Latest news with #paediatrics
BBC News
10 hours ago
- Health
- BBC News
Alder Hey opens clinic for children's ketamine abuse
A children's hospital has launched a clinic to treat young people who are taking the street drug ketamine. Alder Hey hospital in Liverpool is thought to be the first in the country to run a programme aimed specifically at minors. Senior consultants at the hospital told the BBC it was believed Merseyside had a bigger problem with the drug than other areas. In April, Liverpool council wrote to the government demanding the substance - a sedative that can have hallucinatory effects and also cause serious health problems - be reclassified as a Class A drug like heroin or cocaine. The clinic began running at the hospital in May, and a second clinic later this week has had to be expanded due to the number of referrals, Ms Corbett said."We've talked to other paediatrics across the country, and, to our knowledge, nobody is seeing anyone under the age of 16 yet, but yet is the important word," paediatric consultant Harriet Corbett she told BBC Radio Merseyside. 'Huge favour' Ms Corbett added: "I think there genuinely is a bigger problem here (Merseyside) at the moment than there is elsewhere," she said, adding that there was a particular problem in the more rural areas of Merseyside."We've had to expand Friday's clinic to put in some extra slots as we have had so many children referred in."She said if the hospital could "get young people to come through their period of use and see the other side and realise life can be better without it, then we're doing everybody a huge favour".In England, the number of under-18s entering drug treatment who described ketamine as one of their problem substances rose from 335 to 917 between 2020-21 and 2023-24, according to the National Drug Treatment Monitoring System, Government figures also showed a rise in the number of children and young people aged under 17 reporting problems with ketamine, going up from 512 in 2021 to 2022 to 1,201 in 2023 to councillor Lynnie Hinnigan told city leaders in April that she had heard first-hand from a 20-year-old addict who had "admitted to a room of strangers how she had to wear adult pull-ups, didn't want to die, and was going to leave the session and reuse as she couldn't cope with the pain". What is ketamine? Ketamine is widely used in the NHS as an anaesthetic, sedative and pain reliever, and is also commonly used on is also thought of as a party drug due to its hallucinogenic substance usually comes as a crystalline powder or liquid and can cause serious health problems including irreversible damage to the bladder and coroner for Dorset, Richard Middleton, said ketamine cystitis was an "emerging epidemic" among young people after Joshua Leatham-Prosser was found dead at his home in Weymouth on 5 June 2024, having used the drug since Middleton said the impact on his bladder was "akin to acid attacks on the skin". Listen to the best of BBC Radio Merseyside on Sounds and follow BBC Merseyside on Facebook, X, and Instagram. You can also send story ideas via Whatsapp to 0808 100 2230.
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Yeovil Hospital children's services rated 'inadequate'
Children being treated at Yeovil District Hospital are not being kept safe, according to government inspectors. The Care Quality Commission has published a report following an inspection in January, and rated children and young people's services as "inadequate". The inspection led to a warning notice being issued and the temporary closure of the special care baby unit (SCBU) and birthing services at the hospital in May, due to a shortage of paediatric doctors. Somerset NHS Foundation Trust, which runs the hospital, said it was "working hard to address the safety, quality and fragility of the paediatric service" at a "very challenging time". More news stories for Somerset Listen to the latest news for Somerset Inspectors said they found "low morale" among medical staff who said they felt "exhausted" and "overwhelmed" with their workloads. The report also said there was a "recurring theme that parents did not feel listened to and staff did not communicate with them". A major issue was that the paediatrics service did not have enough doctors, inspectors said. One mum, who lives in Yeovil but wanted to stay anonymous, said her one-year-old son spent three nights on the hospital's children's ward earlier this month, being treated for suspected sepsis. She said she had a "really positive experience" on the ward but there were delays in a doctor reviewing her son in the last 48 hours of his stay. She said she was told this was due to staff shortages and the doctor needing to remain in the emergency department. Inspectors found there was just one registrar doctor covering all three paediatric areas after 5pm. These were the children's ward, the emergency department (ED) and the maternity ward and SCBU which were "a significant distance away from each other", inspectors said. The children's ward and ED are seven floors apart and inspectors found the lifts were