ABSTRACT
The COVID-19 pandemic had considerable impact on paediatric ambulatory care. A pop-up paediatric day care unit for children with allergic and inflammatory bowel diseases was delivered from Nightingale Hospital Bristol (NHB) which was set up to treat patients during the pandemic. METHODOLOGY: The unit operated fortnightly between December 2020 and March 2021. Family feedback on the service was collated via an online survey. RESULTS: 72 respondents found NHB acceptable; 70 (97%) would be happy to return; 63 (90.3%) preferred the NHB to attending Bristol Royal Hospital for Children or had no preference for their appointments. Positive comments focused on service organisation and clinical environment. Families valued the availability of the close, free parking. The minimal negative comments related to travel directions, lack of catering facilities and the small number of toilets. CONCLUSION: The pop-up service model was highly acceptable to families. This highlights the need for appropriate hospital services to explore similar initiatives beyond traditional healthcare settings in order to ensure that the provision of equitable health care is in line with the NHS Long Term Plan.
Subject(s)
COVID-19 , Day Care, Medical , Humans , Child , Pandemics , Ambulatory Care , PatientsABSTRACT
AimsThe coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic imposed unprecedented disruption to global health care service delivery. Healthcare settings had to rapidly implement social-distancing measures to reduce disease transmission, primarily prioritising emergency treatment over routine care. The impact upon paediatric ambulatory care settings was considerable, forcing hospitals to restructure traditional provision and to explore new initiatives.A pop-up paediatric day care unit was set up at the Nightingale Hospital, Bristol (NHB). This temporary unit aimed to mitigate against anticipated delays in diagnosis and treatment for children with allergic disease and inflammatory bowel disease.The aim of this study was to collate patients’ and family/carer’s experience feedback in order to understand the acceptability and viability of these innovative initiatives for ambulatory care in alternative settings, outside acute hospitals.MethodsA 12 bedded area Day Care Unit was developed at the NHB. The Day Care Unit operated fortnightly between December 2020 and March 2021, supporting patients from the paediatric allergy and the paediatric gastroenterology specialities.Patients were carefully selected following strict criteria. At the end of their test/treatment, patients and carers were invited by their named nurse to complete an evaluation via an online form.Results72 responses were collated. The children underwent a range of procedures from: supervised feeds, food challenges, sublingual immunotherapy, omalizumab injections, infliximab infusion, outpatient appointment, skin prick test and flu vaccination. 23 (31.9%) of the patients had to drive less than 5 miles to the NHB, 33 (45.8%) drove 5-10 miles and 16 (22.2%) more than 10 miles.All responses (72) found NHB acceptable and 70 (97%) would be happy to return. 63 (90.3%) would prefer to attend the NHB or had no preference for their appointments. All comments were positive focusing on good management and organisation as well as on the friendly, calm and safe environment. Families particularly valued the close and free parking. Any negative comments related to the signposting to venue, the lack of catering facilities and the number of toilets.ConclusionAlternative ambulatory services have been a successful means of managing a potential crisis in access to healthcare. The pop-up service model was highly acceptable to families and provokes consideration of the need to investigate future similar initiatives as potential alternative models to maximise capacity in acute settings. It was an environment in which families felt safe and well-cared for, was more easily accessible than a city centre busy hospital and allowed the clinical team the opportunity to work more closely than usual. This highlights the need for selected hospital services to consider looking further afield in order to ensure the provision of equitable healthcare in line with the NHS Forward plan.