Paediatric permanent open door service

Read our guide below to find out more about our permanent open door service. 

You can also download a PDF version of this patient information by following the link on the right.

What is the permanent open door service?

It’s for children and young people with specific medical conditions or needs who need ongoing hospital care. Permanent open door allows children and young people to access care without having to get a referral from their GP or A&E. The aim is that your child will get timely, co-ordinated, high quality care with minimal disruption to their daily lives.

Your child’s consultant will decide whether to put them on open door.

When do we use the permanent open door service?

When your child becomes unwell with their specific condition or need.

For all other concerns about your child, take your child to their GP or A&E.

For example, if your child is on the permanent open door service because they have severe asthma, but they have a tummy bug, contact your child’s GP.

Or, if your child is on the open door service because they have asthma but they’ve broken their arm, go to the main Emergency Department.

If your child is seriously unwell, call 999. Don’t wait to call the Children’s Emergency Department.

If you’re not sure if you should use the permanent open door service or go to your child’s GP or A&E  call the Children’s Emergency Department on 01296 315216.

How do we access the permanent open door service?

Children’s Emergency Department

01296 315216

24-hours a day, 7 days a week.

When you call us, you must tell us:

• that you’re child’s on temporary open door
• their name
• date of birth
• their hospital (MRN) number (if you know it).

You’ll find your child’s hospital (MRN) number on any letters you have received from the hospital.

What will the nurses or doctors tell me when I call?

They’ll give advice over the phone or ask you to bring your child to the Children’s Emergency Department.

They might tell you to call an ambulance or come to the mina Emergency department (A&E) if they think your child is at immediate risk and needs urgent assessment.

If you can’t get through to the Children’s Emergency Department, call Ward 3 (the children’s inpatient ward) on 01296 315145.

Where is the Children’s Emergency Department?

It’s at Stoke Mandeville Hospital, Waddeson Wing next to the main Emergency Department. When you arrive please come to the reception desk in the Emergency Department reception (A&E).

Do we need to bring anything?

Yes. Bring any medication that your child takes, as well as an overnight bag with some night clothes, toiletries, nappies and change of clothes in case of possible admission.

What happens when we arrive at the Children’s Emergency Department?

A nurse will assess your child. A paediatric doctor will then see them and make a plan about your child’s care.

Sometimes your child will just see a nurse, for example if they need a specific procedure like the insertion of a new nasogastric tube.

The Children’s Emergency Department can be very busy. We see children in order of clinical priority.

If my child needs to be admitted where will they go?

We’ll admit them to Ward 3 (the children’s inpatient ward) which is on the ground floor of the hospital.

How long will my child be on the permanent open door service?

It depends on your child’s needs on a temporary basis. As a parent or carer, we’ll involve you in any decisions about your child’s care.

Can other children in my family use the permanent open door service?

This service is just for your child who was put onto the permanent open door service.

Our paediatric team will see other children in your family following a GP referral if they become unwell.