very slow. Maternity and SCBU were in a separate building from the other services. This "geographical spread and lack of medical staff" led to a "risk of delays to the triage and treatment of children" according to the CQC report. The CQC report also said not every child who was admitted to the children's ward with an acute medical problem was seen by one of the most senior doctors, a consultant paediatrician, within 14 hours of admission, as national standards stipulate. Staff told inspectors there was often just one consultant-led handover in 24 hours - guidelines say at least two should take place. This meant some children staying in hospital longer than needed, as they couldn't be discharged through the handover process. Attempts by the hospital to recruit the two more consultants, which were needed, had been unsuccessful. Inspectors did find there were enough paediatric nurses. There were some positive findings including around the children's mental health service, infection control and cleanliness. In total Yeovil Hospital's children's services were in breach of six legal regulations including staffing, mandatory training and good governance. Inspectors also visited the children's services at Musgrove Park Hospital in Taunton, run by the same NHS trust, which were rated good. Lucy Bateman, from Chard, said she no longer chooses to use Yeovil Hospital since her daughter experienced poor care after being taken in "severely dehydrated" by ambulance a few years ago. She said they were left in a "very, very overcrowded waiting room" with just a syringe and some water for hours, before being told doctors were "too busy with an emergency" to see her daughter and they "might as well just go home". Ms Bateman said she took her daughter to Musgrove Park hospital the next day and her experience was "like night and day". "I was reassured that I wasn't overreacting, Molly was taken care of and everything worked out very well, but now I would always go straight to Musgrove," she said. Peter Lewis, chief executive of Somerset NHS Foundation Trust, said: "This is a very challenging time, but we are confident that we can build a stronger, more sustainable service for babies, children and young people in Somerset." Mr Lewis said the trust was trying to recruit more senior paediatricians and looking at what it could learn from other hospitals. The trust has promised a formal review of the temporary closures, which began in May, after three and six months. Catherine Campbell, CQC deputy director for operations in the south, said: "Trust leaders understand what must change. The warning notice we've issued will help focus attention on the areas needing urgent and sustained improvement. "We'll continue to monitor these services closely to ensure progress and to keep children and young people safe." Follow BBC Somerset on Facebook and X. Send your story ideas to us on email or via WhatsApp on 0800 313 4630. Sickness and bullying closes maternity unit, MP says Hundreds protest closure of maternity unit Pregnant women 'shocked' at maternity unit closure Maternity unit closure could last more than six months Temporary closure for maternity unit after warning
BBC News
6 days ago
- Health
- BBC News
Yeovil District Hospital children's service rated 'inadequate'
Children being treated at Yeovil District Hospital are not being kept safe, according to government Care Quality Commission has published a report following an inspection in January, and rated children and young people's services as "inadequate".The inspection led to a warning notice being issued and the temporary closure of the special care baby unit (SCBU) and birthing services at the hospital in May, due to a shortage of paediatric NHS Foundation Trust, which runs the hospital, said it was "working hard to address the safety, quality and fragility of the paediatric service" at a "very challenging time". Inspectors said they found "low morale" among medical staff who said they felt "exhausted" and "overwhelmed" with their report also said there was a "recurring theme that parents did not feel listened to and staff did not communicate with them".A major issue was that the paediatrics service did not have enough doctors, inspectors mum, who lives in Yeovil but wanted to stay anonymous, said her one-year-old son spent three nights on the hospital's children's ward earlier this month, being treated for suspected said she had a "really positive experience" on the ward but there were delays in a doctor reviewing her son in the last 48 hours of his said she was told this was due to staff shortages and the doctor needing to remain in the emergency department. Inspectors found there was just one registrar doctor covering all three paediatric areas after were the children's ward, the emergency department (ED) and the maternity ward and SCBU which were "a significant distance away from each other", inspectors children's ward and ED are seven floors apart and inspectors found the lifts were very and SCBU were in a separate building from the other "geographical spread and lack of medical staff" led