Celebrating one year of the Children's Emergency Unit

Today, we’re celebrating one year of our Children’s Emergency Unit (CEU), which opened its doors in November 2024.

The CEU has 13 cubicles, two high acuity bays and one resuscitation bay. It also includes a baby and breastfeeding room, a sensory play room for children with neurodiversities and a wellbeing room for younger patients arriving in mental health crisis.

In the last year, the team have:

• Doubled the number of trained children’s nurses working in the unit
• Welcomed the Paediatric Critical Care Service with the Wales and West Acute Transport for Children Service to run a big multi-agency simulation training event
• Welcomed new nurses, trainee Advanced Care Practitioners and a new Paediatric Emergency Medical Consultant 
• Worked closer with the paediatric team to support patients at every stage of their hospital journey
• Enrolled staff on the paediatric critic care course who are working towards gaining accreditation with the Paediatric Critical Care Society
• Celebrated staff successfully gaining additional qualifications level 1 and 2 trauma courses
• Seen more staff than ever pass their European Paediatric Advance Life Support Course (EPALS), and they were able to successfully transfer a patient using a new Hamilton Ventilator
• Introduced the first ever medical manikin representing children with Down’s Syndrome to support staff training for children with additional and complex needs.

Katie Rix, Senior Nurse Manager, said: “I am so privileged be part of this great team who are all passionate about the delivery of care for local children. We are building a legacy for staff and patients for the future here at the Great Western Hospital, and I could not be prouder of all who have made this unit what it is.”

Next week, on 14 November, we’ll also be marking one year of the Medical Assessment Unit, which marked the next completed stage of our Integrated Front Door, bringing together all urgent and emergency care services to the ground floor of the hospital, where staff will provide more joined-up, collaborative care.

This new department treats patients who have been referred by their GPs, paramedics, the Emergency Department or the Urgent Treatment Centre.

Well done to these incredible teams, who have cared for thousands of adults, children and young people over the last 365 days.