Location
4th floor, Evelina Children's Hospital
|St Thomas' Hospital
Westminster Bridge Road
London SE1 7EH
Matron: Debbie Komaromy
Ward sister: Emily Ellis
Ward managers: Emily Ellis and Jenny Somer
Camel tel: 020 7188 8849
Dragonfly tel: 020 7188 8848
This is a ward for children and young people aged 0 - 16. We have 2 different areas with its own team of doctors and nurses, although the nurses may work in both areas:
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Camel for cardiac (heart) patients, looking after children before and after planned procedures like heart surgery, heart catheterisation or MRI investigations. This contains a special room for echocardiography only, as well as a portable echo-machine, which allows us to quickly assess your child from their bedside.
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Dragonfly for children with neurological (brain and nervous system) or metabolic (body chemistry) problems.
Information for visitors
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Parents can visit and be with their children at any time. All other visitors, including brothers and sisters, can visit between 10am and 8pm.
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Please tell staff if you are expecting visiors while you are away, or they will be refused entry.
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Please do not visit during lunch or dinner time as we operate a protected mealtime policy so that our patients can eat without being interrupted.
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Do not leave siblings or any other children unattended on the ward at any time.
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One parent or carer for each child can stay overnight. Each child's bed has a built-in parent's bed, so you can sleep right next to your child during their stay. There is extra accommodation in Ronald McDonald House at Guy's Hospital. Children and parents may be asked to stay at Gassiot Lodge (hotel at St Thomas' Hospital) the night before their procedure/surgery. We will book these rooms when organising your child's admission.
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To prevent spreading germs and reduce the risk of infection please clean your hands with alcohol gel each time you enter or leave the ward. Alcohol gel dispensers are at the ward entrance and every sink. For safety and security, Savannah is a locked ward. Parents and visitors can enter using an intercom system.
Your care on Savannah ward
At the start of each shift your child will meet the nurse who will care for them during that shift. Each nurse will care for 3 or 4 patients.
Ward rounds
These are carried out by the doctors each morning between 9.30am and 11am, where they will assess and review your child.
Grand ward rounds: these are ward rounds on certain days of the week that are attended by all the consultants and other staff who look after the children. On these days the ward round takes place at around:
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10am for cardiology patients
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11am for neurology patients
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2pm for metabolic patients
Mealtimes
Meals are provided only for patients and pregnant or breastfeeding mothers and are give out by patient service assistants (PSAs).
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breakfast - 8am - 9am, a selection of cereals and toast
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lunch - 12 noon - 1pm, hot / cold meals available from a children's menu
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dinner - 5pm - 6pm, hot / cold meals available from a children's menu
Please let us know if your child suffers with food allergies or has special dietary needs. A selection of squash drinks and milk is available from the kitchen. Tea and coffee is also provided.
Facilities on the ward
We have a play area offering games and fun for children of all age groups.
Thanks to a donation from the Evelina Children's Heart Organisation (ECHO),| we have a parents' only sitting room, where you can relax with a cup of tea, watch television or sit in peace and quiet away from the ward.
We also have a washing machine, tumble dryer and 2 kitchens. In one kitchen, staff prepare the children's meals and the other is for parents, where you can prepare and store your own meals.
Please remember :
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to label any items you keep in the fridge with your name and date
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that staff are not responsible for items stored in the kitchen
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to keep the kitchen area clean and tidy and do your washing up
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to throw away any stored food before you leave.
School
All children who are well enough are expected to attend the hospital school| (term time only).