to a "risk of delays to the triage and treatment of children" according to the CQC CQC report also said not every child who was admitted to the children's ward with an acute medical problem was seen by one of the most senior doctors, a consultant paediatrician, within 14 hours of admission, as national standards told inspectors there was often just one consultant-led handover in 24 hours - guidelines say at least two should take meant some children staying in hospital longer than needed, as they couldn't be discharged through the handover by the hospital to recruit the two more consultants, which were needed, had been did find there were enough paediatric were some positive findings including around the children's mental health service, infection control and total Yeovil Hospital's children's services were in breach of six legal regulations including staffing, mandatory training and good governance. Inspectors also visited the children's services at Musgrove Park Hospital in Taunton, run by the same NHS trust, which were rated Bateman, from Chard, said she no longer chooses to use Yeovil Hospital since her daughter experienced poor care after being taken in "severely dehydrated" by ambulance a few years said they were left in a "very, very overcrowded waiting room" with just a syringe and some water for hours, before being told doctors were "too busy with an emergency" to see her daughter and they "might as well just go home".Ms Bateman said she took her daughter to Musgrove Park hospital the next day and her experience was "like night and day"."I was reassured that I wasn't overreacting, Molly was taken care of and everything worked out very well, but now I would always go straight to Musgrove," she said. Peter Lewis, chief executive of Somerset NHS Foundation Trust, said: "This is a very challenging time, but we are confident that we can build a stronger, more sustainable service for babies, children and young people in Somerset."Mr Lewis said the trust was trying to recruit more senior paediatricians and looking at what it could learn from other trust has promised a formal review of the temporary closures, which began in May, after three and six Campbell, CQC deputy director for operations in the south, said: "Trust leaders understand what must change. The warning notice we've issued will help focus attention on the areas needing urgent and sustained improvement. "We'll continue to monitor these services closely to ensure progress and to keep children and young people safe."
CNA
7 days ago
- Health
- CNA
Singapore to study how widespread food allergies are among children
SINGAPORE: Ms Amanda Chan's son Corey was about four months old when she learnt that he had food allergies, setting off an "incredibly tough" first year of his life. "Three meals a day became a bit of a traumatic experience, because at that point, he couldn't speak. So anything I put in his mouth, I didn't know whether I was going to be harming him," said Ms Chan. Corey, now 10, has been allergic to eggs, dairy, peanuts and dust mites since infancy. In the early years, the lack of awareness and information on food allergies in the local context was a challenge for Ms Chan. "We didn't understand that food allergy could actually be airborne. And even though he was not eating solids, he was still reacting," she said. A new clinical study announced on Thursday (Jun 26) aims to answer questions about the prevalence and impact of food allergies among children in Singapore. This comes amid a steady rise in paediatric food allergy cases seen at clinics under the National University Hospital (NUH) and KK Women's and Children's Hospital (KKH). The four-year study is led by NUH and the National University of Singapore (NUS) Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, in collaboration with KKH, National University Polyclinics (NUP) and NUS Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health. Named the Singapore Food Allergy Story, it is the first and largest study to provide a holistic overview of the burden of food allergies in Singapore, according to a media release by the health institutions. Common allergens in the clinic cases seen at NUH and KKH include eggs, milk and peanuts in younger children, and shellfish in adolescents and young adults. Food allergies have no definitive cure apart from natural outgrowing, and those caring for children with food allergies may face challenges like anxiety, hypervigilance and stress, according to the release. On the ground, NUH and KKH have reported more emergency department visits for childhood anaphylaxis between 2015 and 2022, driven mainly by an increase in visits for food-related anaphylaxis. Anaphylaxis refers to a severe and immediate allergic reaction, with symptoms that can affect breathing and blood circulation. The increase in emergency department visits has not translated into a rise in severe anaphylaxis, shock or high dependency admissions, said the study's lead principal investigator, Assistant Professor Elizabeth Tham. At NUH and KKH, the number of food allergy evaluations carried out on