Battledown ward provides a service for medical investigations and day case surgery for children and young people aged 0 - 16 years of age. It also offers shared care outpatient services with Bristol Children’s and Birmingham Children’s Hospital.
Battledown Ward is located in Cheltenham General Hospital, Level 1, College Road Wing. Adjacent to the ward is the Radiology Department and on the floor below is the Emergency Department (ED). The area includes 4 beds designated for Investigations and Diagnostic tests, and a 6 bedded paediatric day surgery area.
The investigation unit has 4 beds and is open between 09:00am - 5:00pm on Tuesdays and alternate Mondays and Wednesdays. Here, children who require blood tests, sedation and scans, and challenge clinics are seen. On days that the investigation unit is not open, a service is provided for blood tests and vaccination clinics from the Battledown Outpatient Departement. .
The daycase surgery 6 beds are open from 08.00am - 17.00pm on the days that there are planned surgical theatre cases.
Battledown Ward - Philosophy of Care
The staff of Battledown strive to provide the highest standard of care possible for children, adolescents and their families.
• Visiting is open to friends and family depending on the child’s wishes and condition.
• With full explanations and support, we wish to develop a partnership of care with parents and children making informed choices and playing an active part in their care.
• We constantly endeavour to create a happy, safe, friendly environment, offering activities for all ages and ability and so reducing the fears associated with a clinical setting.
• Open communication between a large multi-disciplinary team enables all aspects of the child and families’ well-being to be cared for. This will encompass their physical, psychological, emotional, social and spiritual needs.
• Each child and family unit is seen as individual, with their own experiences and expectations. These shall be met with respect and flexibility in accordance with current guidelines.
• Continuous training and updating ensures staff are appropriately qualified and motivated to deliver up-to-date care and professionalism.
We aim to make the stay in hospital as enjoyable as possible, maintain and improve quality of life, promote independence and aid the transition home again.
Please be aware that the Trust is now a smoke free NHS. Smoking is not permitted in any building or within the grounds of any of our sites. Information and support is available to any patients who wish to stop smoking. Nicotine Replacement Therapy is available to help reduce your cravings during your stay.
How to Contact the Ward
You and your family will be informed of the best time to telephone for news.
Telephone numbers: - 08454 22 4129 / 4381 / 4462
Or Telephone Switchboard on 08454 22 2222 and ask for Battledown Ward
Our Staff
A variety of people will be responsible for your care whilst in hospital. Some of the staff you may come in contact with while on Battledown Ward are: -
Ward Staff
Senior Sister and Sister: - Navy blue dress / tunic / trousers.
Staff Nurse: - Blue and white striped dress / tunic and navy trousers.
Male Staff Nurse: - Navy trousers, white tunic with blue epaulets.
Nursing Auxiliaries: - Green / white striped uniform.
Bank Staff: - White dress / tunic and navy trousers.
Housekeeping staff: - Pink and white stripped dress / tunic and trousers.
Domestics staff: - Pale green and white striped dress / tunic and trousers.
Yellow dress with blue tabard.
Ward clerk:- Blue striped blouse and black trousers/skirt/
Medicine Rounds
We do not have any designated medicine rounds, instead we feel it is better to administer medicines as and when you child requires them
Further Information
Visitors
Children love having visitors and it helps with their recovery, keeping them happy and cheerful. Therefore, we have an ‘open visiting’ policy, unless the child is in isolation- please check with a nurse first.
All we ask in return is for you to be honest with your child. If you are going to leave your child for any amount of time please tell them and say where you are going and and say when you will be returning.
Going Home
The doctor from the team responsible for your childs care will assess their progress throughout the day with you. When your child is ready for discharge they will write a letter for your GP and prescribe any medicines for you take with you. The nursing staff will arrange any follow-up appointments.
Cleanliness and Infections in Hospital
Some people are admitted to hospital with infections that require them to be cared for away from other patients to prevent the spread of that particular infection. Please follow the instructions given to you by staff.
Please pay particular attention to hand washing and general cleanliness at all times, especially when leaving the room.
If you have been in contact with chickenpox, measles or mumps within 3 weeks of your admittance to hospital, please inform a member of staff.
We ask that visitors suffering from minor infections such as a cold avoid visiting if possible, for their sake as well as the patients. We do not recommend babies being brought in to visit, again for their own protection.
Hand washing. The most common means by which infection is transmitted is by hand, therefore handwashing is a very basic, yet vital infection control measure. Alcohol hand gel is kept at the entrance of the ward and at each bedside for all the visitors to use before and after visiting. For hygienic hand disinfection apply 3ml (3 shots) to physically clean hands for 30 seconds ensuring all areas are covered, until dry.
Visitors are requested not to sit on patients beds, this is to help minimise the risk of spread of infection and for other health and safety reasons. For more information on Cleanliness and Infections click here.
Facilities
Facilities located on the ward are: -
• A play room
• A baby change area
• Parents room where meals can be heated in a microwave and eaten. Tea and coffee facilities are provided.
• Bedside phones
• TV and videos
• Play stations
• Meals/ feed kitchen
Mealtimes and Catering
The Catering Staff are an integral part of the meal delivery service at Cheltenham General Hospital. The staff are visible on the ward throughout most of the day, serving food, washing up and cleaning in the ward pantry as well as delivering stock. The Catering staff are easily recognised by their uniform; royal blue polo shirts, navy blue baseball caps and trousers and, of course, a smile.
There are two Restaurants at Cheltenham General. The Blue Spa Café is located at the front of the Hospital in Centre Block. The Glass House Café can be found in St. Paul's Wing. For more information Click Here
Additional Information
There are several WRVS shops around the hospital. For information Click Here
If English is not your first language, and you may require the services of an interpreter, please let the ward know before your admission, if at all possible.
If you are hearing impaired and need to sign, we may also be able to provide someone to help with this.
A Hairdresser, Dietician, Chiropodist, Dentist and Pharmacist are all available on site and the staff will inform you of these in more detail should you wish.
Physiotherapy, Occupational Therapy and Social Services can be accessed via referral from Ward staff. Chaplaincy staff visit the Ward, or you may arrange for your own spiritual advisor to visit.