Child Health
Torbay Hospital
Lowes Bridge
Torquay TQ2 7AA
Switchboard: 0300 456 8000 (local rate) or 01803 614567
Services
We aim to safeguard and promote good health for all children in South Devon whilst providing comprehensive local care to those in need together with support for their families.
We provide child health services mainly on an individual basis as an:
- inpatient
- outpatient
- or in a community setting
Where appropriate, services may also be provided in a group setting within the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS).
Except for emergency and inpatient care, our services are provided by appointment and are normally available Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm. We are closed on weekends and public bank holidays.
Emergency arrangements
Emergency and inpatient care is available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, with direct, continuous access to a Consultant Paediatrician.
Children’s Ward – Louisa Cary Ward, Torbay Hospital
The ward cares for children between the ages of 0 to 17 years with any medical, surgical or psychological conditions requiring inpatient, day case and day patient care. There are separate areas on the ward for assessment, for young people and for high dependency patients.
The assessment area is used for planned investigations and treatments. The young person’s unit is for teenagers.
The two high dependency beds provide more intensive care for children when necessary.
There are overnight stay facilities for parents, including en suite rooms, showering facilities and a lounge and kitchen.
Short Stay Paediatric Assessment Unit (SSPAU)
The SSPAU allows children and young people with acute illnesses, minor injuries, or GP referrals to be assessed, observed, and treated in a child-friendly environment without necessarily being admitted to a hospital ward.
The unit fast-tracks children who need a short period of treatment or observation from the Emergency Department, and provides a streamlined service for planned procedures. Planned investigations include blood tests, food allergy testing, MRI scans, and subcutaneous methotrexate treatments.
The unit features two four-bedded clinical areas and a comfortable seated waiting area stocked with children’s toys. It is a consultant-led service staffed by a specialist team of registrars, Advanced Nurse Practitioners (ANPs), postgraduate doctors, and an experienced paediatric nursing team.
- Location: Level 7, Torbay Hospital
- Opening times: Monday to Friday, 9am to 9pm
- Referrals: All GP and Emergency Department referrals are via the Paediatric Assessment Consultant (PAC).
Special Baby Care Unit (SCBU)
For information regarding specialized care for newborn babies, please visit our Special Baby Care Unit (SCBU).
Children’s Specialist Community Team
This specialist nursing team offers holistic care and support to families in both inpatient and outpatient settings. The nursing team covers the following clinical specialties:
- Allergy
- Cardiology
- Diabetes
- Eating Disorder
- Endocrinology
- Epilepsy
- Neonatal care
- Respiratory conditions
- Rheumatology
Paediatric outpatient clinics
Paediatric outpatient clinics are available across a number of locations for children referred by GPs and consultant staff.
Visiting specialists – access through local consultant paediatricians who refer on for:
- Cardiology
- Clinical genetics
- Cystic fibrosis
- Diabetes
- Endocrinology
- Epilepsy
- Metabolic disorders
- Nephrology
- Neurology
- Oncology
- Rheumatology
- Rheumatology
- Surgical
- Urology
Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Service
For mental health support, please see Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services.
Community child health
Based within local community clinics, this service specialises in developmental health, childhood behaviour, and education. Services include:
- Outpatient consultant clinics held in the community
- Educational assessments and special educational needs (SEN) support
- Children with special educational needs who attend special schools are ideally seen in outpatient clinics hosted at their schools. This facilitates strong multi-disciplinary working between home, health services, and education.
- Children with severe learning disabilities (SLD) who present with highly demanding behaviours are seen in a coordinated joint clinic with a child and adolescent psychiatrist and a consultant paediatrician.
Safeguarding children
Child protection examinations and assessments are undertaken at Torbay Hospital’s Paediatric Department by consultant paediatricians following an official referral by the police or social services. There is 24-hour cover throughout the year from consultant paediatricians to police and social services. For information, please see safeguarding children.
SEND Local Offer
The local authority‘Local Offer’ provides clear, accessible information about the education, health, and social care services available in the area for parents, carers, and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) from birth to 25 years.
- Family Hub Torbay – SEND Local Offer
- Devon’s SEND Local Offer – help and support for children with SEND
Moving to adult health services
For many young people with long-term conditions, moving from paediatric care to adult health services can feel daunting. We have prepared a practical guide video to help teenagers and their families prepare for this.
Making the move to adult health care services
Support videos
To further support parents, families, and carers using our services, we have developed a library of educational videos. that we hope will help parents and carers. If you need any further information or guidance, please contact the department directly.