children has also risen by 60 per cent from 2022 to 2024. While this may reflect increasing awareness and concern among parents, it potentially highlights food allergy as an emerging condition in Singapore, said the health institutions. There is no formal data showing a rise in the prevalence of childhood food allergies in Singapore at this time, hence the need for the study, said Asst Prof Tham, who is a senior consultant in paediatrics at NUH. Food allergy prevalence is rising worldwide in developed countries, and while historically thought to be uncommon in Asia, this is based on outdated data from 10 to 15 years ago, she added. One possible cause is the adoption of more westernised lifestyles and diets. Dietary changes and changes in the environment can increase the risk of allergies, said Asst Prof Tham. Other factors are more awareness around food allergies and changing severity around them, prompting parents to seek medical intervention, she said. There is also scientific evidence that lower exposure to bacteria and germs can be a contributory factor, said Dr Chong Kok Wee, the study's co-investigator and senior consultant in paediatric medicine at KKH. Aside from prevalence, the Singapore study also aims to determine the impact of childhood food allergies on nutrition, growth, metabolism and mental health, and gain insights on the social and economic burden of food allergies. "Our goal is to create a safer environment for children with food allergies, enabling them to reach their fullest potential at school and work. "Additionally, we aim to improve mental health and overall well-being, especially for older children and adolescents," said Asst Prof Tham. In the first phase of the study, which started this February, at least 2,000 parents and caregivers of children aged one to two years will be given questionnaires during their routine visits to NUP polyclinics. Those reporting possible allergic reactions to food will be referred to NUH or KKH for further evaluation. The second phase, starting in July, will involve about 400 children and adolescents aged up to 18 who have diagnosed allergies to milk, eggs, peanuts and shellfish. They will participate in questionnaires, growth and nutritional assessments, and blood and stool collection. Findings from the study are expected to inform future guidelines and educational materials on nutrition, dietary management and mental health support for affected families. Studies in other places have found that food allergies are on the rise among children. In Asia, data from South Korea, Taiwan and Hong Kong show that the incidence of childhood anaphylaxis has risen.
SBS Australia
15-06-2025
- Health
- SBS Australia
Fale dam lo ruang i siizung panh a hauh tikah theihfian a biapi mi hna
If your child needs urgent help call Triple Zero for an ambulance. Triage is the initial point of care in a hospital's emergency department. Parents should know what doctors think is wrong with their children and the diagnosis when discharged from the emergency department. A Sydney-based parent, Bethany Girling, knew she had to rush her daughter to the children's emergency department when she spotted alarming signs and symptoms on her. "She had really high fevers. They were going on for probably about four days at this stage. We've been to the doctor, and she was on antibiotics, but she just wasn't getting better," Ms Girling says. Ms Girling noted that her daughter wasn't drinking, her chest was working hard, and her ribs were sucking in. Without hesitation, she rushed her to the nearest children's emergency department. Paediatric Emergency Doctor Matthew O'Meara When to go the emergency department "That instinct can come from a number of things. Sometimes they might notice their child being less alert, less active, less playful. It may be that they've got breathing problems. It maybe they look a poor colour, they look much paler than usual or mottled or bluish," Dr O'Meara says. He adds that they may not be drinking much or passing much urine, or sometimes, their parents have that gut feeling or instinct that something isn't right. If you are worried about your child, Dr O'Meara points to the health care services available that can help, starting with calling Triple Zero for an ambulance. "There're a few doors into the health system. The most urgent door is by calling triple zero for an ambulance. And l would do if you are really concerned that your child needs help straight away, that they're finding it very difficult to breathe, that they have a very poor colour, that you think they've stopped breathing or they're not conscious or they are having a fit," he explains. An emergency department is a suitable place if they require assistance more urgently. Dr O'Meara says if your child is experiencing some difficulty breathing—though it's not severe—has a slightly unusual colour, is drinking less than usual, and appears less active than normal, it's essential to seek help soon at the emergency department. If you feel that something isn't quite right and you need to see them later today or tomorrow, visiting a general practice or an urgent care centre would be a good option. If you are worried about your child and need help immediately call Triple Zero for an ambulance. Credit: kali9/Getty Images What to expect in the emergency department So, what happens next if you find yourself in the emergency department? Triage is the initial point of care in a hospital's emergency department. It is a system designed to prioritise patients based on the severity of their condition. She explains that the triage person is a nurse. They can quickly look over your child and assess their condition based on the urgency of their need to be seen. "They're given a triage category based on that urgency. So, the most critically unwell patients will be seen first. And then the less urgent patients will then be seen in a timely manner," Ms Bold says. Ms Bold explains that triage prioritises cases based on urgency for life-threatening conditions, ensuring that the most critical cases receive the highest priority. Do I have to pay? In Australia, visits to public hospital emergency departments are free for Medicare cardholders. However, if you attend a private hospital emergency department, you will need to pay a fee. Ambulance services also typically incur charges in most states, with fees varying depending on where you are. Some people, such as concession cardholders or those with private health insurance, may be exempt from these costs. Your child's health details can include allergies, medications, and pre-existing conditions. Credit: ozgurcankaya/Getty Images Tips for parents and follow up care If you can prepare before heading to the emergency department, Ms Bold suggests having your primary details handy. "When you come into our emergency department, we really like it when parents have their Medicare card available or any health details available and their address and phone number so we can contact them if we need to," Ms Bold says. Your child's health details can include allergies, medications, and pre-existing conditions. It may also include symptoms when they started, what made them worse, and any treatment you've tried. Dr Matthew O'Meara explains what happens next if your child's case is processed to be seen next in the queue. "They will be seen by other nurses, doctors and nurse practitioners . Who will assess them in more detail, go through the story in more detail, examine them and work out if any investigations are necessary, like blood tests or x-rays can assess their response to treatment," he explains. He adds that children may need to be observed for a while before a decision is made about their care. Most children can go home from the emergency department. Still, some may need to be admitted to the hospital for an extended period of care. If your child's case is less urgent than others in the emergency department, you might face a longer wait time. At the end of your visit to the children's emergency department, you should have learned several important things about your child's health situation. If your child's case is less urgent than others in the emergency department, you might face a longer wait time. Source: iStockphoto / chameleonseye/Getty Images Dr O'Meara explains that parents should know what doctors think is wrong with their children and the diagnosis. They should tell you what you should expect to happen at home and what things should make you concerned and need to seek medical help. Doctors will also advise you on managing simple things like pain, fever, and fluids. Dr O'Meara says that health practitioners at the emergency department should talk to you about medications and treatments, their effects, and any possible side effects. They will also advise you on where to go if your child needs care after going home from the emergency. "Ideally, we don't just talk to you about these things. We give you written information in factsheets, and ideally in your preferred language as well, to describe what's going on, and we should communicate with your normal treating doctor about what's going on. So, send them a discharge summary or give you a discharge summary to take to your doctor," Dr O'Meara adds. If your family prefers a language other than English, you can access a free translating and interpreting service to help communicate with health services by calling 13 14 50. Now you know what to expect if you have to go to the emergency department, but you can also learn about the English words and phrases you may come across in these situations. Listen to SBS Learn English episode 85 to improve your English and feel more confident when talking to hospital staff. For more information, visit your local hospital's website or Health Direct at . Thanks to the Sydney Children's Hospitals Network for suggesting this topic. Factsheets (in several languages) and further information is available on the SCHN website . Subscribe or follow the Australia Explained podcast for more valuable information and tips about settling into your new life in Australia. Do you have any questions or topic ideas? Send us an email to australiaexplained@
