people who live in Swale, who have complex health needs, to access education.
Call: 01795 477788 ext 242 or 243
Email: medwayft.meadowfieldschoolnursing@nhs.net
Swale Special Needs Nursery (based at Orchards Centre in Milton Regis) – The team provide developmental assessments, health assessments and interventions for children aged 18 months to five years who live in the Swale area and have delayed development, learning disabilities, physical disabilities and complex health needs.
Call: 03000 420927
Email: medwayft.swalespecialneedsnursery@nhs.net
The safety and care of both you and your child are our top priority. Please read the information below so you are aware of the safety measures in place at the hospital and how you can help us to keep you and your child safe.
- All doors to ward areas are kept locked and only members of staff that work in the unit can gain entry using their identification badge. An intercom and security cameras are used to assess visitors before entry onto the wards. Please help us by ensuring your visitors are aware they should not allow others to follow them in when entering our wards.
- Please ensure that you NEVER leave your child unattended. If you need to leave your child for any reason, please inform a member of staff straightaway.
- All newborn babies have an identification tag; please let us know straightaway if your baby’s tag comes off.
- All our staff wear an identification badge; if you cannot see it please ask them to show it to you.
- If you notice any incident that causes you concern please inform a member of staff immediately.
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Information for visitors
Your guide to conditions, symptoms and treatments
