Children's A&E to be replaced with nurse-lead urgent care unit at South Tyneside District Hospital, meaning youngsters with life-threatening health emergencies must be treated in Sunderland

Children struck life-threatening health emergencies will no longer be treated at South Tyneside’s hospital under the latest controversial change by health chiefs.
South Tyneside District Hospital, Harton LaneSouth Tyneside District Hospital, Harton Lane
South Tyneside District Hospital, Harton Lane

South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust has confirmed children’s A&E services at South Tyneside District Hospital will switch to a new nurse-led urgent care service in August.

Bosses say the new ‘South Tyneside Urgent Care for Children’ will treat the ‘vast majority’ of children who attend hospital with urgent, non-life threatening problems, and will continue operate from 8am to 10pm every day in the same location.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Children with any major, life-threatening problems will be cared for at Sunderland Royal Hospital, as they already are overnight.

An image of a nurse caring for an injured child, as hospital chiefs announce another major change at South Tyneside District HospitalAn image of a nurse caring for an injured child, as hospital chiefs announce another major change at South Tyneside District Hospital
An image of a nurse caring for an injured child, as hospital chiefs announce another major change at South Tyneside District Hospital

It is the latest controversial move under the Path to Excellence shake-up following the merging of Sunderland and South Tyneside’s hospital trusts, which has also seen stroke services moved to Wearside, and a midwife-led maternity unit set up in South Tyneside.

Campaigners are angry at what they say is a ‘downgrading’ of South Tyneside’s hospital services, with a delegation from the Save South Tyneside Hospital Campaign (SSHC) presenting a petition bearing 44,000 signatures against the moves to Parliament earlier in June.

The change to children’s A&E will come into force on August 4, 2021 – almost two years to the day since overnight A&E for children moved to Sunderland.

Emma-Lewell Buck MP with hospital campaigners in King Street, South Shields, on Friday, June 5.Emma-Lewell Buck MP with hospital campaigners in King Street, South Shields, on Friday, June 5.
Emma-Lewell Buck MP with hospital campaigners in King Street, South Shields, on Friday, June 5.
Hide Ad
Hide Ad

The trust said ‘highly experienced nurse practitioners who have trained and worked in emergency care over many years’ will treat children from birth, up to the age of 16, for a range of injuries and illnesses, including broken bones, bumps, burns, sprains, strains, minor burns, common infections, asthma and cuts or wounds.

Hospital chiefs say any children who arrive in South Tyneside and need more specialist care will be ‘safely transferred’.

Dr Lorna Gillespie, clinical director and consultant paediatrician at South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust, said: “This is an important change to our children’s A&E service in South Tyneside and we want to make sure people are aware that we will be moving to a nurse-led urgent care service.

“The paediatric nursing team at South Tyneside District Hospital really are experts in their field and already look after the vast majority of children who attend hospital with an urgent problem.”

She added: "Although we will continue to see and treat the vast majority of children locally in South Tyneside, it is important that people understand the new service and where to go if they are worried about their child.

“As always, we would remind people to call NHS 111 if they need urgent medical advice about their child and, of course, dial 999 in a life threatening emergency.

“Our team has been fantastic in helping us prepare for this change and will, without doubt, continue to provide a vital service for children in South Tyneside for many years to come.”

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Roger Nettleship, chairman of the Save South Tyneside Hospital Campaign, however, thinks people in people of South Tyneside ‘will be very angry at this loss of access one of the most vital and important parts our A&E’, citing a 2017 document he said showed the move would make savings of around £200,000.

"Shame on Government and those that are driving these cut backs to vital services to save paltry amounts,” he said.

"It will be less safe access for the people of South Tyneside and a more over crowded service for the people of Sunderland.

"It is not a new service but will downgrade our Children's A&E from a specialist led unit to a minor injury and illnesses unit with less staff and without 24 hour assessment beds.”

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Mr Nettleship said the campaigners were holding a 'hoot for our children's A&E' outside the hospital each Friday lunch time, with a rally against the children’s A&E changes planned after July 19.

The trust said the children’s nursing team at South Tyneside District Hospital are highly qualified healthcare professionals who do many of the things that traditionally would have been done by a doctor in the past such as organising diagnostic tests, scans or x-rays, interpreting the results and beginning treatment.

Bosses said the new model of nurse-led care has successfully attracted more senior nurses into the service in South Tyneside.

Dr Neil O’Brien, accountable officer for Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCGs) across South Tyneside, Sunderland and County Durham, said the move would mean the “future of paediatric services in South Tyneside is now secure”.

“This is an important milestone in the transformation of our local hospital services and, following the decisions made three years ago, means the future of paediatric services in South Tyneside is now secure given the very fragile medical staffing challenges being faced,” he said.

“Now, more than ever, we must continue to focus on building strong and resilient services for the future and cannot lose sight of the challenges facing the NHS and pressures on our workforce, which have only been exacerbated by the pandemic.”

“I would like to thank all those involved, in particular the children’s nursing team in South Tyneside, for their hard work and commitment to delivering this change which will offer a fantastic new service to the local population.”

The trust said a public awareness and information campaign will begin from today to ensure people are aware of the new nurse-led urgent care service for children.

This will include information for schools and parents or carers of young children across South Tyneside.

Chiefs said they were working closely with all health and care partners, including local GPs and the North East Ambulance Services to ensure a smooth transition to the new nurse-led urgent care service.

To find out more about the changes visit www.stsft.nhs.uk.

You can subscribe to this website and enjoy unlimited access to local news, information and puzzles online. With a digital subscription, you can read more than five articles, see fewer ads, enjoy faster load times, and get access to exclusive newsletters and content. Simply click ‘Subscribe’ in the menu.

Related topics: